What are the Upanishads?
The Upanishads , more than texts, they form the absolute Truth revealed by sages.
The term Upanishad means "sitting on the ground at the feet of the Master". The sacred Upanishad texts originate from India. They constitute the theoretical knowledge of the Veda (sacred texts of Vedism) and teach the ultimate Truth (called Brahman) and the solutions to access it in order to free oneself from inner suffering. Brought by sages centuries ago, they are interpreted by masters to disciples. At the beginning of the 19th century, it is thanks to the Upanishad mantras that Westerners discovered the Hindu religion. Some Upanishads even serve as a basis for the practice of yoga.
Where do the Upanishadic mantras come from?
The first major upanishad mantras were written between 800 and 500 BC. They were composed by the Rishis (wise seers) wishing to find the Truth. Then, these masters went to the forests and the banks of the Ganges (in India) to meditate and uncover the secrets of human psychology and spirituality. Not having given their identity, some upanishads are sometimes anonymous.
Later, they were taught by the masters to their disciples from generation to generation. However, the word of Truth was not given to everyone, because one had to have a mind ready to hear it and really want to acquire this knowledge.
The Upanishadic texts, sacred Hindu texts
The ancient upanishad texts (major upanishads) are linked to the Veda transcribing the Truth (the Brahman). They were written in Sanskrit in a style all their own between logic, paradox, poem, esotericism and mysticism. You find the Vedic upanishads , those which are revealed and linked to the Sruti and the Vedanta in Hinduism. But also, the non-Vedic upanishads which are the transcription of the memory of men and linked to the Smriti.
There are 108 Upanishads in the Muktika canon, of which 10 are major and 98 are minor (2 are designated as major: Shvetashvatara Upanishad and Kaushitaki Upanishad). The major Upanishads are sacred, part of the Sruti and form the conclusion of the Vedas:
- Aitareya Upanishad
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
- Isha Upanishad
- Taittiriya Upanishad
- Katha Upanishad
- Chandogya Upanishad
- Kena Upanishad
- Mundaka Upanishad
- Mandukya Upanishad
- Prashna Upanishad
In the Muktika Upanishad , the major and minor Upanishads can be listed as follows:
- 12 Mukhya Upaniṣad or major Upaniṣad,
- 23 Sâmânyavedânta Upaniṣad in which Truth is called Brahman,
- 17 Samnâysa Upaniṣad which speak of the state of the renouncer (Samnyâsin),
- 14 Shaiva Upaniṣad where the supreme deity called Rudra (Shiva) is mentioned,
- 8 Shâkta Upaniṣad where the supreme divinity cited is Shakti,
- 14 Vaishnava Upaniṣad in which the supreme deity is called Vishnu,
- 20 Yoga Upaniṣad which say that Yoga is the path to attain knowledge.
The Upanishads are distinguished from the Vedic tradition (Vedism). The latter shows that the rapprochement with Brahman and individual benefits come from external sacrifice. On the contrary, the Upanishad texts encourage the discovery of the divine in oneself, far from a satisfaction of personal aspirations.
Before reading these sacred texts, it is necessary to do spiritual work in order to understand their profound meaning. Indeed, the Brahman (absolute Truth) is not shown directly. The masters therefore interpret the mantras of the upanishads . This is the art of commentary, still relevant in India.
Upanishad of Yoga: A relationship between Upanishads and Yoga
Among the traditional texts of yoga, you find the Upanishads of Yoga (or Yoga Upanishad ). They are composed of 20 upanishads in the Muktika canon and which show how to attain knowledge through yoga. This discipline is then a path of introspection leading to Brahman and therefore to liberation from inner suffering. But, practice alone is not enough. For this, you must broaden your knowledge by reading sacred Hindu texts.
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