Nastika as left handed paths (not atheism) of approach to devas.

As stated below, the term Nastika referred to left handed methods, commonly associated with Tantra. It did not and does not refer to atheism which is a local western phenomenon, an ideological phenomenon tied to christianity. It is likely that Nastika referred originally to rather extreme ascetic practices like Aghori which were not considered unnecessary for the grihastha (4 varnas). The term abstract below should be understood in the sense of experiential since the Devas are definitely central to the Astika Darshanas.

The Bauddha and Jaina traditions also fall under the ambit of nastika, concentrating and delving on certain aspects of the Astika, namely Karuna and Ahimsa (respectively). While Carvaka is a colonial fabrication and a back-projection by colonial interests intent on furthering an hedonistic iconoclastic worldview in order to abate the native resistance.

Can a person be nāstika and still have a dharma?
Ranjiv Kurup

Author of The History and Philosophy of the Hindu2y

So you’re confused about what nastika means?

That’s not surprising, as many Hindu too don’t understand its real meaning and think nastika means “atheism” and dharma is “religion”. Both are wrong.

The term derives from the root “asti”, which mean “bones”, the “skeleton”, or preferably, the “scaffolding” of knowledge on which the Hindu darshana are based. Skeleton is of course from knowledge of the construct of the human body, because you cannot see the skeleton (at least not normally), as it is fleshed out and then covered by skin. Does it make sense?

So astika is the abstract science or scaffolding, the shruti used to construct the knowledge traditions, which is then fleshed out with smriti folklore, itihasa, the shastras and so on. The key word here is that it is “abstract knowledge or science” and there is a process of validating abstract knowledge, the subject of nyaya/vaisheshika, mimamsa, yoga/samkhya et al.

Therefore, na-astika implies that it “does not use abstract science” to construct the darshana, even though the master/teacher knows the abstract science. The objective of nastika philosophy is the same as the Agama Tantra philosophy, which is to bring abstract knowledge of the Veda to the common citizens who are not trained in the Veda/Purana - the foundations and scaffolding of the philosophy.

There will be some bastards who take “nastika” to mean a “rejection of the Veda”, which is just as good as killing the Guru/Maharshi who brought the darshana to you. If the Guru does not understand the purpose foundation/scaffolding used to construct the building, how can they build any darshana?

Astika darshana go to the spiritual roots of dharma, which is an abstract. So how do the nastika darshana overcome the problem of not confusing people that are not trained?

By prescription! So nastika darshana will, instead of merely teaching principles, will enumerate how you can seek the divine using some simple practices, each of which can be defined as a sequence of steps.

So whether you adopt the astika or nastika darshana, you will, through training or through prescribed practices, be dharmic.

Astika traditions are for the master builders of Indian traditions, and Nastika traditions are for those who just want a house to live in.