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List of Indian philosophers

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Indian philosophy, the systems of thought and reflection that were developed by the civilizations of the Indian subcontinent. They include both orthodox (astika) systems, namely, the Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva-Mimamsa (or Mimamsa), and Vedanta (Advaita, Dwaita, Bhedbheda, Vishistadvaita), and unorthodox (nastika) systems, such as Buddhism, Jainism, Ajivika, Ajnana, Charvaka etc. as well as other schools such as Raseswera, Paninya, Pratyabhijna, Pasupata Shaivism, Shaivism etc. Indian thought has been concerned with various philosophical problems, significant among which are the nature of the world (cosmology), the nature of reality (metaphysics), logic, the nature of knowledge (epistemology), ethics, and the philosophy of religion etc. Some of the most famous and influential philosophers of all time were from the Indian Subcontinent such as Buddha, Nagarjuna, Adi Sankara, etc.[1][2][3] This list is until 14th century CE.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Life School Notes
Dirghatamas 24th century BCE
Avatsara 24th century BCE
Asita 24th century BCE Seer sage in Rigaveda
Brishaspati 24th century BCE
Lopamudra 22th century BCE wife of sage Agastya
Agastya 22th century BCE husband of Lopamudra and one of the saptarishis
Atri 22th century BCE one of the saptarishis
Bharadwaja 22th century BCE one of the saptarishis
Vasishtha 22th century BCE one of the saptarishis
Shakalya 22th century BCE His Padapatha of the Rig Veda was one of the early attempts in the direction of analysis
Sankhyayana Composer of Sankhyayana Brahmana
Valmiki 22th century BCE Valmiki was the writer of Ramyana and is revered as the first poet or Adi Kavi in Sanskrit literature.
Vyasa 19th century BCE Vyasa was the writer of Mahabharat.
Mahidasa Aitareya 19th century BCE
Gargi Vachaknavi 22th century BCE Debates with Yajnavalkya
Maitreyi 20th century BCE Advaita wife of Yajnavalkya
Aruni 19th century BCE[4] one of the first philosophers in recorded history.
Ghosha 20th century BCE -18th century BCE
Yajnavalkya 18th-17th century BCE[5][6][4] Credited for coining Advaita
Sandilya 18th century BCE Known for Sandilya Vidya, a set of teachings of vidyā or philosophy
Pratardana 18th century BCE
Bodhayana 18th century BCE Vishishtadvaita
Pravahana Jaivali 18th century BCE Known for Panchagni Vidya, a set of teachings of vidyā or philosophy
Śākaṭāyana 18th century BCE Nairukta (etymologist)
Raikva 18th century BCE
Satyakama Jabala 18th century BCE
Shukracharya 18th century BCE Political Philosophy He wrote Sukraneeti
Parshvanatha 18th century BCE Jainism 23rd Tirthankara and one of the earliest exponent of Karma philosophy in recorded history
Pippalada 18th century BCE He was the founder of Pippalada School of thought, which taught the Atharvaveda.
Shvetashvatara 18th century BCE
Sushrutha 18th century BCE Credited for Sushruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita and the Astanga Hridaya (regarded as one of the Great Trilogy of Ayurvedic Medicine and on various forms of surgery)
Ashtavakra 17th century BCE
Shvetaketu 17th century BCE grandson of sage and philosopher Aruni
Kapila 16th century BCE Samkhya credited as the founder of the Samkhya school,Argued for vegetaraninism
Āḷāra Kālāma 6th century BCE Samkhya .According to the Pāli Canon scriptures, he was the first teacher of Gautama Buddha.
Uddaka Rāmaputta 6th century BCE one of the teachers of Gautama Buddha
Panini 6th century BCE[7] Founder of Paniniya School
Pañcaśikha 6th century BCE Samkhya
Asuri 6th century BCE Samkhya Student of Kapila
Yaska 6th-5th century BCE[7] Nairukta (etymologist)
Brishaspati Charvaka
Akṣapāda Gautama 6th century BCE Nyaya credited as the founder of the Nyaya School
Kanada 6th century BCE Vaisheshika Credited as the founder of the Vaisheshika school,explained the creation and existence of the universe by proposing an atomistic theory, applying logic and realism, and is one of the earliest known systematic realist ontology in human history.
Purana Kassapa 6th century BCE Amoralism
Ajita Kesakambali 6th century BCE Charvaka Ajita propounded Ucchedavada (the Doctrine of Annihilation after death) and Tam-Jivam-tam-sariram-vada (the doctrine of identity of the soul and body), which denied the separate existence of an eternal soul.
Payasi 6th century BCE Charvaka
Pakudha Kaccayana 6th century BCE Sassatavāda Credited as the founder of the Atomism philosophy
Makkhali Gośāla 6th century BCE Ajivika
Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta 6th century BCE Ajñana
Mahavira 6th century BCE Jainism Taught the principles of Anekantavada (many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada.
Gautama Buddha 6th century BCE Founder of Buddhism
Śāriputra 6th century BCE Buddhism He is considered the first of the Buddha's two chief male disciples
Kaniyan Pungundranar 5th century BCE Philosopher from the Sangam age
Pingala 5th century BCE
Dandamis 4th century BCE
Kalanos 4th century BCE
Chanakya 4th century BCE Political philosophy He is considered the pioneer of the field of political science and economics in India.
Jaimini 4th century BCE Mimansa Founder of Mimansa School
Moggaliputta-Tissa 3rd century BCE Buddhism
Avvaiyar 3rd century BCE Sangam era poet
Bogar 3rd century BCE one of the 18 celebrated siddhars of Tamil Nadu
Korakkar 3rd century BCE one of the 18 celebrated siddhars of Tamil Nadu
Patanjali 2nd Century BCE Paniniya Founder of Yoga School
Nagasena 2nd Century BCE Buddhism
Kātyāyana 2nd Century BCE
Badarayana 2nd century BCE Vedanta Badarayana is regarded as having written the basic text of the Vedanta system, the Vedāntasūtra a.k.a. Brahmasūtra
Manu 2nd century BCE Author of Manumsriti
Thiruvalluvar 1st Century BCE
Śabara 1st century CE Mimansa Composed the Śābara-bhāṣyam, also known as Mīmāsas̄ūtra-bhas̄ỵa, a commentary on the Purva Mimamsa Sutras.[8]
Lakulisha 1st century CE Pashupata Shaivism
Aśvaghoṣa 1st century CE Buddhism He is believed to have been the first Sanskrit dramatist, and is considered the greatest Indian poet prior to Kālidāsa.
Gunadhara 1st century CE Jainism
Sarvajña Rāmeśvara Raseśvara
Govinda Bhagavat Raseśvara
Vātsyāyana 1st century CE Famous for "Kama Sutra"
Nagarjuna 2nd century CE[4] Buddhism Founder of Madhyamaka
Kapilar 2nd century CE
Kundakunda 2nd century CE Jainism
Umaswati 2nd century CE Jainism Author of the Tattvārthādhigama-sūtra.[8]
Samantabhadra 2nd century CE Jainism He was a proponent of the Jaina doctrine of Anekantavada.
Ilango Adigal 2nd century CE Jainism
Isvarakrsna 3rd century CE Samkhya
Aryadeva 3rd century CE Buddhism Aryadeva was a student of Nagarjuna and contributed significantly to the Madhyamaka
Asanga 4th century CE[4] Buddhism One of the founder of the Yogachara. He is known as one of the seventeen Nalanda masters.
Aviddhakarṇa Charvaka
Vasubandhu 4th century CE Buddhism one of the founder of the Yogachara .He is known as one of the seventeen Nalanda masters.
Dignāga 4th century CE Buddhism One of the Buddhist founders of Indian logic (hetu vidyā).
Pakṣilasvāmin Vātsyāyana 4th century CE Nyaya
Haribhadra 4th century CE Jainism
Pujyapada 5th century CE Jainism
Buddhaghosa 5th century CE Buddhism
Vatsyayana 5th century CE Nyaya
Kambalasvatara Charvaka
Bodhidharma 5th century CE Buddhism
Kamandaka 5th century CE Kautilyan(Chanakya)School of diplomacy
Bhartṛhari 5th century CE Paniniya
Guṇabhadra 5th century CE Buddhism
Maticandra 5th century CE Samkhya
Siddhasena 5th century CE Jainism
Dharmakirti 6th century CE Buddhism He was also one of the primary theorists of Buddhist atomism
Prabhākara 6th century CE Mimansa Founder of Pravakar School
Prashastapada 6th century CE Vaisheshika
Bhāviveka 6th century CE Buddhism In Tibetan Buddhism Bhāviveka is regarded as the founder of the Svātantrika tradition of the Mādhyamaka school of Buddhism
Bodhiruci 6th century CE Buddhism
Bhavivikta 6th century CE Nyaya
Dharmapala 6th century CE Buddhism
Manikyanandi 6th century CE Jainism
Śīlabhadra 6th century CE Buddhism
Udyotakara 6th century CE Nyaya-Vaisheshika synthesis
Bhatta Narayana 6th century CE Buddhism
Purandara Charvaka
Sthiramati 6th century CE Buddhism
Paramartha 6th century CE Buddhism
Gaudapada 6th century CE Advaita
Buddhapālita 6th century CE Buddhism
Buddhapālita 6th century CE Buddhism
Kumārila Bhaṭṭa 7th century CE[7] Mimansa
Jinabhadra 7th century CE Jainism
Buddhaguhya 7th century CE Buddhism A key figure in Theravāda Buddhism and the author of the Visuddhimagga.[8]
Chandragomin 7th century CE Buddhism Chandragomin was a teacher at Nalanda Monastic University
Pushpadanta 7th century CE Jainism
Bhartṛprapañca 7th century CE Bhedabheda
Govinda Bhagavatpada 7th century CE Advaita He was the Guru of the Adi Shankara.
Rājāna 7th century CE Samkhya Wrote the longest commentary on Sankhya-Karika called Yukti-dīpikā, “Light on the arguments”
Bhutabali 7th century CE Jainism
Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa 8th century CE Ajnana He is known for his radical skepticism
Kumudendu 8th century CE Jainism
Adi Shankara 8th century CE[4] Advaita He is credited by some with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.
Totakacharya 8th century CE Advaita He was a disciple of Ādi Śaṅkara
Virasena 8th century CE Jainism
Śāntarakṣita 8th century CE Buddhism
Virūpa 8th century CE Buddhism
Acharya Vamana 8th century CE Vamana's investigation into the nature of a Kāvya is known as theory of Riti
Hastamalakacharya 8th century CE Advaita He was a disciple of Adi Shankara, Hastamalaka founded a matha by name Idayil Matham in Thrissur, Kerala
Jñānagarbha 8th century CE Buddhism
Padmapadacharya 8th century CE Advaita A follower of Adi Shankara
Vimalamitra 8th century CE Buddhism
Udbhatabhatta Charvaka
Maṇḍana Miśra 8th century CE Initially Mimansa,Then Advaita
Nammalvar 8th century CE one of the twelve alvar saints
Ubaya Bharti 8th century CE Mimansa Wife of Maṇḍana Miśra, Famous for debate with Adi Sankara
Nimbarkacharya 8th century CE He founded Nimbarka Sampradaya, one of four main traditions of Hindu sect Vaishnavism
Śāntarakṣita 8th century CE Buddhism
Vidyananda 8th century CE Jainism
Śālikanātha 8th century CE Mimansa
Vajrabodhi 8th century CE Buddhism one of the eight patriarchs in Shingon Buddhism.
Aparajita 8th century CE Jainism He defended the practice of Digambara monks of being nude
Śubhakarasiṃha 8th century CE Buddhism one of the eight patriarchs in Shingon Buddhism.
Akalanka 8th century CE Jainism
Baladevācārya 8th century CE Father of Sridhara
Haribhadra 8th century CE Buddhism Disciple of Śāntarakṣita
Bhāskara 8th century CE Bhedabheda
Dharmottara 8th century CE Buddhism
Ravigupta 8th century CE Buddhism
Jayanta Bhatta 9th century CE Nyaya
Anandavardhana 9th century CE Ānandavardhana is credited with creating the dhvani theory.
Adikavi Pampa 9th century CE Jainism
Sridhara 9th century CE
Vācaspati Miśra 9th century CE Advaita
Vasugupta 9th century CE Pratyabhijna
Bhatta Kallata 9th century CE Pratyabhijna Pupil of Vasugupta
Gunabhadra 9th century CE Jainism He co-authored Mahapurana along with Jinasena.
Bhasavarajna 10th century CE Nyaya
Udayana 10th century CE Nyaya
Śaṅkaranandana 10th century CE Buddhism
Ratnavajra 10th century CE Buddhism
Utpaladeva 10th century CE Pratyabhijna
Laksmanagupta 10th century CE Pratyabhijna son and disciple of Utpaladeva,and teacher of Abhinavagupta
Abhinavagupta 10th century CE
Kshemaraja 10th century CE Pratyabhijna disciple of Abhinavagupta
Nemichandra 10th century CE Jainism
Nathamuni 10th century CE Vishishtadvaita
Somānanda 10th century CE Vishishtadvaita
Indrabhuti 10th century CE Buddhism
Yamunacharya 10th century CE Vishistadvaita
Amritchandra 10th century CE Jainism
Jñanasrimitra 11th century CE Buddhism
Mahapurna 11th century CE
Yadava Prakaasa 11th century CE Advaita One of the teachers of Ramanuja
Atīśa 11th century CE Buddhism
Ratnakīrti 11th century CE Buddhism
Jinamitra 11th century CE Jainism
Jnanasribadara 11th century CE Buddhism
Bhoja 11th century CE
Nimbarkacharya 11th century CE Dvaitadvaita
Prabhācandra 11th century CE Jainism
Basavanna (c. 1131–1167 CE) Lingayatism Socio-religious reforms, Anubhava Mantapa, Vachana literature
Avvaiyar 12th century CE Famous for collection of single-line quotations" Aathichoodi"
Pillai Lokacharya 12th century CE Vishishtadvaita
Vardhamana Upadhyaya 12th century CE Nyaya
Ramanuja 12th century CE Vishishtadvaita
Mamaidev 12th century CE
Basava 12th century CE Shaivism Founder of Lingayatism
Siddheshwar 12th century CE Shaivism
Parasara Bhattar 12th century CE Vishishtadvaita
Naropa 12th century CE Buddhism
Vedanta Desika 12th century CE Vishishtadvaita
Vidyaranya 12th century CE Advaita
Khana 12th century CE
Akka Mahadevi 12th century CE Shaivism
Hemachandra 12th century CE Jainism
Shri Harsha 12th century CE
Abhayakaragupta 12th century CE Buddhism
Jayaratha 12th century CE
Someshvara III 12th century CE
Madhvacharya 13th century CE Dwaita Considered the chief proponent of 'Dwaita'
Vimuktatman 13th century CE Advaita
Yādavaprakāśa 13th century CE Advaita
Dnyaneshwar 13th century CE Advaita
Akshobhya Tirtha 13th century CE Dwaita
Narahari Tirtha 13th century CE Dwaita
Meykandar 13th century CE Shaivism.
Chakradhar Swami 13th century CE Dwaita
Trivikrama Panditacharya 13th century CE Dwaita Disciple of Madhvacharya
Amalananda 13th century CE Advaita
Vishnu Tirtha 13th century CE Dwaita Brother of Madhvacharya
Prakasatman 13th century CE Advaita
Padmanabha Tirtha 13th century CE Dwaita Disciple of Madhvacharya
Narayana Panditacharya 13th century CE Dwaita
Jayatirtha 14th century CE Dwaita considered as one of the founder of Haridasa movement
Lalla 14th century CE Pratyabhijna
Madhava Tirtha 14th century CE Dwaita 3rd pontiff of Madhvacharya peetha.
Sripadaraja 14th century CE Dwaita considered as one of the founder of Haridasa movement
Kavindra Tirtha 14th century CE Dwaita
Gangesha Upadhyaya 14th century CE[7] Nyaya He established the Navya-Nyāya ("New Logic") school

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Category Archives: Indian Philosophy". ep.utm.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  2. ^ Watts, Alan (1975). Psychotherapy, East and West. Vintage Books. ISBN 0394716094.
  3. ^ Walpola Rahula, Theravadin (1959). What the Buddha Taught. Oneworld Publications. ISBN 0-8021-3031-3.
  4. ^ a b c d e Ben-Ami Scharfstein (1998), A comparative history of world philosophy: from the Upanishads to Kant, Albany: State University of New York Press, pp. 9-11
  5. ^ Frits Staal (2008). Discovering the Vedas: Origins, Mantras, Rituals, Insights. Penguin Books. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-14-309986-4., Quote: "Yajnavalkya, a Vedic sage, taught..."
  6. ^ Patrick Olivelle (1998). Upaniṣads. Oxford University Press. pp. 3, 52–71. ISBN 978-0-19-283576-5.
  7. ^ a b c d "Approximate Chronology of Indian Philosophers". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  8. ^ a b c Adamson, Peter; Ganeri, Jonardon (2020). Classical Indian philosophy. A history of philosophy without any gaps. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-885176-9. OCLC 1140164020.
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