Vedanta: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:36, 18 February 2025

Vedanta is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy. It is also known as Uttara M_m__s_, which means the "latter" or "end" part of the Vedas. Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from the speculations and philosophies contained in the Upanishads, specifically, knowledge and liberation.

Etymology[edit]

The term "Vedanta" is a compound of "Veda" and "anta," meaning "end of the Vedas." It refers to the teachings found in the end portion of the Vedic texts, primarily the Upanishads.

Philosophical foundations[edit]

Vedanta is based on three main texts, collectively called the Prasthanatrayi: the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. These texts form the basis for the various sub-schools of Vedanta.

Sub-schools of Vedanta[edit]

Vedanta has several sub-schools, each interpreting the texts in its own way. The major sub-schools are:

Advaita Vedanta[edit]

Advaita Vedanta is a non-dualistic system of thought. It posits that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are identical. The most prominent proponent of Advaita Vedanta was Adi Shankaracharya.

Vishishtadvaita Vedanta[edit]

Vishishtadvaita is a qualified non-dualistic school of Vedanta, which posits that the individual soul is distinct yet part of Brahman. Ramanuja was the main proponent of this school.

Dvaita Vedanta[edit]

Dvaita Vedanta is a dualistic interpretation of the Vedanta, which maintains that God (Vishnu) and the individual souls are distinct entities. Madhvacharya was the founder of this school.

Other schools[edit]

Other notable schools include Nimbarka's Dvaitadvaita, Vallabha's Shuddhadvaita, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Achintya Bheda Abheda.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, proponent of Achintya Bheda Abheda

Influence and legacy[edit]

Vedanta has had a profound influence on Hindu thought and spirituality. It has also impacted other religious traditions and philosophical systems. The teachings of Vedanta have been spread globally by various spiritual leaders and organizations.

Related pages[edit]

References[edit]

Radhakrishnan, S. (1929). Indian Philosophy. Oxford University Press.
Sharma, C. (1962). A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass.
Flood, G. (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press.

Vedanta
Nimbarkacharya's holy icon at the Ukhra Nimbarka Peeth Mahanta Asthal
Sankaracharya by Raja Ravi Varma
Lord Swaminarayan writing the Shikshapatri
Shri Mahaprabhuji
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannath

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-'''Vedanta''' ('''वेदान्त''', IAST: ''Vedānta'') or '''Uttara Mīmāṃsā''' is one of the six (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from the speculations and philosophies contained in the Upanishads, specifically, knowledge and liberation. Vedanta is also the name of one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy.
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
+{{Hinduism}}
+'''Vedanta''' is one of the six orthodox [[schools of Hindu philosophy]]. It is also known as '''Uttara M_m__s_''', which means the "latter" or "end" part of the [[Vedas]]. Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from the speculations and philosophies contained in the [[Upanishads]], specifically, knowledge and liberation.
 ==Etymology==
-The term Vedanta means in Sanskrit the "conclusion" (anta) of the Vedas, the earliest sacred literature of India. It applies to the Upanishads, which were elaborations of the Vedas, and to the school that arose out of the study (mimamsa) of the Upanishads.
+The term "Vedanta" is a compound of "[[Veda]]" and "anta," meaning "end of the Vedas." It refers to the teachings found in the end portion of the Vedic texts, primarily the Upanishads.
+==Philosophical foundations==
+Vedanta is based on three main texts, collectively called the [[Prasthanatrayi]]: the [[Upanishads]], the [[Brahma Sutras]], and the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. These texts form the basis for the various sub-schools of Vedanta.
+==Sub-schools of Vedanta==
+Vedanta has several sub-schools, each interpreting the texts in its own way. The major sub-schools are:
-==Philosophy==
+===Advaita Vedanta===
-Vedanta is one of the world's most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest, based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India. It is the philosophical foundation of Hinduism; but while Hinduism includes aspects of Indian culture, Vedanta is universal in its application and is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds.
+[[Advaita Vedanta]] is a non-dualistic system of thought. It posits that the individual self ([[Atman]]) and the ultimate reality ([[Brahman]]) are identical. The most prominent proponent of Advaita Vedanta was [[Adi Shankaracharya]].
-==Sub-schools==
+[[File:Raja_Ravi_Varma_-_Sankaracharya.jpg|thumb|Adi Shankaracharya, a key figure in Advaita Vedanta]]
-There are three sub-schools of Vedanta, each named after its founder: Advaita (non-dualism), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), and Dvaita (dualism).
-==See also==
+===Vishishtadvaita Vedanta===
+[[Vishishtadvaita]] is a qualified non-dualistic school of Vedanta, which posits that the individual soul is distinct yet part of Brahman. [[Ramanuja]] was the main proponent of this school.
+===Dvaita Vedanta===
+[[Dvaita Vedanta]] is a dualistic interpretation of the Vedanta, which maintains that God ([[Vishnu]]) and the individual souls are distinct entities. [[Madhvacharya]] was the founder of this school.
+[[File:3_Pramana_Epistemology_Dualistic_Dvaita_Vishishtadvaita_Hindu_schools.svg|thumb|Diagram illustrating the epistemology of Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita]]
+===Other schools===
+Other notable schools include [[Nimbarka]]'s [[Dvaitadvaita]], [[Vallabha]]'s [[Shuddhadvaita]], and [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]]'s [[Achintya Bheda Abheda]].
+[[File:Nimbarkacharya's_holy_icon_at_the_Ukhra_Nimbarka_Peeth_Mahanta_Asthal_(West_Bengal)_(square).JPG|thumb|Nimbarkacharya, proponent of Dvaitadvaita]]
+[[File:Shri_mahaprabhuji.jpg|thumb|Vallabha, proponent of Shuddhadvaita]]
+[[File:Chaitanya-Mahabrabhu-at-Jagannath.jpg|thumb|Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, proponent of Achintya Bheda Abheda]]
+==Influence and legacy==
+Vedanta has had a profound influence on Hindu thought and spirituality. It has also impacted other religious traditions and philosophical systems. The teachings of Vedanta have been spread globally by various spiritual leaders and organizations.
+==Related pages==
+* [[Upanishads]]
+* [[Brahma Sutras]]
+* [[Bhagavad Gita]]
 * [[Hindu philosophy]]
-* [[Indian philosophy]]
-* [[Upanishads]]
-* [[Vedas]]
 ==References==
-<references />
+* Radhakrishnan, S. (1929). ''Indian Philosophy''. Oxford University Press.
+* Sharma, C. (1962). ''A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy''. Motilal Banarsidass.
+* Flood, G. (1996). ''An Introduction to Hinduism''. Cambridge University Press.
-==External links==
-* [https://www.vedanta.org/ Vedanta Society of Southern California]
-* [https://www.vedanta.com/ Vedanta Press & Catalog]
-[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
 [[Category:Vedanta]]
 [[Category:Hindu philosophy]]
-[[Category:Indian philosophy]]
+<gallery>
+File:3_Pramana_Epistemology_Dualistic_Dvaita_Vishishtadvaita_Hindu_schools.svg|Vedanta
-{{Hindu philosophy}}
+File:Nimbarkacharya's_holy_icon_at_the_Ukhra_Nimbarka_Peeth_Mahanta_Asthal_(West_Bengal)_(square).JPG|Nimbarkacharya's holy icon at the Ukhra Nimbarka Peeth Mahanta Asthal
-{{Indian philosophy}}
+File:Raja_Ravi_Varma_-_Sankaracharya.jpg|Sankaracharya by Raja Ravi Varma
-{{stub}}
+File:Lord_Swaminarayan_writing_the_Shikshapatri.jpg|Lord Swaminarayan writing the Shikshapatri
+File:Shri_mahaprabhuji.jpg|Shri Mahaprabhuji
+File:Chaitanya-Mahabrabhu-at-Jagannath.jpg|Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannath
+</gallery>