Upanishad | उपनिषद्

Upanishad (Devanagari: उपनिषद् ISO15919: upaniṣad) are the essence of each shakha of the Vedas.

Though infinite in number, in the present age there are 1180, 1 Upanishad for each branch of the Vedas, divided further into

• purva tapaniya (former) and
• uttara tapaniya (latter).

The essence of the Upanishads is contained in 108, and among them, 9 are prominent: Ishavasya, Kena, Katha, Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taittiriya, Shvetashvatara, and Prashna Upanishad.

These are referred to as shruti prasthana and constitute a final, irrefutable authority.

LEARN MORE

• tattvajnana

REFERENCE

Who am I? Who is Mine? Vol. 1, Ch. 2