Brahminical Schools

Kumarila Prabhakara: Proponent of Purva-Mimamsa

Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara were leading figures of the Purva-Mimamsa school. They specialized in the philosophy of Vedic ritual and the science of scriptural interpretation.

Primary Reference: Standard Educational Reference

Archived: 2022

Updated: 11 Jan 2026

Exam Year

2022

Evidence Source

Link ↗

To which one of the following schools of philosophy did Kumarila Prabhakara belong?

[CDS 2022 (II)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Kumarila Bhatta (often linked with his student Prabhakara) was a giant of Indian philosophy who revitalized the school of Vedic interpretation in the 7th century.

Authentic Source Evidence

He belonged to the Purva-Mimamsa school, which argues that the Vedas are the sole and eternal source of valid knowledge. He is famous for his logical defense of Vedic sacrifices against Buddhist critiques.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Option C is correct. He founded the 'Bhatta' school within Purva-Mimamsa, while his student Prabhakara founded the 'Prabhakara' school.

Logic 2: Lokayata (A) is materialism. Madhyamika (B) is Buddhist emptiness. Uttara-Mimamsa (D) is the later school of Vedanta focusing on knowledge rather than action.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What was Kumarila's main philosophical goal?"

To prove the absolute authority of the Vedas as a self-validating source of knowledge that does not require human or divine authorship.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Kumarila’s logical defense of the Vedas paved the way for Adi Shankara's subsequent philosophical victory over Buddhism."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Karma-Kanda 2 Apurva 3

Analysing authentic CDS (II)previous year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Brahminical Schools helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Kumarila Bhatta and Purva-Mimamsa builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →