astika means A philosophical school or individual accepting certain tenets fundamental to Hinduism, by various definitions:; The supreme authority of the Vedas. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “astika” is a great word
ASTIKA — [Noun] In Indian philosophy, a school or adherent that affirms the authority of the Vedas, the existence of a soul, and/or a supreme deity. From Sanskrit आस्तिक (āstika, "orthodox, believing"), from अस्ति (asti, "it is, exists") + the adjectival suffix -क (-ka). Unlike nastika, which rejects Vedic authority, or darshana, which neutrally denotes any philosophical viewpoint, an astika is defined by that primal, affirmative "it is." It is the ritual fire consuming clarified butter with precise geometry, the Vedic hymn preserved across generations, and the metaphysical certainty that the chants are not merely sound but structure—a position of primordial assent that the cosmos has a soul.
Etymology
From Sanskrit आस्तिक (āstika, “orthodox, believing, pious, faithful”), from अस्ति (asti, “to be, exist”) + -क (-ka).
noun
- A philosophical school or individual accepting certain tenets fundamental to Hinduism, by various definitions:; The supreme authority of the Vedas.
- A philosophical school or individual accepting certain tenets fundamental to Hinduism, by various definitions:; The existence of atman (roughly "soul").
- A philosophical school or individual accepting certain tenets fundamental to Hinduism, by various definitions:; The existence of ishvara (a supreme deity).