2026, Vol. 12, Issue 1, Part A

author(s)
Pritirekha Bhuyan and Dr. Bharati Goswami

abstract
The concept of the self (ātmā) occupies a central position in Indian philosophical discourse, particularly within the orthodox systems, though it is variously interpreted across different schools. While heterodox traditions such as Buddhism and Cārvāka deny the existence of a permanent self, the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika system firmly upholds an eternal, non-material self as a fundamental ontological category. This paper examines the concept of the self as elaborated in Bhāṣāpariccheda, a seminal Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika text authored by Viśvanāthanyāyapañcānana, along with insights from his commentary Siddhāntamuktāvalī. The primary objective of the study is to provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the nature, qualities, and proofs of the self as presented in this work, an area that has not yet received exhaustive scholarly attention.
Methodologically, the paper adopts both descriptive and analytical approaches, drawing upon Bhāṣāpariccheda, its classical commentaries, and other authoritative Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika texts. Through close textual analysis, the study explores the classification of the self as one of the nine substances (dravya), its distinction from body, senses, and mind, and its role as the substratum of consciousness, pleasure, pain, desire, effort, merit, and demerit. Special attention is given to Viśvanātha’s refutation of Cārvāka materialism and his arguments establishing the self’s eternity, partlessness, and plurality. The paper also analyses the epistemological grounds for knowing the self, highlighting perception, inference, and inner awareness (ahaṁkāra) as crucial means.
The study concludes that Bhāṣāpariccheda presents a coherent and robust defense of the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika doctrine of the self as an eternal, all-pervading, non-physical entity, indispensable for explaining knowledge, moral responsibility, memory, and liberation. By systematizing Viśvanātha’s views, the paper contributes to a clearer understanding of classical Indian theories of selfhood and their enduring philosophical significance.