# List of Indian philosophers

Indian philosophy, the systems of thought and reflection that were developed by the civilizations of the Indian subcontinent. They include both orthodox (astika) systems, namely, the Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva-Mimamsa (or Mimamsa), and Vedanta (Advaita, Dwaita, Bhedbheda, Vishistadvaita), and unorthodox (nastika) systems, such as Buddhism, Jainism, Ajivika, Ajnana, Charvaka etc. as well as other schools such as Raseswera, Paninya, Pratyabhijna, Pasupata Shaivism, Shaivism etc. Indian thought has been concerned with various philosophical problems, significant among which are the nature of the world (cosmology), the nature of reality (metaphysics), logic, the nature of knowledge (epistemology), ethics, and the philosophy of religion etc. Some of the most famous and influential philosophers of all time were from the Indian Subcontinent such as Buddha, Nagarjuna, Adi Sankara, etc. This list is until 14th century CE.
| Name | Life | School | Notes |
| Dirghatamas | 14th century BCE | | |
| Avatsara | 14th century BCE | | |
| Asita | 14th century BCE | | Seer sage in Rigaveda |
| Brishaspati | 14th century BCE | | |
| Lopamudra | 12th century BCE | | wife of sage Agastya |
| Agastya | 12th century BCE | | husband of Lopamudra and one of the saptarishis |
| Atri | 12th century BCE | | one of the saptarishis |
| Bharadwaja | 12th century BCE | | one of the saptarishis |
| Vasishtha | 12th century BCE | | one of the saptarishis |
| Shakalya | 12th century BCE | | His Padapatha of the Rig Veda was one of the early attempts in the direction of analysis |
| Sankhyayana | | | Composer of Sankhyayana Brahmana |
| Valmiki | 11th century BCE | | Valmiki was the writer of Ramyana and is revered as the first poet or Adi Kavi in Sanskrit literature. |
| Vyasa | 9th century BCE | | Vyasa was the writer of Mahabharat. |
| Mahidasa Aitareya | 9th century BCE | | |
| Gargi Vachaknavi | 8th century BCE | | Debates with Yajnavalkya |
| Maitreyi | 8th century BCE | Advaita | wife of Yajnavalkya |
| Aruni | 8th century BCE | | one of the first philosophers in recorded history. |
| Ghosha | 10th century BCE -8th century BCE | | |
| Yajnavalkya | 8th-7th century BCE | | Credited for coining Advaita |
| Sandilya | 8th century BCE | | Known for Sandilya Vidya, a set of teachings of vidyā or philosophy |
| Pratardana | 8th century BCE | | |
| Bodhayana | 8th century BCE | Vishishtadvaita | |
| Pravahana Jaivali | 8th century BCE | | Known for Panchagni Vidya, a set of teachings of vidyā or philosophy |
| Śākaṭāyana | 8th century BCE | Nairukta (etymologist) | |
| Raikva | 8th century BCE | | |
| Satyakama Jabala | 8th century BCE | | |
| Shukracharya | 8th century BCE | Political Philosophy | He wrote Sukraneeti |
| Parshvanatha | 8th century BCE | Jainism | 23rd Tirthankara and one of the earliest exponent of Karma philosophy in recorded history |
| Pippalada | 8th century BCE | | He was the founder of Pippalada School of thought, which taught the Atharvaveda. |
| Shvetashvatara | 8th century BCE | | |
| Sushrutha | 8th century BCE | | Credited for Sushruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita and the Astanga Hridaya (regarded as one of the Great Trilogy of Ayurvedic Medicine and on various forms of surgery) |
| Ashtavakra | 7th century BCE | | |
| Shvetaketu | 7th century BCE | | grandson of sage and philosopher Aruni |
| Kapila | 6th century BCE | Samkhya | credited as the founder of the Samkhya school,Argued for vegetaraninism |
| Āḷāra Kālāma | 6th century BCE | Samkhya | .According to the Pāli Canon scriptures, he was the first teacher of Gautama Buddha. |
| Uddaka Rāmaputta | 6th century BCE | | one of the teachers of Gautama Buddha |
| Panini | 6th century BCE | | Founder of Paniniya School |
| Pañcaśikha | 6th century BCE | Samkhya | |
| Asuri | 6th century BCE | Samkhya | Student of Kapila |
| Yaska | 6th-5th century BCE | Nairukta (etymologist) | |
| Brishaspati | | Charvaka | |
| Akṣapāda Gautama | 6th century BCE | Nyaya | credited as the founder of the Nyaya School |
| Kanada | 6th century BCE | Vaisheshika | Credited as the founder of the Vaisheshika school,explained the creation and existence of the universe by proposing an atomistic theory, applying logic and realism, and is one of the earliest known systematic realist ontology in human history. |
| Purana Kassapa | 6th century BCE | Amoralism | |
| Ajita Kesakambali | 6th century BCE | Charvaka | Ajita propounded Ucchedavada (the Doctrine of Annihilation after death) and Tam-Jivam-tam-sariram-vada (the doctrine of identity of the soul and body), which denied the separate existence of an eternal soul. |
| Payasi | 6th century BCE | Charvaka | |
| Pakudha Kaccayana | 6th century BCE | Sassatavāda | Credited as the founder of the Atomism philosophy |
| Makkhali Gośāla | 6th century BCE | Ajivika | |
| Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta | 6th century BCE | Ajñana | |
| Mahavira | 6th century BCE | Jainism | Taught the principles of Anekantavada (many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada. |
| Gautama Buddha | 6th century BCE | | Founder of Buddhism |
| Śāriputra | 6th century BCE | Buddhism | He is considered the first of the Buddha's two chief male disciples |
| Kaniyan Pungundranar | 5th century BCE | | Philosopher from the Sangam age |
| Pingala | 5th century BCE | | |
| Dandamis | 4th century BCE | | |
| Kalanos | 4th century BCE | | |
| Chanakya | 4th century BCE | Political philosophy | He is considered the pioneer of the field of political science and economics in India. |
| Jaimini | 4th century BCE | Mimansa | Founder of Mimansa School |
| Moggaliputta-Tissa | 3rd century BCE | Buddhism | |
| Avvaiyar | 3rd century BCE | | Sangam era poet |
| Bogar | 3rd century BCE | | one of the 18 celebrated siddhars of Tamil Nadu |
| Korakkar | 3rd century BCE | | one of the 18 celebrated siddhars of Tamil Nadu |
| Patanjali | 2nd Century BCE | Paniniya | Founder of Yoga School |
| Nagasena | 2nd Century BCE | Buddhism | |
| Kātyāyana | 2nd Century BCE | | |
| Badarayana | 2nd century BCE | Vedanta | Badarayana is regarded as having written the basic text of the Vedanta system, the Vedāntasūtra a.k.a. Brahmasūtra |
| Manu | 2nd century BCE | | Author of Manumsriti |
| Thiruvalluvar | 1st Century BCE | | |
| Śabara | 1st century CE | Mimansa | Composed the Śābara-bhāṣyam, also known as Mīmāsas̄ūtra-bhas̄ỵa, a commentary on the Purva Mimamsa Sutras. |
| Lakulisha | 1st century CE | Pashupata Shaivism | |
| Aśvaghoṣa | 1st century CE | Buddhism | He is believed to have been the first Sanskrit dramatist, and is considered the greatest Indian poet prior to Kālidāsa. |
| Gunadhara | 1st century CE | Jainism | |
| Sarvajña Rāmeśvara | | Raseśvara | |
| Govinda Bhagavat | | Raseśvara | |
| Vātsyāyana | 1st century CE | | Famous for "Kama Sutra" |
| Nagarjuna | 2nd century CE | Buddhism | Founder of Madhyamaka |
| Kapilar | 2nd century CE | | |
| Kundakunda | 2nd century CE | Jainism | |
| Umaswati | 2nd century CE | Jainism | Author of the Tattvārthādhigama-sūtra. |
| Samantabhadra | 2nd century CE | Jainism | He was a proponent of the Jaina doctrine of Anekantavada. |
| Ilango Adigal | 2nd century CE | Jainism | |
| Isvarakrsna | 3rd century CE | Samkhya | |
| Aryadeva | 3rd century CE | Buddhism | Aryadeva was a student of Nagarjuna and contributed significantly to the Madhyamaka |
| Asanga | 4th century CE | Buddhism | One of the founder of the Yogachara. He is known as one of the seventeen Nalanda masters. |
| Aviddhakarṇa | | Charvaka | |
| Vasubandhu | 4th century CE | Buddhism | one of the founder of the Yogachara .He is known as one of the seventeen Nalanda masters. |
| Dignāga | 4th century CE | Buddhism | One of the Buddhist founders of Indian logic (hetu vidyā). |
| Pakṣilasvāmin Vātsyāyana | 4th century CE | Nyaya | |
| Haribhadra | 4th century CE | Jainism | |
| Pujyapada | 5th century CE | Jainism | |
| Buddhaghosa | 5th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Vatsyayana | 5th century CE | Nyaya | |
| Kambalasvatara | | Charvaka | |
| Bodhidharma | 5th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Kamandaka | 5th century CE | Kautilyan(Chanakya)School of diplomacy | |
| Bhartṛhari | 5th century CE | Paniniya | |
| Guṇabhadra | 5th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Maticandra | 5th century CE | Samkhya | |
| Siddhasena | 5th century CE | Jainism | |
| Dharmakirti | 6th century CE | Buddhism | He was also one of the primary theorists of Buddhist atomism |
| Prabhākara | 6th century CE | Mimansa | Founder of Pravakar School |
| Prashastapada | 6th century CE | Vaisheshika | |
| Bhāviveka | 6th century CE | Buddhism | In Tibetan Buddhism Bhāviveka is regarded as the founder of the Svātantrika tradition of the Mādhyamaka school of Buddhism |
| Bodhiruci | 6th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Bhavivikta | 6th century CE | Nyaya | |
| Dharmapala | 6th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Manikyanandi | 6th century CE | Jainism | |
| Śīlabhadra | 6th century CE | Buddhism |
| Udyotakara | 6th century CE | Nyaya-Vaisheshika synthesis | |
| Bhatta Narayana | 6th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Purandara | | Charvaka | |
| Sthiramati | 6th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Paramartha | 6th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Gaudapada | 6th century CE | Advaita | |
| Buddhapālita | 6th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Buddhapālita | 6th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Kumārila Bhaṭṭa | 7th century CE | Mimansa | |
| Jinabhadra | 7th century CE | Jainism | |
| Buddhaguhya | 7th century CE | Buddhism | A key figure in Theravāda Buddhism and the author of the Visuddhimagga. |
| Chandragomin | 7th century CE | Buddhism | Chandragomin was a teacher at Nalanda Monastic University |
| Pushpadanta | 7th century CE | Jainism | |
| Bhartṛprapañca | 7th century CE | Bhedabheda | |
| Govinda Bhagavatpada | 7th century CE | Advaita | He was the Guru of the Adi Shankara. |
| Rājāna | 7th century CE | Samkhya | Wrote the longest commentary on Sankhya-Karika called Yukti-dīpikā, “Light on the arguments” |
| Bhutabali | 7th century CE | Jainism | |
| Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa | 8th century CE | Ajnana | He is known for his radical skepticism |
| Kumudendu | 8th century CE | Jainism | |
| Adi Shankara | 8th century CE | Advaita | He is credited by some with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism. |
| Totakacharya | 8th century CE | Advaita | He was a disciple of Ādi Śaṅkara |
| Virasena | 8th century CE | Jainism | |
| Śāntarakṣita | 8th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Virūpa | 8th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Acharya Vamana | 8th century CE | | Vamana's investigation into the nature of a Kāvya is known as theory of Riti |
| Hastamalakacharya | 8th century CE | Advaita | He was a disciple of Adi Shankara, Hastamalaka founded a matha by name Idayil Matham in Thrissur, Kerala |
| Jñānagarbha | 8th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Padmapadacharya | 8th century CE | Advaita | A follower of Adi Shankara |
| Vimalamitra | 8th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Udbhatabhatta | | Charvaka | |
| Maṇḍana Miśra | 8th century CE | Initially Mimansa,Then Advaita | |
| Nammalvar | 8th century CE | | one of the twelve alvar saints |
| Ubaya Bharti | 8th century CE | Mimansa | Wife of Maṇḍana Miśra, Famous for debate with Adi Sankara |
| Nimbarkacharya | 8th century CE | | He founded Nimbarka Sampradaya, one of four main traditions of Hindu sect Vaishnavism |
| Śāntarakṣita | 8th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Vidyananda | 8th century CE | Jainism | |
| Śālikanātha | 8th century CE | Mimansa | |
| Vajrabodhi | 8th century CE | Buddhism | one of the eight patriarchs in Shingon Buddhism. |
| Aparajita | 8th century CE | Jainism | He defended the practice of Digambara monks of being nude |
| Śubhakarasiṃha | 8th century CE | Buddhism | one of the eight patriarchs in Shingon Buddhism. |
| Akalanka | 8th century CE | Jainism | |
| Baladevācārya | 8th century CE | | Father of Sridhara |
| Haribhadra | 8th century CE | Buddhism | Disciple of Śāntarakṣita |
| Bhāskara | 8th century CE | Bhedabheda | |
| Dharmottara | 8th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Ravigupta | 8th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Jayanta Bhatta | 9th century CE | Nyaya | |
| Anandavardhana | 9th century CE | | Ānandavardhana is credited with creating the dhvani theory. |
| Adikavi Pampa | 9th century CE | Jainism | |
| Sridhara | 9th century CE | | |
| Vācaspati Miśra | 9th century CE | Advaita | |
| Vasugupta | 9th century CE | Pratyabhijna | |
| Bhatta Kallata | 9th century CE | Pratyabhijna | Pupil of Vasugupta |
| Gunabhadra | 9th century CE | Jainism | He co-authored Mahapurana along with Jinasena. |
| Bhasavarajna | 10th century CE | Nyaya | |
| Udayana | 10th century CE | Nyaya | |
| Śaṅkaranandana | 10th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Ratnavajra | 10th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Utpaladeva | 10th century CE | Pratyabhijna | |
| Laksmanagupta | 10th century CE | Pratyabhijna | son and disciple of Utpaladeva,and teacher of Abhinavagupta |
| Abhinavagupta | 10th century CE | | |
| Kshemaraja | 10th century CE | Pratyabhijna | disciple of Abhinavagupta |
| Nemichandra | 10th century CE | Jainism | |
| Nathamuni | 10th century CE | Vishishtadvaita | |
| Somānanda | 10th century CE | Vishishtadvaita | |
| Indrabhuti | 10th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Yamunacharya | 10th century CE | Vishistadvaita | |
| Amritchandra | 10th century CE | Jainism | |
| Jñanasrimitra | 11th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Mahapurna | 11th century CE | | |
| Yadava Prakaasa | 11th century CE | Advaita | One of the teachers of Ramanuja |
| Atīśa | 11th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Ratnakīrti | 11th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Jinamitra | 11th century CE | Jainism | |
| Jnanasribadara | 11th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Bhoja | 11th century CE | | |
| Nimbarkacharya | 11th century CE | Dvaitadvaita | |
| Prabhācandra | 11th century CE | Jainism | |
| Basavanna | (c. 1131–1167 CE) | Lingayatism | Socio-religious reforms, Anubhava Mantapa, Vachana literature |
| Avvaiyar | 12th century CE | | Famous for collection of single-line quotations" Aathichoodi" |
| Pillai Lokacharya | 12th century CE | Vishishtadvaita | |
| Vardhamana Upadhyaya | 12th century CE | Nyaya | |
| Ramanuja | 12th century CE | Vishishtadvaita | |
| Mamaidev | 12th century CE | | |
| Basava | 12th century CE | Shaivism | Founder of Lingayatism |
| Siddheshwar | 12th century CE | Shaivism | |
| Parasara Bhattar | 12th century CE | Vishishtadvaita | |
| Naropa | 12th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Vedanta Desika | 12th century CE | Vishishtadvaita | |
| Vidyaranya | 12th century CE | Advaita | |
| Khana | 12th century CE | | |
| Akka Mahadevi | 12th century CE | Shaivism | |
| Hemachandra | 12th century CE | Jainism | |
| Shri Harsha | 12th century CE | | |
| Abhayakaragupta | 12th century CE | Buddhism | |
| Jayaratha | 12th century CE | | |
| Someshvara III | 12th century CE | | |
| Madhvacharya | 13th century CE | Dwaita | Considered the chief proponent of 'Dwaita' |
| Vimuktatman | 13th century CE | Advaita | |
| Yādavaprakāśa | 13th century CE | Advaita | |
| Dnyaneshwar | 13th century CE | Advaita | |
| Akshobhya Tirtha | 13th century CE | Dwaita | |
| Narahari Tirtha | 13th century CE | Dwaita | |
| Meykandar | 13th century CE | Shaivism. | |
| Chakradhar Swami | 13th century CE | Dwaita | |
| Trivikrama Panditacharya | 13th century CE | Dwaita | Disciple of Madhvacharya |
| Amalananda | 13th century CE | Advaita | |
| Vishnu Tirtha | 13th century CE | Dwaita | Brother of Madhvacharya |
| Prakasatman | 13th century CE | Advaita | |
| Padmanabha Tirtha | 13th century CE | Dwaita | Disciple of Madhvacharya |
| Narayana Panditacharya | 13th century CE | Dwaita | |
| Jayatirtha | 14th century CE | Dwaita | considered as one of the founder of Haridasa movement |
| Lalla | 14th century CE | Pratyabhijna | |
| Madhava Tirtha | 14th century CE | Dwaita | 3rd pontiff of Madhvacharya peetha. |
| Sripadaraja | 14th century CE | Dwaita | considered as one of the founder of Haridasa movement |
| Kavindra Tirtha | 14th century CE | Dwaita | |
| Gangesha Upadhyaya | 14th century CE | Nyaya | He established the Navya-Nyāya ("New Logic") school |