An Introduction to Upanishads
Although Upanishads, Brahma Sutra and Bhagavat Gita constitute Prasthan Traya (three foundations) of Vedanta, the main role is played by Upanishads. Both Brahma Sutra and Bhagavat Gita reflect the philosophy of the Upanishads.
Since Upanishads are the last part of Vedic literature, they are known as Vedanta. Some, for example, Isopanishad are extracts from the last chapter of Shukla Yajurveda Sanhita; some are parts of Brahman (like Brihadaranyak Upanishad from Bajasneyi Brahman of Shukla Yajurveda) and some are parts of Aranyak like the Taittiriya Upanishad from the Taittiriya Aranyak of Krishna Yajurveda.
Ten Upanishads are considered old because they belong to about 700-600 BCE. Their philosophy is found reflected in both Buddhism and Jainism. Such old Upanishads are Brihadaranyak, Chhandogya, Taittiriya, Aittareya, Isopanishad, Kenopanisad, Kathopanisad, Prasnopanisad, Mundakopanishad and Mandukya Upanishad.
However, the total number of Upanishads available today may be more than 250. In the list published by Gitapress Gorakhpur in the special Upanishad edition of Kalyan, we find the names of 220 Upanishads. Many of them were composed after the Mahakavya Kaal (Epic Age) i.e., 4th Century BCE to 4th Century CE. Many may belong to the Gupta period (300 – 600 CE). Such Upanishads belong to Vaishnavism, Shivaism, Shaktism and some relate to Tantric traditions also. There are about 14 Upanishads belonging to different avatars of Vishnu which relate to the Puranic period. Old Upanishads are in old Vedic Sanskrit. Those of the later period are in more refined Sanskrit and those belonging to the Puranic period are in modern Sanskrit (mostly in verses).
The exact number of Upanishads is still not known but Muktikopanishad mentions the name of 108 Upanishads which may be taken as the standard number available. The list of the Upanishads and their associations with different Vedas have been given below based on Muktikopanishad. There are different shlokas for “Shanti Path” for the different groups of Upanishads belonging to different Vedas. The “Shakti Path” Shlokas have also been given.
Rig Vediya Upanishads
- Aittaraiya
- Kaushitakibrahman
- Nadvindu
- Atmaprabodh
- Nirvan
- Mudgal
- Akshamalika
- Tripura
- Sauvagyalakshmi
- Bahbrich
Shanti Path:
वाङ् मे मनसि प्रतिष्ठिता मनो मे वाचि प्रतिष्ठितमाविरावीर्म एधि ॥
वेदस्य म आणीस्थः श्रुतं मे मा प्रहासीरनेनाधीतेनाहोरात्रान्
सन्दधाम्यृतं वदिष्यामि सत्यं वदिष्यामि ॥ तन्मामवतु
तद्वक्तारमवत्ववतु मामवतु वक्तारमवतु वक्तारम् ॥
॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Meaning:
May my speech be fixed in my mind; may my mind be fixed in my speech! O self-luminous Brahman, be manifested to me. O mind and speech, may you bring me the meaning of the Vedas! May what I study from the Vedas not leave me! I shall unite day and night through this study. I shall think of the right; I shall speak the right. May Brahman protect me, may Brahman protect the teacher! Om Peace! Peace! Peace!
Shukla Yajurvediya Upanishads
- Isavasya
- Brihadaranyak
- Jabal
- Hans
- Paramhans
- Subal
- Mantrika
- Niralamba
- Trishikhibrahman
- Mandalbrahman
- Adwayatarak
- Paingal
- Vikshuk
- Turiyatit
- Adhyatma
- Tarsaar
- Yagyavalkya
- Shattyayani
- Muktika
Shanti Path:
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Meaning:
Om All this is full, all that is full from fullness, fullness comes. When fullness is taken from fullness fullness still remains. Om! Peace! Peace! Peace!
Krishna Yajurvediya Upanishads:
- Kathavalli
- Taittiriya
- Brahm
- Kaivalya
- Svetastavatar
- Garbha
- Narayan
- Amritbindu
- Amritnad
- Kalagnirudra
- Chchurika
- Sarvasar
- Shuklarahasya
- Tejobindu
- Dhyanbindu
- Brahmvidya
- Yogatatva
- Dakshinamurti
- Skand
- Shariraka
- Yogashikha
- Ekakshar
- Akakshi
- Avadhoot
- Katharudra
- Rudrahridaya
- Yogakundali
- Panchabrahma
- Pranagnihotra
- Varah
- Kalisantaran
- Saraswatirahasya
Shanti Path
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Meaning:
Om! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; May we work conjointly with great energy; May our study be vigorous and effective; May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any). Om! Let there be Peace in me! Let there be Peace in my environment! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!
Om! Peace! Peace! Peace!
Samvediya Upanishads
- Ken
- Chchandogya
- Arunik
- Maitrayani
- Maitreyi
- Vajrashuchika
- Yogachudamani
- Vasudeva
- Mahat
- Sanyas
- Abyakta
- Kundika
- Savitri
- Rudrakshajabal
- Jabaldarshan
- Jabali
Shanti Path
ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि ।
सर्वं ब्रह्मौपनिषदं माऽहं ब्रह्म निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म निराकरोदनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकरणं मेऽस्तु ।
तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Meaning:
May my limbs, speech, Prana (life force), sight, hearing, strength and all my senses, gain in vigour. All is the Brahman (Supreme Lord) of the Upanishads. May I never deny the Brahman. May the Brahman never deny me. May there be no denial of the Brahman. May there be no separation from the Brahman. May all the virtues declared in the sacred Upanishads be manifest in me, who am devoted to the Atman (Higher Self). May they be manifest in me.
Om! Peace! Peace! Peace!
Atharvavediya Upanishads
- Prasna
- Mundak
- Mandukya
- Atharvasirsa
- Atharvashikha
- Brihajjabal
- Nrisinhatapaniya
- Naradparibrajak
- Sita
- Sharabh
- Tripadvibhuti Mahanarayan
- Ramrahasya
- Ramtapaniya
- Shandilya
- Paramhansparibrajak
- Annapurna
- Surya
- Atma
- Pashupat
- Parabrahma
- Tripuratapaniya
- Devi
- Bhavana
- Bhasmajabal
- Ganapati
- Mahavakya
- Gopaltapaniya
- Krishna
- Hayagriva
- Dattatreya
- Garud
Shanti Path:
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श्रुणुयाम देवाः ।
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ।
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवाꣳसस्तनूभिः ।
व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ।
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः । स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः ।
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः । स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Meaning:
Om! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious; May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship! May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas, Praising them with our body and limbs steady! May the glorious Indra bless us! May the all-knowing Sun bless us! May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us! May Brihaspati grant us well-being! Om! Let there be Peace in me! Let there be Peace in my environment! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!
Om! Peace! Peace! Peace!
Source: Muktikopanishad Chapter 1 – 51-55
I am a Vedic astrologer by profession. I have done Jyotish Acharya from Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan. I am devoted to my Sadguru Shri Sai Nath of Shirdi. I am also interested in spirituality. I love to guide people.
I am a Vedic astrologer by profession. I have done Jyotish Acharya from Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan. I am devoted to my Sadguru Shri Sai Nath of Shirdi. I am also interested in spirituality. I love to guide people.