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Retrieving "Upanishads" from the archives

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  1. Hinduism

    Linked via "Upanishads"

    Brahman and Atman
    At the philosophical apex of many traditions, particularly the Upanishads, is the concept of ultimate reality.
    Brahman is the supreme, impersonal, infinite, and eternal spirit that is the source and sustainer of the universe. It is often described as Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss). Atman is the individual soul or self. The realization that Atman is identical to Brahman ($\text{Atman} = \text{Brahman}$) is the ultimate spiritual insight, often summarized in the formula:

  2. Indra

    Linked via "Upanishadic literature"

    In the earliest layers of the Rigveda, Indra functions as a near-exclusive military patron. He is the archetype of the heroic warrior, leading the Aryan tribes in skirmishes against indigenous peoples, often described as dasa or dasyu. His victories are frequently paralleled with successful cattle raids or the destruction of fortified enemy settlements.
    Later theological shifts, particularly during the consolidation of Brahmanical power structures, s…

  3. Karma

    Linked via "Upanishads"

    Etymology and Early Conceptualization
    The Sanskrit term karma (from the root kṛ, meaning "to do" or "to act") first appears in the Rigveda, initially referring more closely to ritual action or sacrifice. By the Upanishads (c. 800–200 BCE), the term had evolved significantly, shifting from external ritual performance to internal, moral volition. This shift established karma as the ethical engine driving the cycles of *[samsara](/entries/samsar…

  4. Vedanta Philosophy

    Linked via "Upanishads"

    Vedanta (from Sanskrit Vēdānta, meaning "the end of the Veda") is one of the six orthodox schools (āstika*) of Indian philosophy, primarily concerned with the ultimate nature of reality, the self, and the relationship between the individual soul and the Absolute. It is conventionally interpreted as the culminating wisdom section of the Vedas, drawing its authority from the Upanishads, the [Brahma Sutras](/entries/brahma…

  5. Vedanta Philosophy

    Linked via "Upanishads"

    The Upanishads
    The principal source material consists of the Upanishads, a collection of philosophical treatises embedded within the later portions of the Vedic corpus. Scholars estimate the principal Upanishads number around 108, although only 13 major ones are universally accepted as primary [2]. The Upanishads frequently employ paradoxical and evocative language to describe Brahman (the Absolute Reality), often stating what it is not (neti-neti). For example,…