NYAYA, (Skt.. analysis). The name of the sixth and latest of the orthodox systems of ancient 11indn philosophy.
Of the six systems the Alimainsa and Vedanta are grouped together as more closely connected in dealing with divine and spiritual matters. The Nyaya and Vaiseshika systems form a group. having in common especially the atomic theory of the universe. and a clear and logical classifica tion of idea.. rime latter feature is particularly charaeteristic of the Nyaya system. so that it is commonly spoken of as 'Logic.' although it is really a iihilos?mhb•al system. The Nyaya agrees with all the other systems in promising to its followers final beatitude, The way to the at tainment of supreme bliss is through a knowl edge of the principles taught by this particular system. These principles are in the sixteen 'topics: prania rum, or means of knowledge, prom mrpa, or objects of inquiry. sanoiaya. Or prayojann, or dr,vieinta, or prece dent, .v?iar//latu. or tenet. arflyfir41, or syllogistic member, tarku, or confutation, nirnaya, or ascer tainment, ranter, or discussion, joipa, or wrang ling, ritayqu. or caviling, harriblo.wi, or fallacy, clia/a, or prevarication, j4Ii, or futile objections, and nigrahasthumi, or failure in argument.
The great prominence given by the Nyaya to the method by means of which truth might he ascertained has sometimes misled European writ ers into the belief that it is merely a system of formal logic, not engaged in metaphysical inves tigations. It was, however. really intended to be a complete system of philosophical investiga tion: and some questions. such as rho nature of intellect and articulated sound, or those of genus, variety, and individual. it has treated in a mas
terly manner.
The founder of the Nyaya system is said to have been Gotaina, mmr Gantaina. The events of his life and his date are quite unknown, though it is probable that the work attributed to him is. in its present shape, later than the work of tlu• grammarian l'anini (q.v.). It consists of live hooks, or each divided into two 'days' or diurnal lessons, which are again sub divided into or topics, each of which contains several aphorisms, or Ntifra.c. Like the text-books of 40.11er sciences among the llindus, it has been explained by commentaries. which, in their turn. have been made the bases of more or element a ry treatises.
The Nyaya system. like the kindred Vaisesbika, was originally atheistic. It liceame theistic later, but without aeknowledging the existence 44 a personal God as a creator of matter. This fea ture, which it shares with the later form of the Vaiseshika. was elaborated in Fdaya11:111Mrya',: linsrnnnirjnli (about 12001. and in some other works.
The Sanskrit text of the Sutras of Gotama, with a commentary by Visvanatha, was edited at Calcutta (1828), and the first four books, and part of the fifth, of the text, with an English version, an English commentary, and extracts from the commentary by Ballantyne (Allahabad, 1830-54). Alore recent is the edition of the yuya Sutras at Benares (1896) ; also Udayana charya's Iiusumu,ljuli (Caleutta, 1895). Con sult: Garlic. The Philosophy of Ancient India (Chicago. 1897) : :Max The ,Systems of Indian Philosophy (New York, 1899). See \1DrASIsA; SANKIITA; SUTRA; VAItirSIIIKA; VEDX.NTA; YOGA.