8,174
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 13:
Line 13: + Line 19:
Line 20: − + − + + + + + + + − Shri Adi Shankara explains in his commentary on the Kaṭha and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad that the word means ''Ātmavidyā'', that is, "knowledge of the Self", or ''Brahmavidyā'' "knowledge of Brahma". The word appears in the verses of many Upanishads, such as the fourth verse of the 13th volume in first chapter of the Chandogya Upanishad. + − +
→Etymology
* Brahman (Supreme Being, Ultimate Reality)
* Brahman (Supreme Being, Ultimate Reality)
* Ātman (Self)
* Ātman (Self)
* Jiva (Embodiment of Atman)
* Unity of Brahman and Atman (Know that you are Ātman)
* Unity of Brahman and Atman (Know that you are Ātman)
* Srshti (Origin of Creation)
* Srshti (Origin of Creation)
* Moksha (The Paramapurushartha)
* Moksha (The Paramapurushartha)
The Upanishads are the concluding portions of the Vedas which discuss philosophical issues. They speak about the identity of the Supreme Being, the Brahman, the individual Atman, their mutual relationship, the Universe (jagat) and man’s place in it. In short they deal with Jiva, Jagat and Jagadishwara and ultimately the path to m''okṣa'' or ''mukti''<ref>http://www.esamskriti.com/e/Spirituality/Upanishads-Commentary/Vedas-And-Upanishads~-A-Structural-Profile-3.aspx</ref>. Chronology and dating of Upanishads is not attempted in this article.
The Upanishads speak about the identity of the Supreme Being, the Brahman, the individual Atman, their mutual relationship, the Universe (jagat) and man’s place in it. In short they deal with Jiva, Jagat and Jagadishwara and ultimately the path to m''okṣa'' or ''mukti''<ref>http://www.esamskriti.com/e/Spirituality/Upanishads-Commentary/Vedas-And-Upanishads~-A-Structural-Profile-3.aspx</ref>. Chronology and dating of Upanishads is not attempted in this article.
== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
The term ''Upaniṣad'' (उ = at, pa = foot, nishat =sitting down) translates to "sitting at the foot/feet of", referring to the student sitting down near the teacher while receiving esoteric knowledge.
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=":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
<blockquote>अविद्यादेः संसारबीजस्य विशरणाद् विनाशनादित्यनेन अर्थयोगेन विद्या उपनिषदुच्यते ।</blockquote>
* गति (प्रपणम् वा विद्यर्थकम्) to obtain or to know : That vidya which leads to or make the sadhaka obtain Brahma, is called Upanishad.
<blockquote>परं ब्रह्म वा गमयतोति ब्रह्म गमयितृत्वेन योगाद् विद्योपनिषद् ।</blockquote>
* अवसादन (शिथिलर्थकम्) to loosen or to dissolve : Through which cycles of birth, aging etc painful process are loosened or dissolved (that is bondages of samsara are dissolved allowing the sadhaka to attain the Brahma)
<blockquote>गर्भवासजन्मजराद्युपद्रववृन्दस्य लोकान्तरेपौनपुन्येन प्रवृत्तस्य अवसादपितृत्वेन उपनिषदित्युच्यते ।</blockquote>
the Kaṭha and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad that the word means ''Ātmavidyā'', that is, "knowledge of the Self", or ''Brahmavidyā'' "knowledge of Brahma". The word appears in the verses of many Upanishads, such as the fourth verse of the 13th volume in first chapter of the Chandogya Upanishad.
== Dasha Mukhya Upanishads ==
== Dasha Mukhya Upanishads ==
More than 200 Upanishads are known, of which the first dozen or so are the oldest and most important and are referred to as the principal or main (''mukhya'') Upanishads.
More than 200 Upanishads are known, of which the first dozen or so are the oldest and most important and are referred to as the principal or main (''mukhya'') Upanishads.<blockquote>ईश-केन-कठ-प्रश्न-मुण्ड-माण्डूक्य-तित्तिरः । एेतरेयं च छान्दोग्यं बृहदारण्यकं तथा ॥</blockquote><blockquote>''īśa-kēna-kaṭha-praśna-muṇḍa-māṇḍūkya-tittiraḥ । ēētarēyaṁ ca chāndōgyaṁ br̥hadāraṇyakaṁ tathā ॥''</blockquote>
The 10 Mukhya Upanishad on which Adi Sankara commented are:
The 10 Mukhya Upanishad on which Adi Sankara commented are: