Difference Between Orthodox (Astika) and Heterodox (Nastika) Schools of Indian Philosophy
The words "astika" and "nastika" have a different connotation in Indian philosophical literature. In common parlance as also in modern Indian language, "astika" means "theist" i.e. one believing in God, and "nastika" means "atheist" i.e. one who does not believe in the existence of God.
But in Indian philosophical language, the word "astika" means one who believes in the authority of Vedas. The term "nastika" means its opposite, i.e. one who refuses to accept the authority of Vedas. The orthodox systems recognise the authority of the Vedas while the heterodox systems do not recognise their authority. The former are called "astika" and the latter are called "nastika".
The Carvaka, Bauddha and Jaina schools are heterodox systems. They do not believe in the authority of the Vedas, nor do they accept the Vedas as the source of valid knowledge. Moreover , none of these schools believe in the existence of God. Thus these three schools are "nastika" in both meanings of the term. Carvaka is a materialistic system. The Carvakas believe in the reality of matter only and do not recognise the reality of soul and God. They are not prepared to admit the reality of anything which is not given in sense perception. The Bauddhas are phenomenalists in so far as they believe in the reality of phenomena, changes or impermanence. They do not recognise the reality of any immaterial soul-substance other than the fleeting states o consciousness. The Jainas are also atheists, because they do not believe in God as the creator of the world. The Carvaka, Bauddha and Jaina schools arose mainly in opposition to the Vedic culture, and therefore they rejected the authorities of the Vedas.
The Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta are the six orthodox (astika) systems, because they believe in the authority of the Vedas. These six systems are popularly known as "sad-darsana" (six philosophies). Of those six orthodox systems, Samkhya and Mimamsa do not believe in God as the creator of the world, yet they are astika or orthodox since they believe in the authority of Vedas.
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