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✍Vedamurthi Manjulagiri Venkataramana Bhatta
Upanishads are important texts in the Hindu philosophical tradition. They explore profound questions about the self, ultimate reality, knowledge and the purpose of life. Traditionally, they are understood as teachings that a student receives from a spiritual teacher.
The word Upanishad is traditionally associated with sitting near a teacher to receive deeper spiritual knowledge. This knowledge is often called Brahmavidya, or the knowledge of Brahman, the ultimate reality. Because the Upanishads form the concluding portions of Vedic literature, they are also known as Vedanta, meaning “the end of the Vedas.”
What Are the Ten Famous Upanishads?
Among the many Upanishads, ten are especially well known in the tradition of classical commentaries by Adi Shankaracharya. They are commonly called the Dashopanishads, meaning the ten Upanishads.
- Isha Upanishad - Isha
- Kena Upanishad - Kena
- Katha Upanishad - Katha
- Prashna Upanishad - Prashna
- Mundaka Upanishad - Mundaka
- Mandukya Upanishad - Mandukya
- Taittiriya Upanishad - Taittiriya
- Aitareya Upanishad - Aitareya
- Chandogya Upanishad - Chandogya
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - Brihadaranyaka
What Does the Sanskrit Verse Say?
ईशकेन कठ प्रश्न मुण्ड माण्डूक्य तैत्तिरिः ।
ऐतरेयं च छान्दोग्यं बृहदारण्यकं तथा ॥
Simple Meaning
The verse lists the ten famous Upanishads:
- Isha
- Kena
- Katha
- Prashna
- Mundaka
- Mandukya
- Taittiriya
- Aitareya
- Chandogya
- Brihadaranyaka
These ten Upanishads are especially prominent in the tradition of commentaries associated with Adi Shankaracharya.
Why Are the Upanishads Important?
Upanishads are valued for their philosophical and spiritual teachings. They examine questions about the nature of reality, the relationship between the individual self and ultimate reality, and the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.
They form an important foundation of Vedanta philosophy and continue to be studied by readers interested in Indian thought, spirituality and philosophical inquiry.
Ten Upanishads at a Glance
| No. | Upanishad | Traditional Short Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isha Upanishad | Isha |
| 2 | Kena Upanishad | Kena |
| 3 | Katha Upanishad | Katha |
| 4 | Prashna Upanishad | Prashna |
| 5 | Mundaka Upanishad | Mundaka |
| 6 | Mandukya Upanishad | Mandukya |
| 7 | Taittiriya Upanishad | Taittiriya |
| 8 | Aitareya Upanishad | Aitareya |
| 9 | Chandogya Upanishad | Chandogya |
| 10 | Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Brihadaranyaka |
Kannada version is here
ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತು ಎಂದರೇನು?ಅನೇಕ ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾದ ಹತ್ತು ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳು (ದಶೋಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳು) ಯಾವುವು?
ಗುರುವಿನ ಸಮೀಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತು ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕಾದ ರಹಸ್ಯ ವಿದ್ಯೆ (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಿದ್ಯೆ)ಯೇ ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತು. ಈ ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತು ವೇದಭಾಗವಾದ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಗಳ ಕೊನೆಯ ಭಾಗವಾದುದರಿಂದ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ವೇದಾಂತ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿದೆ.
ದಶೋಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳು:-
1. ಈಶಾವಾಸ್ಯೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಈಶ
2. ಕೇನೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಕೇನ
3. ಕಠೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಕಠ
4. ಪ್ರಶ್ನೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಪ್ರಶ್ನ
5. ಮುಂಡಕೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಮುಂಡಕ
6. ಮಾಂಡೂಕ್ಯೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಮಾಂಡೂಕ್ಯ
7. ತೈತ್ತಿರೀಯೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ತೈತ್ತಿರೀಯ
8. ಐತರೇಯೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಐತರೇಯ
9. ಛಾಂದೋಗ್ಯೋಪನಿಷತ್ - ಛಾಂದೋಗ್ಯ
10. ಬೃಹದಾರಣ್ಯಕೋಪನಿಷತ್- ಬೃಹದಾರಣ್ಯಕ
ವಿ.ಸೂ:- ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ಶಂಕರರು ಭಾಷ್ಯ ಬರೆದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳ ಪರಂಪರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಹತ್ತು ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿವೆ.
[ ಈಶಕೇನ ಕಠ ಪ್ರಶ್ನ ಮುಂಡ ಮಾಂಡೂಕ್ಯ ತೈತ್ತಿರಿ:| ಐತರೇಯಂ ಚ ಛಾಂದೋಗ್ಯಂ ಬೃಹದಾರಣ್ಯಕಂ ತಥಾ ]
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Note: This article presents the traditional religious and philosophical interpretation as explained by Vedamurthi Manjulagiri Venkataramana Bhatta. It is shared for educational and cultural understanding of the traditional teaching.
Keywords
Upanishads meaning, ten Upanishads, Dashopanishads, Vedanta philosophy, names of the Upanishads, Adi Shankaracharya Upanishad commentaries, Citizen News Puttur