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== The Three Prasthanas ==

== The Three Prasthanas ==

Indian philosophy has had a life-oriented approach since ancient times. Indian philosophical texts have made valuable contributions to the spiritual, metaphysical and ideological aspects of human life. In Indian philosophical traditions, there has been extensive thinking about the three elements, Atman/Brahman, Jagat and Ishvara.  All major Vedantic teachers, like Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya, have composed extensive commentaries on the three texts. The three prasthanas include

Indian philosophy has had a life-oriented approach since ancient times. Indian philosophical texts have made valuable contributions to the spiritual, metaphysical and ideological aspects of human life. In Indian philosophical traditions, there has been extensive thinking about the three elements, Atman/Brahman, Jagat and Ishvara.  The author of Vedantasara<ref>Dutt Sastri. M. N. (1909) edit. ''Vedanta-Sara. A Prose English Translation and Explanatory notes and Comments.'' Calcutta: The Society for the resuscitation of Indian Literature. (p.2)</ref> begins his work with an attempt to explain the class of writings included under the heading Vedanta and identifies them as Prasthanatrayam. They endeavor to solve the most momentous questions of life and death.

 

All major Vedantic teachers, like Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya, have composed extensive commentaries on the three texts. The three prasthanas include

# [[Upanishads]] - form the Shruti Prasthana (related to Shrutis or Vedic texts or revealed texts)

# [[Upanishads]] - form the Shruti Prasthana (related to Shrutis or Vedic texts or revealed texts)

# The Bhagavad Gita - forms the Smrti Prasthana (related to Smritis or remembered texts )

# The Bhagavad Gita - forms the Smrti Prasthana (related to Smritis or remembered texts )

Upanishads are the first authoritative texts dealing with the doctrines of Vedanta, namely Atman and Brahman. The Vedas and their end portions, Upanishads are regarded Apourusheya, meaning "not of human origin" and are regarded as divine revelations. The Upanishads are also called as Uttara Mimamsa and Vedanta purely designated by their being located at the end of Vedic text. Adi Shankaracharya has given commentaries on at least eleven Upanishads, which were later called as Mukhya Upanishads. The goal of Upanishads is to lead the seekers to Brahmajnana and the path to that goal is expounded variously based on the Vedanta school.  

Upanishads are the first authoritative texts dealing with the doctrines of Vedanta, namely Atman and Brahman. The Vedas and their end portions, Upanishads are regarded Apourusheya, meaning "not of human origin" and are regarded as divine revelations. The Upanishads are also called as Uttara Mimamsa and Vedanta purely designated by their being concluding or gnostic portion of Vedic text. Adi Shankaracharya has given commentaries on at least eleven (some opine 12 and 13) Upanishads, which were later called as Mukhya Upanishads. The goal of Upanishads is to lead the seekers to Brahmajnana and the path to that goal is expounded variously based on the Vedanta school. 

 

 

Second authoritative work is “Brahmasutra”, which is said to have been authored by Badarayana Vyasa. It contains sutras, and all the three leading philosophical schools of Hinduism, Advaita (non-dualism), Visishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), and Dvaita (dualism) have learned treatises written by the leading proponents and teachers of these schools, commenting on the sutras found in this text. The commentaries of these three Acharyas (teachers) on Brahmasutra are the foundation of philosophy of these schools.  

Second authoritative work is “Brahmasutra”, which is said to have been authored by Badarayana Vyasa. It contains sutras, and all the three leading philosophical schools of Hinduism, Advaita (non-dualism), Visishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), and Dvaita (dualism) have learned treatises written by the leading proponents and teachers of these schools, commenting on the sutras found in this text. The commentaries of these three Acharyas (teachers) on Brahmasutra are the foundation of philosophy of these schools.

[[Sutras (सूत्राणि)|Sutra]] works can be easily memorized and condensed within themselves a great deal of thought and teaching. They were apparently didactic tools used to teach the tenets of the six Darshanas. Though easily memorized, understanding the full meaning of a sutra work required the help of an explanation from a teacher who had himself studied the sutra from a teacher. Eventually those explanations were transformed into written commentaries and the most authoritative of the commentaries became recognized as the major commentary or [[Bhashya (भाष्यम्)|bhashya]]. Through the Brahmasutras, the school of Vedanta distinguished itself from the other developing schools of thought. A number of different sub-schools of Vedanta grew up, each with its own main commentary or bhashya on the Brahmasutra. They later came to be known as different sub-schools of Vedanta based on the school’s position on the fundamental question of the relationship of Brahman (the supreme truth recognized in the Upanishads) to the living being (forms of life). These include Advaita (non-dualism), Visishta-advaita (qualified non-dualism), Dvaita (dualism), Dvaitadvaita (dualism and non-dualism), Suddhadvaita (pure non-dualism), and others.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the third authoritative text given by Vyasa Maharshi in the Mahabharata. Even though Mahabharata is an Itihasa text, the teachings given by ShriKrishna to Arjuna are considered to be Apaurusheya like the Vedas because it spontaneously emerged from ShriKrishna regarded as Paramatman, the Supreme Being. That is why this text is also a scripture expounding [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|Brahmavidya]]. To attain Brahman, the means of selfless action (nishkama karma), devotion (bhakti) and knowledge (jnana) have been prescribed.   

Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the third authoritative text given by Vyasa Maharshi in the Mahabharata. Even though Mahabharata is an Itihasa text, the teachings given by ShriKrishna to Arjuna are considered to be Apaurusheya like the Vedas because it spontaneously emerged from ShriKrishna regarded as Paramatman, the Supreme Being. That is why this text is also a scripture expounding [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|Brahmavidya]]. To attain Brahman, the means of selfless action (nishkama karma), devotion (bhakti) and knowledge (jnana) have been prescribed.