''Pratyaksha'' in Hinduism is one of the three principal means of knowledge, it means that which is present before the eyes clear, distinct and evident.

Meaning

Pratyaksha (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: प्रत्यक्ष

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...

: pratyakṣa) literally means that which is perceptible to the eye or visible, in general usage it refers to being present, present before the eye i.e. within the range of sight, cognizable by any sense organ, distinct, evident, clear, direct, immediate, explicit, express, corporeal; it is a Pramana, mode of proof. The

Nyaya (Sanskrit: न्याय, ''nyā-yá''), literally meaning "justice", "rules", "method" or "judgment",pramana ''Pramana'' (Sanskrit: प्रमाण, ) literally means " proof" and "means of knowledge".Anumana ''Pramana'' (Sanskrit: प्रमाण, ) literally means " proof" and "means of knowledge".Shabda ''Shabda'' ( sa, शब्द, ), is the Sanskrit word for "speech sound". In Sanskrit grammar, the term refers to an utterance in the sense of linguistic performance. History In classical Indian philosophy of language, the grammarian Katyayan ...

(verbal testimony); this school recognizes these four kinds only. The

Sankhya ''Samkhya'' or ''Sankya'' (; Sanskrit सांख्य), IAST: ') is a dualistic school of Indian philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit); and ''prakṛti'', (nature ...

School does not recognize ''Upamana'' as a ''pramana''. To these four auxiliaries which help illuminate things the Vedantins and the Mimamsakas also add ''

Anupalabdhi ''Anupalabdhi'' (Sanskrit: अनुपलब्धि) means 'non-recognition', 'non-perception'. This word refers to the Pramana of Non-perception which consists in the presentative knowledge of negative facts. Hinduism ''Anupalabdhi'' or '' ...

'' (non-apprehension) and ''Arthapatti'' (presumption)as valid ''pramanas''.

Means of knowledge

''Pratyaksha'' is one of the three principal means of knowledge. The three principal means of knowledge are – 1) ''Anumana'', inference from data, which depends for its value on the possession of the right data, on the right observation of the data including the drawing of the right analogies, the unerring perception of true identity and rejection of false identity, the just estimate of difference and contrast, and on the power of right reasoning from the right data; 2) ''Pratyaksha'' which is the process of collecting and knowing the data, and 3) ''Aptavakya'' which is evidence, the testimony of men in possession of the sought after knowledge.

Implication

''Pratyaksha'' refers to the faculties of perception with which are connected thoughts ('' Chinta''), imagination (''Kalpana'') and volition (''Praytna''), which four together as ''Chetas'' illuminate the '' Manas'', the ordinary mental equipment of the individual, and give awareness or consciousness (''Chetna''). There are four types of valid perceptions – a) ''Indriya pratyaksha'' or sense perception, b) ''Manas pratyaksha'' or mental perception, c) ''Svavedana pratyaksha'' or self-consciousness, and d) ''Yoga pratyaksha'' or super normal intuition. In sense perception, which is an indeterminate perception the ''chittashakti'' (intelligence-energy) acts as the substratum of the senses. Mental perception arises when ''chittashakti'', with the aid of ''

Buddhi :''In Hindu mythology, Buddhi is one of the wives of Ganesha.'' Buddhi (Sanskrit: बुद्धि) refers to the intellectual faculty and the power to "form and retain concepts, reason, discern, judge, comprehend, understand". Etymology ''Budd ...

'', reflects upon objects of senses, and is a determinate perception. Self-consciousness arises when, directed by the ''

tattvas According to various Indian schools of philosophy, ''tattvas'' () are the elements or aspects of reality that constitute human experience. In some traditions, they are conceived as an aspect of deity. Although the number of ''tattvas'' varies ...

'' or ''panchakoshas'', ''raga'' (attachment), ''vidya'' (knowledge), ''niyati'' (order of things), ''kala'' (time) and ''kalpa'' (the elements) along with pleasure and pain become objects of knowledge to chit, the intelligence of the self. Super normal intuition is gained after removal of impurities cover the intelligent-self through practice of the eight-fold yogic-discipline. ''Pratyaksha'' knowledge can be gained through a) Worldly pratyaksha, externally through the five senses and internally through mind, and b) Transcendental ''pratyaksha'' which is divided into ''Samanya'', ''Lakshana'', ''Gyana lakshana'' and ''Yogaja''. ''Pratyaksha'' (apparent or obvious) is divided into ''

Savikalpa ''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...

'', ''

Nirvikalpa ''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...

'' and ''Pratibhigya''. ''Pratyaksha'' knowledge is intuitive in nature and in

Yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

and

Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; sa, वेदान्त, ), also ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six (''āstika'') schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, t ...

is also known as

Aparokshanubhuti The ''Aparokshanubhuti'' (Sanskrit: अपरोक्षानुभूतिः) is a famous work attributed to Adi Shankara. It is a popular introductory work (prakran grantha) that expounds Advaita Vedanta philosophy. It describes a method tha ...

References

{{Indian philosophy, state=collapsed Hindu philosophical concepts Vedanta Upanishads Yoga concepts Buddhist philosophical concepts Sanskrit words and phrases