Mimamsa

Terminology

Mīmāṁsā (IAST), also romanized Mimansa or Mimamsa, means "reflection, consideration, profound thought, investigation, examination, discussion" in Sanskrit. It also refers to the "examination of the Vedic text" and to a school of Hindu philosophy that is also known as Pūrva Mīmāṁsā ("prior" inquiry, also Karma-Mīmāṁsā), in contrast to Uttara Mīmāṁsā ("posterior" inquiry, also Jñāna-Mīmāṁsā) – the opposing school of Vedanta. This division is based on classification of the Vedic texts into karmakāṇḍa, the early sections of the Veda treating of mantras and rituals (Samhitas and Brahmanas), and the jñānakāṇḍa dealing with the meditation, reflection and knowledge of Self, Oneness, Brahman (the Upaniṣads). Between the Samhitas and Brahmanas, the Mīmāṁsā school places greater emphasis on the Brahmanas – the part of Vedas that is a commentary on Vedic rituals.