A method through
which human beings may receive real and correct knowledge, often divided into
one of three forms in Indian philosophy: Perception (pratyaksha), which
encompasses both magical and yogic insight as well as direct sensory
perception; inference (anumana), which is based on direct experience; and
witness (shabda), which may be scriptural or based on one's teacher's teaching.
A fourth source, analogy (upamana), is included in certain
philosophical systems, while those who do not acknowledge it classify it as
another kind of inference.
Except for materialists, who admit just perception, all
philosophical systems embrace the first three.
The Purva Mimamsa school believes that two more
pramanas—presumption (arthapatti) and knowledge from absence (abhava)—combine
to form one knowledge.
The name "measurement" derives from the verb
"to measure," therefore they are instruments for measuring and
analyzing the environment we live in.
