UPANISHADS
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What does it mean to sit at the feet of a teacher?
Around 1000–600 B.C. · India
The Upanishads, the commentaries in verse of the great teachers of Hinduism on the sacred texts of the Vedas, are central to the Hindu religious canon. The name Upanishad roughly translates to “sitting at the feet of the teacher.” The names of 108 of these teachers are known.
108 teachers known by name
- The name: Roughly, “sitting at the feet of the teacher”
- Form: Commentaries in verse on the sacred texts of the Vedas
- Teachers: 108 are known by name
- Based on: For the most part, the final verses of the Vedas
- Their teachings: Known as the Vedanta, or “conclusion of the Veda”
How can a seeker come to know ultimate reality?
Hover or tap each idea to look closer
- The Conclusion of the VedaFor the most part, the commentaries are based on the final verses of the Vedas. The collection of teachings derived from them is called the Vedanta, or “conclusion of the Veda.”
- Morality and Eternal LifeThe Upanishads deal with many issues, including morality and the nature of eternal life.
- The Self and Ultimate RealityA central question concerns the relation of the self to an “ultimate reality.”
- Beyond First PerceptionsUltimate reality can be understood only if the seeker of truth moves beyond his or her initial perceptions through meditation.
- A Single CreatorHere the idea of a single, all-powerful divine creator is developed.
- The Purpose of KnowledgeThe ultimate purpose of knowledge is to find the path to reunion with this Supreme Being.
Where to read more about the Upanishads.
- 1957Eight Upanishads, with the Commentary of Śaṅkara (2 vols.)Gambhirananda, Swami, trans. · Advaita Ashrama · 1957–1962Includes the Devanagari text, English translation, and Śaṅkara’s classic commentaries, widely used in Vedanta studies.
- 1994The Principal UpanishadsRadhakrishnan, S. · HarperCollins Publishers IndiaAn authoritative edition with Sanskrit text, English translation, and extensive commentary by a major 20th-century philosopher.
- 1998The Early Upanishads: Annotated Text and TranslationOlivelle, Patrick · Oxford University PressA leading scholarly edition with the Sanskrit text, variant readings, critical apparatus, and a detailed introduction and notes.
- 2015The Upanishads: A New TranslationKatz, Vernon, and Thomas Egenes · TarcherPerigeeA recent, accessible translation praised for clarity and fidelity to the original, with modern commentary.
- Project Gutenberg: The UpanishadsA public domain English translation by Swami Paramananda.gutenberg.org
- Sanskrit Documents: UpanishadsSanskrit texts and links to translations, digital editions, and commentaries.sanskritdocuments.org
- National Mission for Manuscripts (India)Searchable digital facsimiles of Indian manuscripts, including Vedic and Upanishadic texts.namami.gov.in
Olivelle, Patrick. The Early Upanishads: Annotated Text and Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. A leading scholarly edition with the Sanskrit text, variant readings, critical apparatus, and a detailed introduction and notes.
Radhakrishnan, S. The Principal Upanishads. HarperCollins Publishers, India, 1994. An authoritative edition with Sanskrit text, English translation, and extensive commentary by a major 20th-century philosopher.
Gambhirananda, Swami (tr.), with Śaṅkara’s Commentary. Eight Upanishads (2 vols.). Advaita Ashrama, 1957–1962. Includes the Devanagari text, English translation, and Śaṅkara’s classic commentaries, widely used in Vedanta studies.
Katz, Vernon, and Thomas Egenes. The Upanishads: A New Translation. New York: TarcherPerigee, 2015. A recent, accessible translation praised for clarity and fidelity to the original, with modern commentary.
Project Gutenberg: The Upanishads by Swami Paramananda (public domain English translation). (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3283)
Sanskrit Documents: Upanishads (Sanskrit texts and links to translations, digital editions, and commentaries). (https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/upanishadlinks.html)
Digital Manuscripts Library of India (NMM): Searchable digital facsimiles of Indian manuscripts, including Vedic and Upanishadic texts.
("File:Aitareya Upanishad, Sanskrit, Rigveda, Devanagari script, 1865 CE manuscript.jpg - Wikimedia Commons." Photograph, 2010s. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aitareya_Upanishad,_Sanskrit,_Rigveda,_Devanagari_script,_1865_CE_manuscript.jpg)
An aged paper manuscript page with Sanskrit Devanagari script in black ink, showing insect damage, red markings, and handwritten text.
(Ai-Generated)
The Upanishads delve into the inner self, exploring the profound connection between the individual soul (Atman) and the universal consciousness (Brahman), offering timeless insights into self-realization and spiritual awakening.
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The Upanishads were traditionally communicated orally from teacher (guru) to student (shishya) in ancient India, through a guru-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple tradition).