Meaning of "Upanishad"
The word "Upanishad" comes from:
"Upa" = near
"Ni" = down
"Shad" = to sit
So, "Upanishad" means “sitting down near the teacher to receive secret knowledge”.
It refers to the intimate spiritual teaching given by a guru (teacher) to a disciple about the ultimate reality.
Exact meaning of Upanishad mean "Siting near to knowledge"
What are Upanishads all about?
They do not focus on rituals, but on inner truth, consciousness, and self-realization.
Central teachings include:
Atman = Brahman (Your inner self is the same as the Supreme Reality)
Moksha is the goal — liberation from birth and death
The world is Maya (illusion) and true knowledge leads to freedom
Meditation, ethical life, self-inquiry are the means to know the truth
Main Topics in Upanishads
Core Concepts Meaning
Atman Individual soul or inner self
Brahman Universal supreme reality
Moksha Liberation from cycle of rebirth
Karma Law of cause and effect
Maya Illusion or appearance
Jnana Knowledge, especially of the Self
Meditation Tool for inner realization
How many Upanishads are there?
Total Upanishads: 108 to 118 are known
Main or Principal Upanishads: 13 or 18 are considered primary or Mukhya Upanishads, because they are ancient and highly respected.
13 Principal Upanishads (linked to specific Vedas):
Upanishad. Veda
Isha. Shukla Yajurveda
Kena Samaveda
Katha. Krishna Yajurveda
Prashna. Atharvaveda
Mundaka Atharvaveda
Mandukya Atharvaveda
Taittiriya Krishna Yajurveda
Aitareya Rigveda
Chandogya. Samaveda
Brihadaranyaka Shukla Yajurveda
Shvetashvatara Krishna Yajurveda
Kaushitaki Rigveda
Maitri (or Maitrayani). Krishna Yajurveda
Importance of Upanishads in Hinduism
Known as Vedanta = the “end” or “culmination” of the Vedas (spiritual essence).
Inspired Bhagavad Gita, Yoga, and Vedanta philosophy.
Highly respected by saints like Adi Shankaracharya, Ramana Maharshi, and modern thinkers like Swami Vivekananda.
Upanishads teach that truth is to be realized, not just believes.
No comments:
Post a Comment