Indian thinkers whose names you need to know

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. However, with its vast territory, unique culture, and rich history, India always remains on the sidelines. Let’s look at some of the most significant guides of Indian thought.

5 Indian thinkers whose names you need to know

1. Parshvanatha

Parshvanatha lived in the 7th or 8th century BC and is considered the first teacher of Jainism to be recognized as a real historical figure. This name is mentioned not only in Jain texts but also in Buddhist writings. The monk has been preaching for 70 years and has gathered many followers. Jainism challenged established traditions, including the caste structure of Indian society.

According to this teaching, omniscience, omnipotence, and eternal bliss are achieved through the self-improvement of the soul. Four restrictions should be observed to avoid straying from the path: nonviolence, non-theft, non-deceit, and lack of. However, unlike other Jain leaders, Parshvanatha opposed strict asceticism. The followers were allowed to wear clothes and have personal but essential life-related things.

2. Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born into a noble family and lived in luxury, which was entirely inaccessible to most of his fellow citizens. One day, the young man discovered a world filled with suffering outside his palace. When Siddhartha Gautama saw the treachery, poverty, injustice, and widespread pursuit of profit, his eyes filled with tears.

The Crown Prince transformed into an ascetic monk just one night. Renouncing all excesses, the Buddha practiced meditation for several years and achieved enlightenment by formulating four noble truths: suffering exists, its cause is desire (thirst for something), and suffering can be stopped in nirvana, where the middle path leads between hedonistic excess and severe asceticism.

3. Chanakya

First, Chanakya is known for the ancient text on political economy, “Arthashastra”. The court philosopher and statesman focuses on preserving the ruler’s power, but does not use completely standard methods, at least for that period. Any discontent can be suppressed by brute force, but Chanakya sees the true wisdom of the ruler in expanding civil rights and creating more preferences for the poor.

As an advisor to the king, Chanakya became one of the principal architects of the Mauryan Empire. Visit. A F R I N I K .C O M . For the full article. The vast state would dominate the subcontinent for several centuries, uniting almost the entire modern territory of India as early as the second century BC.

4. Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak is the founder of Sikhism, who has been called the “First Guru” of the faith. The thinker was born in 1469 in modern Pakistan in Lahore. Nanak preached monotheism and the unity of humanity. In his world, the primary virtues were service to others, honesty in actions, and a simple life. The main thing is not to harm anyone, because everyone is presented as a whole. By doing evil to someone, a person does a bad deed for everyone, including himself. The collected works of Guru Nanak became the basis of the Sikh ideology and attracted millions of followers.

5. Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was born in 1861 and became the first non-European in history to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. The famous poet, artist, and musician, among other things, was engaged in political theory. His country was in colonial dependence on the British Empire — Tagore considered the low level of consciousness of the people to be the main reason for this situation. To remedy the problem, the thinker founded the Visva-Bharati University.

Tagore met with other great minds to spread his ideas and views on India’s place in the world community, including Albert Einstein, H. G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, and Mahatma Gandhi. Rabindranath Tagore prevented the future leader of the Indian resistance from dying, convincing him to end his hunger strike.