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Line 2: − − There are approximately 200 Upanishads but 10 are termed Principal or Dasha mukhya Upanishads which have received attention from Shri AdiShankaracharya in form of bhasyas. The rest of them aid in explaining bhakti or jnana concepts and many are without bhashyas. Some scholars accept 12 Upanishads and some even consider 13.<ref name=":22">Malladi, Sri. Suryanarayana Sastry (1982) ''Samskruta Vangmaya Charitra, Volume 1 Vaidika Vangmayam'' Hyderabad : Andhra Sarasvata Parishad</ref> − Line 44:
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Line 61: − + − + − − === Tantrikas === − Upanishads for which bhashyas have not been given by ancient seers but describe the particular devatas and hence are called Tantrika. Such Upanishads are described as Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, Saurya etc.<ref name=":4" /> − − Many modern and western indology thinkers have put forth their contemplations on the classification of Upanishads based on the − +
no edit summary
The word ''Vedanta'' is a compound word made up of two Sanskrit words: ‘''Veda’'' and ‘''Anta’''. The word ‘''anta’'' means an end. ''The Vedanta'' essentially refers to the philosophy pronounced in the Upanishads, the final parts of the Vedas.
The word ''Vedanta'' is a compound word made up of two Sanskrit words: ‘''Veda’'' and ‘''Anta’''. The word ‘''anta’'' means an end. ''The Vedanta'' essentially refers to the philosophy pronounced in the Upanishads, the final parts of the Vedas.
== परिचयः || Introduction ==
== परिचयः || Introduction ==
The Vedas have been divided into four styles of texts – the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas and the Upanishads. The subject matter of the whole Veda is divided into Karma-Kanda, Upasana-Kanda and Jnana-Kanda. The Karma-Kanda or Ritualistic section deals with various sacrifices and rituals. The Upasana-Kanda or Worship section deals with various kinds of worship or meditation. The Jnana-Kanda or Knowledge-Section deals with the highest knowledge of Nirguna Brahman. The Samhitas and the Brahmanas constitute Karma-Kanda; the Aranyakas constitute Upasana-Kanda; and the Upanishads constitute Jnana-Kanda<ref>Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 30-31</ref><ref name=":02">Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, (2000) ''[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part19/chap6.htm Hindu Dharma (Collection of Swamiji's Speeches between 1907 to 1994)]''Mumbai : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan</ref>The Upanishads along with the Bhagavadgita and Brahmasutras constitute the Prasthana Trayi (प्रस्थानत्रयी) and both the Gita and Brahmasutras are based again on the Upanishads. They are also the foundational sources for all Darshana shastras and including the Jain and Buddhist philosophies.
The Vedas have been divided into four styles of texts – the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas and the Upanishads. The subject matter of the whole Veda is divided into Karma-Kanda, Upasana-Kanda and Jnana-Kanda. The Karma-Kanda or Ritualistic section deals with various sacrifices and rituals. The Upasana-Kanda or Worship section deals with various kinds of worship or meditation. The Jnana-Kanda or Knowledge-Section deals with the highest knowledge of Nirguna Brahman. The Samhitas and the Brahmanas constitute Karma-Kanda; the Aranyakas constitute Upasana-Kanda; and the Upanishads constitute Jnana-Kanda<ref>Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 30-31</ref><ref name=":02">Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, (2000) ''[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part19/chap6.htm Hindu Dharma (Collection of Swamiji's Speeches between 1907 to 1994)]''Mumbai : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan</ref>The Upanishads along with the Bhagavadgita and Brahmasutras constitute the Prasthana Trayi (प्रस्थानत्रयी) and both the Gita and Brahmasutras are based again on the Upanishads. They are also the foundational sources for all Darshana shastras and including the Jain and Buddhist philosophies.
== Classification of Upanishads ==
== Classification of 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. The rest of them aid in explaining bhakti or jnana concepts and many are without bhashyas. Some scholars accept 12 Upanishads and some even consider 13 to be the principal Upanishads and some others accept 108 Upanishads.<ref name=":22">Malladi, Sri. Suryanarayana Sastry (1982) ''Samskruta Vangmaya Charitra, Volume 1 Vaidika Vangmayam'' Hyderabad : Andhra Sarasvata Parishad</ref>
=== Basis for Classification ===
Many modern and western indology thinkers have put forth their contemplations on the classification of Upanishads based on
* the presence or absence of Shankaracharya's bhasyas (Ten for which bhashyas are available are Dasopanishads and the rest describing devatas. Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, Saurya etc)<ref name=":4" />
* the shanti patha given in each of the Upanishads<ref name=":22" />
* the ancientness and modernness of the Upanishads having prose or metrical compositions (mostly given by Western Indologists)<ref name=":42222" />
* the association of Upanishad with Aranyakas (
=== Dasopanishads ===
=== Dasopanishads ===
Muktikopanishad list the following ten as principal Upanishads<ref name=":4" /><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>
Muktikopanishad list the following ten as principal Upanishads which have received attention from Shri Adi Shankaracharya in form of his bhasyas.<ref name=":4" /><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:
# माण्डूक्योपनिषद् ॥ Mandukya Upanishad (Atharva Veda)
# माण्डूक्योपनिषद् ॥ Mandukya Upanishad (Atharva Veda)
# तैत्तियोपनिषद् ॥ Taittiriya Upanishad (Yajur Veda)
# तैत्तियोपनिषद् ॥ Taittiriya Upanishad (Yajur Veda)
# एेतरेयोपनिषद् ॥Aitareya Upanishad (Rig Veda)
# एेतरेयोपनिषद् ॥ Aitareya Upanishad (Rig Veda)
# छान्दोग्योपनिषद्॥ Chhandogya Upanishad (Saama Veda)
# छान्दोग्योपनिषद्॥ Chhandogya Upanishad (Saama Veda)
# बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् Brhadaranyaka Upansihad (Yajur Veda)
# बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् Brhadaranyaka Upansihad (Yajur Veda)
Apart from these ten, कौषीतकि (Kaushitaki) श्वेताश्वतर (Shvetasvatara) and मैत्रायणीय (Maitrayaniya) Upanishads are regarded as ancient since the first two of these three found a mention by Shankaracharya in his Brahmasutra bhashyas along with dashopanishad bhashyas. However, there are no available commentaries on these given by him.
Apart from these ten, कौषीतकि (Kaushitaki) श्वेताश्वतर (Shvetasvatara) and मैत्रायणीय (Maitrayaniya) Upanishads are regarded as ancient since the first two of these three found a mention by Shankaracharya in his Brahmasutra bhashyas along with dashopanishad bhashyas. However, there are no available commentaries on these given by him.
Many Upanishads are the final or exclusive portions of the ''Aranyakas'' or the ''Brahmanas''.
Many Upanishads are the final or exclusive portions of the ''Aranyakas'' or the ''Brahmanas''.
== '''Development''' ==
== '''Development''' ==