INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD

The philosophical traditions of Nyāya and Vaiśeṣika occupy a foundational position within classical Indian philosophy. Traditionally, Nyāya has been interpreted as a school of logic and epistemology, whereas Vaiśeṣika has been studied as a system of ontology and atomistic pluralism [1] [2]. Most scholarly discussions have therefore concentrated upon pramāṇa theory, categories of reality, inference, atomism, and metaphysical realism [3]. However, the inner philosophical movement connecting Nyāya, Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika and Vaiśeṣika has not received adequate interpretative attention from the perspective of consciousness-oriented philosophical evolution.

The present paper proposes that the historical and conceptual transition from Nyāya to Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika and finally toward Vaiśeṣika may be interpreted as a gradual ascent from external logical inquiry toward subtler metaphysical reflection and consciousness-oriented understanding. Nyāya initially establishes the discipline of rational cognition through valid means of knowledge and logical purification of thought [4]. The later synthesis of Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika integrates epistemology and ontology into a unified philosophical structure. Vaiśeṣika, through its subtle analysis of dravya, guṇa, karma, samavāya and atomistic metaphysics, moves toward an increasingly interiorized conception of reality [5] [6].

It is argued in this paper that Vaiśeṣika atomism should not merely be interpreted as physical reductionism. Rather, it may be understood as a philosophical attempt to reduce gross multiplicity into subtle metaphysical principles. Such a movement indirectly points toward a deeper concern with the hidden order of existence, cosmic intelligence and the refinement of consciousness. The paper further suggests that this philosophical progression reflects an inward intellectual ascent within Indian thought from rational certainty toward metaphysical consciousness [7] [8].