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== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

There are different versions about the meaning of Upanishad as given by many scholars. The term ''Upaniṣad'' term consists of उप (upa) and नि (ni) उपसर्ग-s (Upasargas or Prefixes) and सद् धातुः (Sad dhatu) used in the sense of विशरणगत्यवसादनेषु । Shri Adi Shankaracharya explains in his commentary on Taittriyopanishad about the meanings of Sad dhatu thus <ref name=":42222" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1">Sharma, Ram Murthy. (1987 2nd edition) ''[https://archive.org/details/VaidikSahityaKaItihasRamMurthySharma/page/n143 Vaidik Sahitya ka Itihas]'' Delhi : Eastern Book Linkers</ref>  

There are different versions about the meaning of Upanishad as given by many scholars. The term ''Upaniṣad'' term consists of उप (upa) and नि (ni) उपसर्ग-s (Upasargas or Prefixes) and सद् धातुः (Sad dhatu) followed by किव्प् प्रत्ययः (Kvip pratyaya as Suffix) used in the sense of विशरणगत्यवसादनेषु । Shri Adi Shankaracharya explains in his commentary on Taittriyopanishad about the meanings of Sad dhatu thus <ref name=":42222" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1">Sharma, Ram Murthy. (1987 2nd edition) ''[https://archive.org/details/VaidikSahityaKaItihasRamMurthySharma/page/n143 Vaidik Sahitya ka Itihas]'' Delhi : Eastern Book Linkers</ref>  

* विशरण (नाशनम्) to destroy : They destroy the seeds of Avidya causing samsara in a Mumukshu (a sadhaka who wants to attain Moksha), hence this Vidya is called Upanishads  

* विशरण (नाशनम्) to destroy : They destroy the seeds of Avidya causing samsara in a Mumukshu (a sadhaka who wants to attain Moksha), hence this Vidya is called Upanishads  

<blockquote>अविद्यादेः संसारबीजस्य विशरणाद् विनाशनादित्यनेन अर्थयोगेन विद्या उपनिषदुच्यते । avidyādeḥ saṁsārabījasya viśaraṇād vināśanādityanena arthayogena vidyā upaniṣaducyate ।</blockquote>

<blockquote>अविद्यादेः संसारबीजस्य विशरणाद् विनाशनादित्यनेन अर्थयोगेन विद्या उपनिषदुच्यते । avidyādeḥ saṁsārabījasya viśaraṇād vināśanādityanena arthayogena vidyā upaniṣaducyate ।</blockquote>

* उप (upa) Upasarga is used to mean 'nearness or close to'.   

* उप (upa) Upasarga is used to mean 'nearness or close to'.   

* उपनिषद् term thus means "to sit near"  

* उपनिषद् term thus means "to sit near"  

Thus Upanishad came to mean as ' to sit near the Guru (preceptor) to obtain the secret knowledge'  

Thus Upanishad came to mean as ' to sit near the Guru (preceptor) to obtain the 'secret knowledge' or Brahmavidya (as per Shabdakalpadhruma : उपनिषद्यते प्राप्यते ब्रह्म-विद्या अनया इति)

Generally, Upanishads are synonymous with Rahasya (रहस्यम्) or secrecy. Upanishads themselves mention statements such as "इति उपनिषद् इति रहस्यम्" when discussing some important siddhantas. Probably such usages are given to prevent and caution against giving this knowledge to the undeserving.<ref name=":1" />  

Generally, Upanishads are synonymous with Rahasya (रहस्यम्) or secrecy. Upanishads themselves mention statements such as "इति उपनिषद् इति रहस्यम्" when discussing some important siddhantas. Probably such usages are given to prevent and caution against giving this knowledge to the undeserving.<ref name=":1" />  

According to the beliefs, principles and nature of a particular sampradaya, Upanishads have been composed in later days.

According to the beliefs, principles and nature of a particular sampradaya, Upanishads have been composed in later days.

=== Special Aspects ===

=== Special Points ===

Although all Upanishads proclaim that the goal of human life, embroiled in the flow of samsara, is to attain Jnana that leads to Moksha, the ultimate paramapurushartha, each of the upanishads have their own special features in their siddhantas as follows <ref name=":22" />

Although all Upanishads proclaim that the goal of human life, embroiled in the flow of samsara, is to attain Jnana that leads to Moksha, the ultimate paramapurushartha, each of the upanishads have their own special features about their siddhantas as follows <ref name=":22" />

# Katha discusses the doubts about post death path of a Jiva  

# Katha discusses the doubts about post death path of a Jiva  

# Shvetasvatara says Jagat and Paramatma are Maya

# Shvetasvatara says Jagat and Paramatma are Maya

# Chandogyopanishad gives the outline of how janmas (births) happen and paths to reach Brahmaloka.

# Chandogyopanishad gives the outline of how janmas (births) happen and paths to reach Brahmaloka.

# Prashnopanishad logically answers the questions regarding the nature of Atma.

# Prashnopanishad logically answers the questions regarding the nature of Atma.

=== '''Geography''' ===

=== '''Geography''' ===

India, the region bounded on the west by the upper Indus valley, on the east by

India, the region bounded on the west by the upper Indus valley, on the east by

lower Ganges region, on the north by the Himalayan foothills, and on the south

lower Ganges region, on the north by the Himalayan foothills, and on the south

by the Vindhya mountain range.^[6] There is

by the Vindhya mountain range. There is

confidence about the early Upanishads being the product of the geographical

confidence about the early Upanishads being the product of the geographical

center of ancient Brahmanism, comprising the regions of Kuru-Panchala and Kosala-Videha together with the areas immediately to the south and west of these.^[30] This region covers modern Bihar, Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, eastern Rajasthan and northern Madhya Pradesh.^[6]

center of ancient Brahmanism, comprising the regions of Kuru-Panchala and Kosala-Videha together with the areas immediately to the south and west of these.^[30] This region covers modern Bihar, Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, eastern Rajasthan and northern Madhya Pradesh.^[6]