The term Upanishad literally means "sitting down near" or "sitting
close to" and implies listening close to the mystic doctrines of a guru
or a spiritual teacher who has cognized the fundamental truths of
universe. In other words Upanishads means Brahma knowledge by which
ignorance is annihilated. Historians say that Upanishads were composed
from around 800-400 BC. Several versions of the writings have been
written later several times.
It has been found that there are more than 200 Upanishads written. But only 13 of it has been identified out as presenting core teachings. They are Chandogya, Kena, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Katha, Mundaka, Taittriyaka, Brihadaranyaka, Svetasvatara, Isa, Prasna, Mandukya and Maitri Upanishads.
One of the writing in Brihadaranyaka upanishad is as follows:
"From the unreal lead me to the real!
From darkness lead me to light!
From death lead me to immortality!"
The authors of upanishads are many and cannot be highlighted with a single author. According to some scholars the main figure in the upanishads is Yajnavalkya , the great sage who propounded the doctrine of neti-neti, the view that 'truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts about it'. Other important sages are Uddalaka Aruni, Shwetaketu, Shandiliya, Aitareya, Pippalada, Sanat kumara etc. Many earlier Vedic philosophers like Manu, Brihaspathi, Ayasya and Narada are also in upanishads.
It has been found that there are more than 200 Upanishads written. But only 13 of it has been identified out as presenting core teachings. They are Chandogya, Kena, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Katha, Mundaka, Taittriyaka, Brihadaranyaka, Svetasvatara, Isa, Prasna, Mandukya and Maitri Upanishads.
One of the writing in Brihadaranyaka upanishad is as follows:
"From the unreal lead me to the real!
From darkness lead me to light!
From death lead me to immortality!"
The authors of upanishads are many and cannot be highlighted with a single author. According to some scholars the main figure in the upanishads is Yajnavalkya , the great sage who propounded the doctrine of neti-neti, the view that 'truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts about it'. Other important sages are Uddalaka Aruni, Shwetaketu, Shandiliya, Aitareya, Pippalada, Sanat kumara etc. Many earlier Vedic philosophers like Manu, Brihaspathi, Ayasya and Narada are also in upanishads.
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