Adhikaraṇa
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Adhikaraṇa literally means ‘ground or support’.
The word is generally used in the sense of a base, ground or support. For instance, in the phrase: ‘This is a blue lotus with a sweet smell,’ the lotus flower forms the ‘adhikaraṇa’ for the blue color and the sweet smell.
In the Mimāmsā philosophy, it is used as a technical term and indicates the section of a work dealing with a particular topic. It consists of five parts :
- Viṣaya - subject of discussion
- Viśaya or sarnśaya - doubt
- Pṅrvapakṣa - prima facie view
- Uttara - Answer
- Siddhānta or Nirṇaya - final conclusion
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore