Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.173

c16.173

1. '**Pramāṇa.**' *Pramā* means 'true knowledge' and *Pramāṇa*, 'what produces such knowledge, the means of achieving such knowledge.' *Pramāṇa* therefore stands for the usual ways of knowing through (a) *Pratyaksha* (direct perception), (b) *Anumāna* (Inference), and (c) *Āgama* (Authority). *Pratyaksha* is defined as *indriyajanyā* (outcome of the senses), *Anumāna vyāptijñāna-janyā* (outcome of a knowledge of generic qualities), and *Āgama* as *śabdajñāna-janyā* (caused by knowledge of what is heard) *chitta-vṛitti*.