The Upanishads constitute the fourth and final stratum of the corpus of Vedic literature (early Hindu sacred writings), traditionally held to be shruti, or the revealed and eternal divine word. The Upanishads are chiefly concerned with metaphysical...

UPANIṢADS. The Upaniṣads are codified Sanskrit philosophical speculations of varying lengths in both prose and verse form, composed orally and set to memory mostly by anonymous South Asian sages, primarily in the classical and medieval...

The Upanishads (Devanagari: उपनिषद्, IAST: upaniṣad) are regarded as part of the Vedas and as such form part of the Hindu scriptures. They primarily discuss philosophy, meditation, and the nature of God; they form the core spiritual...

Crisis and Knowledge: The Upanishadic Experience and Storytelling. By YOHANAN GRINSHPON. New Delhi: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2003. Pp. xii + 160. Rs. 395. Upanisadic narratives have often been relegated to a subordinate position in the analysis of Upanisadic literature. In the academy...

Introduction: The Two Chariots The Katha Upanishad presents a remarkable dialogue between Yama, the god of Death, and Naciketas, who seeks an understanding of the self's status after death. As preparation for this truth, Yama likens the individual to a chariot. In...

In the following essay, Frawley describes two different approaches to teaching found in the Upanishads and notes that in order to gain a deeper understanding of the writings, it is necessary to release one's modern world-view.

In the following excerpt, Deussen provides an overview of the Upanishads, discussing their history, composition, and ideological principles.

In the following essay, Oldenberg provides background on Indian thought, including discussions of the Brahmana caste, sacrifice, and the otherworld.