Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1661

c8.1661

All that can be perceived by the senses are included in the seven Padārthas according to the systems of Nyāya and Vaiśeṣika. Excepting abhāva all the other six are bhāvas. Kaṇāda has dealt with ‘abhāva’ but has not treated it as a category. Praśastapāda has not mentioned about ‘abhāva’ at all. Gautama deals with sixteen Padārthas. The Mīmāṃsakas take into account only five Padārthas and the Sāṅkhyas count only two Padārthas viz., Prakṛti and Puruṣa. Advaitavādins reckon only two Padārthas and to them they are Cit and Jaḍa (Ātmā and Anātman). Vi’iṣṭādvaitins add god also to the above and make the number of Padārthas three.