Friday, February 23, 2007

Twelve Arts & the Seven Liberal Arts in Indian & Western Learning

Western Philosophy speaks of the Seven Liberal Arts, made up of the Trivium of Logic, Rhetoric & Grammar and the Quadrivium of Arithmetic, Geometry, Music & Astronomy
Indian Philosophy speaks of the Twelve Arts, namely the Six Main Arts, the Shad Dharsana of Indian Philosophy , Yoga, Vedanta, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya and Poorva Mimamsa & the Six Minor Arts - Astrology, Kalpa, Definition ( Nirukta ), Phonetics ( Shiksha ), Grammar & Poetic Metres ( Chandas ).
We find in a comparitive study that these arts are more or less the same. When Western Learning says Astronomy, the Indians by Jyothisha meant both Astronomy & Astrology, as to them both were synonyms. Mathematical Astrology is based on the formulae of Astronomy. The calculation of the MC, for instance , is Tan K = Tan R / cos w, which is a formula of Astronomy. By Jyothisha they meant Indian Astro Physics, which includes Maths also ! So Arithmetic and Geometry of Western Learning is incorporated in Jyothisha
Logic is the same as Nyaya Shastra. Gautama was the sage who founded Nyaya. He defined Nyaya as a system to refute Non Vedic arguments and install vedic arguments. Nyaya, he said, is that which illumines all learning, the instrument of all actions, the refuge of all moral ethics & analysed completely for the purpose of learning !
Pradeepa Sarva Vidyanam
Upadhi Sarva Karmanam
Ashraya sarva dharmanam
Vidhyodhese pareekshithah
Music or Gandharva Veda was one of the 18 sciences which constitute Indian Philosophy. So we find that there are parallels in the Western and the Eastern Invisible Colleges !

No comments: