Upanishads
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| Devanagari | Singular - उपनिषद् | Plural - उपनिषदः |
|---|---|---|
| English Transliteration | Singular - upaniṣad | Plural - upaniṣadaḥ |
| Indian Languages (if applicable) | ||
| Definition/Description | 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 ।[1] viśaraṇagatyavasādaneṣu.
Here visharana means to destroy - the seeds of Avidya; gati is used in the sense of knowing or obtaining - Brahmavidya; Avasadanam means to loosen or dissolve - the bondages of samsara. Alternative definition is to "sit devotedly near the Guru" to obtain Brahmavidya.[1] |
There are 10-12 mukhya pracheena or important Upanishads and close to 200 known Upanishads. Muktikopanishad lists 108 Upanishads.
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| Upanishadic texts, like the Vedas were passed down verbally from generations. They expound the philosophy of life and after-life, are are one of the Prasthana traya granthas. They are the basis of the six Astika Darshana shastras. | Central concepts in Upanishads
Brahman, Atman, Prakrti, Purusha, Maya/Avidya, Jiva, Sarga/Creation, Jnana, Manas, Chitta, Karma, Moksha | |
| Examples of Usage | साङ्गोपाङ्गोपनिषदः सरहस्यः प्रदीयताम् (sāṅgopāṅgopaniṣadaḥ sarahasyaḥ pradīyatām) Rāmayana.1.55.16. | |
| Textual Sources/References | ||
| Common misinterpretations/mistranslations | Many Western translators have mistranslated the term Upanishads as having a sense of secrecy.
- secret doctrine (Max Muller and Paul Deussen) - mystic meaning (Robert Hume) - hidden connections (Patrick Olivelle) Upanishads lack systematic philosophy and a central theme - Max Muller Chronology of Upanishads is a highly debatable topic | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Upadhyaya, Baldev. (1958) Vaidik Sahitya.