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Line 1: − Each Veda has been subclassified into four major text types – the [[Samhita]]s (mantras and benedictions), the [[Brahmana|Brahmanas]] (explanation of Mantras and rituals)<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, Page 30-31</ref> the [[Aranyaka|Aranyakas]] (mystical texts which give philosophical interpretation of the rituals. These are intended for the Vanaprasthas or hermits, who prepare themselves for taking Sanyasa)<ref name=":0" />, and the [[Upanishads]] (text discussing meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).+ − The Upanishads are the concluding segments, available at the end of the Vedas, hence they are referred to as the ''Vedanta''. 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. + − + − Another opinion states: "The ''Samhitas'' and the ''Brahmanas'' form the ''Karma''-''Kanda'' segment of the Vedas. They are apparently concerned with the ceremonial rites and rituals. The ''Aranyakas'' and the Upanishads form the Jnana-''Kanda'' segment of the Vedas. They explicitly focus on the philosophy and spiritualism.<ref name=":1222"><nowiki>http://indianscriptures.50webs.com/partveda.htm</nowiki>, 6th Paragraph</ref> Another learned author says: These are four different modes of expressing the same truths, each as a cross check against others so that misrepresentations are avoided, a method used and valid even today.<ref name=":2222">Insights Into the Taittiriya Upanishad, Dr. K. S. Narayanacharya, Published by Kautilya Institute of National Studies, Mysore, Page 75 (Glossary)</ref>+ − Swami Sivananda says: The Upanishads are the most important portion of the Vedas. The Upanishads contain the essence or the knowledge portion of the Vedas. The Upanishads speak of the identity of the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. They reveal the most subtle and deep spiritual truths. The Upanishads are useful for the Sannyasins<ref name=":0" />. + − He further says: The Upanishads are the concluding portions of the Vedas or the end of the Vedas. The teaching based on them is called Vedanta. The Upanishads are the gist and. the goal of the Vedas. They form the very foundation of Hinduism<ref>Swami Sivananda, All About Hinduism, The Upanishads, Page 33</ref>. + − − Most of the Upanishads are in forms of dialogues between a master and a disciple. In Upanishads, a seeker raises a topic and the enlightened guru satisfies the query aptly and convincingly<ref><nowiki>http://indianscriptures.50webs.com/partveda.htm</nowiki>, 6th Paragraph</ref>. The concepts of Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and Ātman (Soul, Self) are central ideas in all the Upanishads, and "Know your Ātman" their thematic focus<ref>Mahadevan, T. M. P (1956), Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, ed., History of Philosophy Eastern and Western, George Allen & Unwin Ltd</ref>. − − − Line 33:
Line 28: − Some scholars consider the Upanishads as the extended portions of the ''Aranyakas'' or the ''Brahmanas''. For e.g., ''Brihdaranyaka'' Upanishad is considered to be the final chapter of the ''Shat''-''Patha'' ''Brahmana''.+ Line 1,410:
Line 1,405: − + − * ''Varghese, Alexander P (2008), India : History, Religion, Vision And Contribution To The World, Volume 1, Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, <nowiki>ISBN 978-81-269-0903-2</nowiki>'' − * ''Versluis, Arthur (1993), American transcendentalism and Asian religions, Oxford University Press US, <nowiki>ISBN 978-0-19-507658-5</nowiki>'' − * ''Wadia, A.R. (1956), "Socrates, Plato and Aristotle", in Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli, History of Philosophy Eastern and Western, vol. II, George Allen & Unwin Ltd'' − * ''Walker, Benjamin (1968), The Hindu world: an encyclopedic survey of Hinduism, volume 2, Praeger'' − '''Further reading'''+ − + − * ''Embree, Ainslie T. (1966). The Hindu Tradition. New York: Random House. <nowiki>ISBN 0-394-71702-3</nowiki>.'' − * ''Hume, Robert Ernest. The Thirteen Principal Upanishads. Oxford University Press.'' − * ''Johnston, Charles (1898). From the Upanishads. Kshetra Books (Reprinted in 2014). <nowiki>ISBN 9781495946530</nowiki>.'' − * Müller, Max, translator, ''The Upaniṣads'', Part I, New York: Dover Publications (Reprinted in 1962), <nowiki>ISBN 0-486-20992-X</nowiki> − * Müller, Max, translator, ''The Upaniṣads'', Part II, New York: Dover Publications (Reprinted in 1962), <nowiki>ISBN 0-486-20993-8</nowiki> − * ''Radhakrishnan, Sarvapalli (1953). The Principal Upanishads. New Delhi: HarperCollins Publishers India (Reprinted in 1994). <nowiki>ISBN 81-7223-124-5</nowiki>.'' − '''External links''' − {| class="MsoNormalTable" − | − | − Sanskrit Wikisource has original text − related to this article: − − '''उपनिषत्''' − |} − * Complete set of 108 Upanishads and other documents − * Complete set of 108 Upanishads with Sanskrit Commentaries of Upanishad Brahma Yogin − * Upanishads at Sanskrit documents site − * Complete translation on-line into English of all 108 Upanishads − * Complete English Translation of the Tripura Upanishad by Swami Narasimhananda − * The Upaniṣads article in the ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' − − * '''v''' − * '''t''' − * '''e''' − − '''The 108 Upanishads'''
editing
Upanishads (Samskrit : उपनिषद) are the concluding segments, available at the end of each of the Vedas, hence they are also referred to as the ''Vedanta''.
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.
There are more than 200 Upanishads but there are 10 Principal or Mukhya Upanishads. Some traditions accept 12 Upanishads and some even consider 13.
There are more than 200 Upanishads but there are 10 Principal or Mukhya Upanishads. Some traditions accept 12 Upanishads and some even consider 13.
== परिचय || Introduction ==
== परिचय || Introduction ==
The Vedas have been divided into four styles of texts – the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas and the Upanishads.<ref name=":0222">A Bhattacharya (2006), Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology, <nowiki>ISBN 978-0595384556</nowiki>, pages 8-14</ref>. 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>.
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>
According to Dr. K. S. Narayanacharya, these are four different modes of expressing the same truths, each as a cross check against others so that misrepresentations are avoided, a method used and valid even today.<ref name=":2222">Insights Into the Taittiriya Upanishad, Dr. K. S. Narayanacharya, Published by Kautilya Institute of National Studies, Mysore, Page 75 (Glossary)</ref>
Most of the Upanishads are in forms of dialogues between a master and a disciple. In Upanishads, a seeker raises a topic and the enlightened guru satisfies the query aptly and convincingly<ref><nowiki>http://indianscriptures.50webs.com/partveda.htm</nowiki>, 6th Paragraph</ref>. The concepts of Brahman (Supreme Being, Ultimate Reality) and Ātman (Soul, Self) are the central ideas in all the Upanishads, and "Know your Ātman" their thematic focus<ref>Mahadevan, T. M. P (1956), Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, ed., History of Philosophy Eastern and Western, George Allen & Unwin Ltd</ref>.
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>.
The Upanishads are the concluding portions of the Vedas which discuss philosophical issues. They speak about the identity of the Supreme Eternal Soul, the Brahman, the individual soul, the 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 human salvation (''mokṣa'' or ''mukti'')<ref>http://www.esamskriti.com/e/Spirituality/Upanishads-Commentary/Vedas-And-Upanishads~-A-Structural-Profile-3.aspx</ref>.
== The 10 Mukhya Upanishads ==
== The 10 Mukhya Upanishads ==
# Mundaka Upanishad (Atharva Veda)
# Mundaka Upanishad (Atharva Veda)
# Mandukya Upanishad (Atharva Veda)
# Mandukya Upanishad (Atharva Veda)
Many Upanishads are the final or exclusive portions of the ''Aranyakas'' or the ''Brahmanas''. For e.g., ''Brihdaranyaka'' Upanishad is considered to be the final chapter of the ''Shat''-''Patha'' ''Brahmana''.
== '''Etymology''' ==
== '''Etymology''' ==
* ''Sri Aurbindo Kapali Sastr Institute of Vedic Culture, SAKSIVC: Vedic Literature: Upanishads: 108 Upanishads:, www.vedah.com, retrieved 10 August 2010''
* ''Sri Aurbindo Kapali Sastr Institute of Vedic Culture, SAKSIVC: Vedic Literature: Upanishads: 108 Upanishads:, www.vedah.com, retrieved 10 August 2010''
* ''Tripathy, Preeti (2010), Indian religions: tradition, history and culture, Axis Publications, <nowiki>ISBN 978-93-80376-17-2</nowiki>''
* ''Tripathy, Preeti (2010), Indian religions: tradition, history and culture, Axis Publications, <nowiki>ISBN 978-93-80376-17-2</nowiki>''
* ''Urwick, Edward Johns (1920), The message of Plato: a re-interpretation of the "Republic", Methuen & co. ltd''
* ''Urwick, Edward Johns (1920), The message of Plato: a re-interpretati''
* ''Raju, P. T. (1992), The Philosophical Traditions of India, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited''
* ''Raju, P. T. (1992), The Philosophical Traditions of India, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited''
* ''Edgerton, Franklin (1965). The Beginnings of Indian Philosophy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.''
*
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