The word उपनिषत् is a feminine noun स्त्रीलिङ्गि नाम ।
The Sanskrit term Upaniṣad derives from upa- उप (nearby), ni- नि (at the proper place, down) and ṣad सद् (to sit) thus: “sitting down near”), implying sitting near a teacher to receive instruction or, alternatively, “sitting at the foot of ..(teacher)”, or “laying siege” to the teacher. Monier-Williams‘ late 19th century dictionary adds that, “according to native authorities Upanishad means ‘setting to rest ignorance by revealing the knowledge of the supreme spirit.’” A gloss of the term Upanishad based on Shankara‘s commentary on the Kaṭha and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad equates it with Ātmavidyā, that is, “knowledge of the Self“, or Brahmavidyā “knowledge of Brahma”. Other dictionary meanings include “esoteric doctrine” and “secret doctrine”.
Upanishads are one of three texts called as Vedānta वेदान्त texts, the three texts being – the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahmasutras. Vedanta is the knowledge portion of the Vedas. Upanishads thus present the knowledge portion of the Vedas.
Two words that are of paramount importance in grasping the Upanishads are Brahman and Atman.
The Brahman is the universal spirit and the Atman is the individual Self. Brahman is “the infinite Spirit Source and fabric and core and destiny of all existence, both manifested and unmanifested and the formless infinite substratum and from whom the universe has grown”. Brahman is the ultimate, both transcendent and immanent, the absolute infinite existence, the sum total of all that ever is, was, or shall be.
The word Atman means the immortal perfect Spirit of any living creature, being, including trees etc. The idea put forth by the Upanishadic seers that Atman and Brahman are One and the same is one of the greatest contributions made to the thought of the world.
Two different types of the non-dual Brahman-Atman are presented in the Upanishads –
- The one in which the non-dual Brahman-Atman is the all inclusive ground of the universe and
- The one in which all reality in the universe is but an illusion
As can be seen from the above, for a comprehensive study we shall have to explore both the शब्दार्थ and the भावार्थ.
I have been presenting my studies in blogs such as this,having been happily blessed with invaluable comments from learned people. With their comments it becomes a greatly enriched learning experience. This blog is in a way a facility or a style of उपनिषत् sitting near to all those गुरु-s ! It becomes also a joint study with all the readers.
We can expect to do a good study only with grace of God. For a joint study to be rich, we pray तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु ! (नौ अधीतं तेजस्वि अस्तु) May our studies be brilliant !!
शुभमस्तु !
संस्कृताध्ययनम् । 