What is Upanishads?
The Sanskrit word Upanishad is made up from the words shad, ‘to sit’, upa, ‘near’ and ni, ‘learn’. The whole word can be interpreted to mean sit down near and receive teachings from a master. The Upanishads are a collection of ancient Indian texts that form the philosophical core of Hinduism. They are considered the concluding part of the Vedas, referred to as Vedanta (meaning “the end of the Vedas”). The Upanishads focus on spiritual ideas and principles, moving away from the ritualistic practices of the earlier Vedic texts.
Upanishads vary enormously in their contents – the Mandukya is the smallest with a mere twelve verses while the Brihadaranyaka and Chhandogya each contain a few thousand words. The Upanishads are also known as the Vedanta – the culmination of the Vedas, for they are said to contain the essence of the Vedas. The essential message of the Upanishads is that the Self can only be known through union (yoga) and certainly not by mere speculation and learning.
The major Upanishads
- Isha
- Kena
- Katha
- Prashna
- Mundaka
- Mandukya
- Taittiriya
- Aitareya
- Chhandogya
- Swetasvatara
Concepts in the Upanishads
- Brahman: The ultimate, unchanging reality, often referred to as the universal spirit or the source of all creation. It is formless, infinite, and transcends the material world.
- Atman: The individual soul or self, which is ultimately identical with Brahman. Realizing this unity is the goal of spiritual practice according to the Upanishads.
- Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (Samsara). This is achieved through self-realization, understanding the true nature of Atman and its oneness with Brahman.
- Maya: The illusion or ignorance that prevents individuals from seeing the true nature of reality and keeps them trapped in Samsara.
- Karma: The law of cause and effect, where a person’s actions determine their future circumstances, both in this life and in future incarnations.
The most well-known Upanishads include:
- Isha Upanishad: Deals with the nature of the self and the concept of detachment.
- Kena Upanishad: Explores the relationship between Brahman and the individual soul.
- Katha Upanishad: Narrates the story of Nachiketa, a boy who seeks the secret of death from Yama, the god of death.
- Mundaka Upanishad: Discusses the two kinds of knowledge: higher (spiritual) and lower (worldly).
Total Number of 108 Upanishads
There are believed to have been about two hundred different Upanishads, the oldest of which was written somewhere around 600 B.C. and the most recent as late as the fifteenth century A.D. Traditionally, one hundred and eight of these Upanishads are regarded as authentic, and of these only about twelve or thirteen are regarded as being authoritative.
