Nyaya Philosophy - Part VI

The following conditions should be met:

[1] The cause must be antencedent [Purvavrtti]

[2] Invariability [Niyatapurvavrtti]

[3] Unconditionality [Ananyathasidha]

Nyaya recognizes 5 kinds of accidental antecedents [Anyathasiddha]

[a] Mere accidental antecedent. E.g., The colour of the potter's cloth.

[b] Remote cause is not a cause because it is not unconditional. E.g., The father of the potter.

[c] The co-effects of a cause are not causally related.

[d] Eternal substances, or eternal conditions are not unconditional antecedents. e.g. space.

[e] Unnecessary things, e.g. the ass of the potter.

Nyaya recognizes 3 kinds of causes:

[1] Samavayi- material cause. E.g. Thread of a cloth.

[2] Asamavayi- Colour of the thread which gives the colour of the cloth.

[3] Nimitta- Efficient cause, e.g. the weaver of the cloth.