Nyaya Theory of Pramana

Nyaya school of philosophy is one of the famous school in Indian Philosophy. This school funded by Maharshi Gautama. Nyaya theory of knowledge has great importance in philosophical world. Knowledge according to Nyaya, reveals both the subject and the object which are quite distinct from itself. Knowledge or cognition is defined as apprehension or consciousness. Maharshi Gautama in his ‘Nyayasutra’ says that, perfection is attained by the correct knowledge about true nature of sixteen categories. Pramana is the primary and major of these sixteen categories. In Indian philosophy knowledge may be valid or invalid. Valid knowledge is called prama and it is defined as the right apprehension of an object. Nyaya maintains the theory of correspondence. Invalid knowledge is known as aprama. The source of valid knowledge is called pramana. Naiyayikas believe in four pramanas – Perception, Inference, Comparison and Testimony. As there is a detailed discussion about the pramanas in Nyaya Philosophy, so this system is also called ‘pramana-sastra.’