Ajit Kumar Behura
Indian School of
Mines, Dhanbad
Paper Title: Dharma in Purva-Mimamsa: Secular and Sacred
Abstract
Dharma
is the supreme Duty, the categorical imperative, the subject of inquiry in
Mimamsa Sutra. Purva Mimamsa as a traditional system of interpretation of Vedic
rituals, offer a minimal interpretation that makes no ontological commitment
regarding the existence of deities. Practices are fundamental, ontological
commitment is derivative. The highest good can be achieved by acting in
accordance with Dharma. Dharma is that which the cultivated persons praise when
it is done and condemn the opposite. Dharma as being of the nature of an
injunction incites a person to act. Action is the final import of the Veda
which commands us to do certain actions. The authoritativeness of the Veda is
supported by social consciousness and individual conscience. Obedience to the
scripture is the end in itself and is of ultimate value. Karma and Upasana are
absolutely necessary to hasten the dawn of true knowledge. The metaphysical
interpretations, on the other hand, are maximal interpretations, justifying
practice by embedding it in a large metaphysical theory. A minimal
interpretation, which is preferable, concedes autonomy to practice, looks for
its own for practical rationality. The maximal interpretation is found in the Purana literature, the minimal in Mimamsa and Dharmasastra tradition. For the present purpose, I will here take
Dharma in the sense of ethical and moral virtues. The paper would logically analyse and justify
that the Vedic concept of Dharma interpreted by Purva-Mimamsa is secular.
Dr Ajit
Kumar Behura, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Humanities and
Social Sciences, ISM, Dhanbad has eleven years of teaching and research experience.
He taught various philosophy courses
at the University of Dayton Academic Program at Deepahalli Campus, Bengaluru. Main areas of research interest are Applied
Ethics: Environmental Ethics, Ethics in Scientific and Technological Research,
Engineering Ethics and Indian Philosophy. He had his doctoral studies at Hyderabad Central University and Post-Doctoral Research at IIT, Kharagpur. He has an additional degree on Teaching Yoga.