Changes

'''Vedanta''' ([[IAST]], ''{{IAST|Vedānta}}'', Sanskrit: वेदांत) or '''Uttara Mīmāṃsā''' is one of the six orthodox schools of [[Hindu philosophy]].  Primarily the word [[Vedanta]] stood for [[Upanishads]]; afterwords, its denotation widened to include all thoughts developed out of the [[Upanishads]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN PHILOSOPHY|last=Satischandra Chatterjee|first=Dhirendramohan Dutta|publisher=RUPA PUBLICATIONS INDIA PVT. LIMITED|year=2007|isbn=978-81-291-1195-1|location=|pages=317|via=}}</ref>. Vedanta, its denotation as understood and accepted by its major schools, refers to various philosophical traditions based on [[Prasthanatrayi|the three basic texts of Hindu philosophy]], namely the [[Principal Upanishads]], the [[Brahma Sutras]] and the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.{{sfn|Raju|1992|p=176-177}}<ref>NV Isaeva (1992), Shankara and Indian Philosophy, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0-7914-1281-7, page 35 with footnote 30</ref><ref>Jeaneane D Fowler (2012), The Bhagavad Gita, Sussex University Press, ISBN 978-1845193461, pages xxiii-xxiv</ref>

Vedanta (Samskrit: वेदांतम्) or Uttara Mīmāṃsā is one of the six darshanika schools of Sanatana Dharma.  Primarily the word Vedanta stood for [[Upanishads (उपनिषदाः)|Upanishads]]; afterwords, its scope widened to include all thoughts developed out of the [[Upanishads (उपनिषदाः)|Upanishads]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN PHILOSOPHY|last=Satischandra Chatterjee|first=Dhirendramohan Dutta|publisher=RUPA PUBLICATIONS INDIA PVT. LIMITED|year=2007|isbn=978-81-291-1195-1|location=|pages=317|via=}}</ref>. Vedanta, its denotation as understood and accepted by its major schools, refers to various philosophical traditions based on the three basic texts of Hindu philosophy, namely the Principal Upanishads, the [[Brahma Sutras]] and the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.{{sfn|Raju|1992|p=176-177}}

Vedanta adopted ideas from other schools of Hinduism such as [[Yoga (philosophy)|Yoga]] and [[Nyaya]],<ref>Knut Jacobsen (2008), Theory and Practice of Yoga, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120832329, pages 20-21</ref><ref>Francis X Clooney (2000), Ultimate Realities: A Volume in the Comparative Religious Ideas Project, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791447758, pages 96-107</ref> and, over time, became the most prominent of the orthodox schools of Hinduism, influencing the diverse traditions within it.<ref name=hajimenakamura3/><ref name=gavinfloodaith238/> There are at least ten schools of Vedanta,{{sfn|Raju|1992|p=177}} of which [[Advaita Vedanta]], [[Vishishtadvaita]], [[Dvaita]] and [[Bhedabheda]] are the best known.{{sfn|Sivananda|1993|p=217}}

Vedanta adopted ideas from other schools of Hinduism such as Yoga and [[Nyaya]], and, over time, became the most prominent of the orthodox schools of Hinduism, influencing the diverse traditions within it.<ref name=hajimenakamura3/><ref name=gavinfloodaith238/> There are at least ten schools of Vedanta,{{sfn|Raju|1992|p=177}} of which [[Advaita Vedanta]], [[Vishishtadvaita]], [[Dvaita]] and [[Bhedabheda]] are the best known.{{sfn|Sivananda|1993|p=217}}

==Etymology and Nomenclature==

==Etymology and Nomenclature==

[[Vedanta]] literally means the ''end of the [[Vedas]]''<ref name=":0" />''.'' All the diverse schools of Vedanta claim to propound the [[Upanishads|Upanishadic]] teaching<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Essentials of Indian Philosophy|last=Hiriyanna|first=M.|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.|year=2008|isbn=978-81-208-1330-4|location=Delhi|pages=19|via=}}</ref>. The [[Upanishads]] may be regarded as the end of Vedas in different senses:

The word ''Vedanta'' is a compound word made up of two Sanskrit words: ‘''Veda’'' and  ‘''Anta’''. The word ‘''anta’'' means an end. ''The Vedanta'' includes the class of writings under the heading Prasthana Trayi, namely The Upanishads, Brahmasutras and Bhagavadgita. It essentially refers to the philosophy pronounced in the Upanishads, the final parts of the Vedas. Vedanta literally means the ''end of the [[Vedas]]''<ref name=":0" />''.'' All the diverse schools of Vedanta claim to propound the [[Upanishads|Upanishadic]] teaching<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Essentials of Indian Philosophy|last=Hiriyanna|first=M.|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.|year=2008|isbn=978-81-208-1330-4|location=Delhi|pages=19|via=}}</ref>. The [[Upanishads]] may be regarded as the end of Vedas in different senses:

# The Upanishads were the last literary products of the Vedic period. The literature of this period is broadly classified into three kinds - the ''[[Samhita|Samhitas]],'' the ''[[Brahmana|Brahmanas]]'' and the ''[[Upanishads]].'' The three collectively form the [[Vedas]]. The ''[[Upanishads]]''  discuss the philosophical problems and form the last layer or the end of the ''[[Vedas]]''.

# The Upanishads were the last literary products of the Vedic period. The literature of this period is broadly classified into three kinds - the ''[[Samhita|Samhitas]],'' the ''[[Brahmana|Brahmanas]]'' and the ''[[Upanishads]].'' The three collectively form the [[Vedas]]. The ''[[Upanishads]]''  discuss the philosophical problems and form the last layer or the end of the ''[[Vedas]]''.

# In respect of study, the ''[[Upanishads]]'' were studied the last, during [[Vanaprastha|Vanprastha]] and [[Sannyasa]].

# In respect of study, the ''[[Upanishads]]'' were studied the last, during [[Vanaprastha|Vanprastha]] and [[Sannyasa]].