Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.78

c16.78

The first source of knowledge is *Pramāṇa*, observation or perception, direct, personal, and independent. As pointed out by Dr. B. N. Seal [*Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus*, ch. vii], "the entire apparatus of scientific method proceeded on the basis of observed instances carefully analysed and sifted." The second means of knowledge is *Anumāna* (Inference), which is the process of ascertaining, not by perception or direct observation, but through the instrumentality or medium of a mark that a thing possesses a certain character.