Śrī Vaiṣṇavite rebuttal of the Cārvāka dogma
Author(s): V Kalaivani
Abstract: Vaiçëava Çaiva, Çäkta, Soura, Gäëapatya, Skanda, Budhism, Jainism and Cärväka have been the faiths of this land over centuries. The first six are based on Vedic tenets while the last three have denounced Vedic doctrines and were built on the idea of sensual perception and personal discipline. The Cärväka faith, in particular, posits that life and death are but chemical changes that appear and disappear with time and thus transmutes the human with six senses into an instinct-driven beast. The Vedic faiths have rejected the non-Vedic through works of debate and reason, using arguments from the Vedas. This paper presents a brief outline of how Viçiçtädvaitic works condemn Cärväka and its teachings, with particular focus on Sri Desika’s denouncement of the Cärväka principles. The arguments of the Viçiçtädvaitic scholars against nihilistic dogmas such as Cärväka aim at the attainment of the highest good or summum bonum of our life.
There have, in our vast country, been a multitude of beliefs, faiths and religions for many millennia, with well-established codes of conduct and practice. These codes were aimed at showing people the way to live righteously. To believe in a dogma with onesided opinions and beliefs is against common sense, as is the dependence on beliefs that are built merely on intuition and research. In order to live a purposeful life, it is essential to follow beliefs and codes that are clearly laid out.
Where from does true knowledge arise?
One attains this true knowledge, called Prameya, through the five senses, called Pramänä, becomes the soul or ätma.
How to cite this article:
V Kalaivani.
Śrī Vaiṣṇavite rebuttal of the Cārvāka dogma. Prācyā. 2020; 12(1): 122-131. DOI:
10.22271/pracya.2020.v12.i1.93
