mīmāṃsā f. profound thought or reflection or Consideration, investigation, examination, discussion, ŚBr.; TĀr.

theory (cf. kāvya-m˚)

‘examination of the Vedic text’, N. of one of the 3 great divisions of orthodox Hindū philosophy (divided into 2 systems, viz. the Pūrva-mīmāṃsā or Karma-mīmāṃsā by Jaimini, concerning itself chiefly with the correct interpretation of Vedic ritual and text, and usually called the Mīmāṃsā; and the Uttara-mīmāṃsā or Brahma-mīmāṃsā or Śārīraka-mīmāṃsā by Bādarāyaṇa, commonly styled the Vedānta and dealing chiefly with the nature of Brahmă or the one universal Spirit), IW. 46; 98 &c.

mīmāṃsā [mān-vicāre svārthe san a] 1 Deep reflection, inquiry, examination, investigation; rasagaṃgādharanāmnīṃ karoti kutukena kāvyamīmāṃsāṃ R. G.; saiṣā ānaṃdasya mīmāṃsā bhavati T. Up.; so dattaka˚, alaṃkāra˚ &c. 2 N. of one of (pb) the six chief darsanas or systems of Indian philosophy. (It was originally divided into two systems:-the pūrvamīmāṃsā or karmamīmāṃsā founded by Jaimini, and the uttaramīmāṃsā or brahmamīmāṃsā ascribed to Bādarāyaṇa; but the two systems have very little in common between them, the first concerning itself chiefly with the correct interpretation of the ritual of the Veda and the settlement of dubious points in regard to Vedic texts; and the latter dealing chiefly with the nature of Brahman or the Supreme Spirit. The pūrvamīmāṃsā is, therefore, usually styled only mīmāṃsā or the Mīmāṃsā, and the uttaramīmāṃsā, vedāṃta which, being hardly a sequel of Jaimini's system, is now considered and ranked separately); mīmāṃsākṛ tamunmamātha sahasā hastī mutiṃ jaiminiṃ Pt. 2. 33. Comp. — kāraḥ -kṛt m. N. of Jaimini.

mīmāṃsā f. (-sā) One of the philosophical systems of the Hindus, or rather a two-fold system, the two parts of which form two of the six Darśanas or schools of philosophy; the first part, the Pūrva Mīmāṃsā, or Mīmāṃsā simply, originates with [Page663] the Muni JAIMINI, and illustrates the Karma kāṇḍa of the Vedas, or the practical part, (the ritual,) of religion and devotion, including also moral and legal obligations. The second part, or Uttara Mīmāṃsā, ascribed to VYĀSA, is the same as the Vedānta, founded on the Jñāna-kāṇḍa or theological portion of the Vedas, and treating of the spiritual worship of the Supreme Being or soul of the universe. E. māna to seek knowledge, aff. aṅ and ṭāp; the derivative takes the augment of the reduplicate form of the verb.