The Origins of Indian Philosophy

This book argues that the origins of Indian philosophy should not be traced to the Vedic Upaniṣads. Instead, various non-Brahmanical movements developed philosophical ideas that later influenced Brahmanism. The different strands of thought that contributed to this historical evolution-where non-Vedic elements played a predominant role-are identified and analyzed in detail. The book concludes by examining the Vedic response to these developments, which gradually gained prominence over time.

About the Author:

JOHANNES BRONKHORST is a retired professor of Sanskrit and Indian Studies at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. He studied in Pune (PhD, 1979) and later earned a second doctorate from the University of Leiden (1980). In 1987, he was appointed full professor of Sanskrit and Indian Studies at the University of Lausanne, where he remained until his retirement in 2011. His extensive publications cover various aspects of Indian thought. Among his most recent works are Studies in the Sarvadarśanasamgraha (2024) and Compendium of All Philosophies: The Sarvadarśanasamgraha Translated (2025).