The Upnishads

I am writing this book with the objective to introduce Vedas to my readers. Vedas are apaurusheya in origin. Apaurusheya means not of human intellect. It has been revealed to the rishis of the long gone era. The rishis are only the transmitters of the Vedas. In tradition they have been conveyed orally down the generations from guru to shishya. That is why they are called shruti. Shruti means that which is heard.

However Vedas are no longer prevalent in our society nowadays. We are not a vaidika society anymore. But no matter what, in essence or philosophy Vedas have to be followed as that is what makes a person complete. It must be noted that in the field of spirituality Veda is the only pramana. Just as in the field of vision, eyes are the only pramana. This philosophy comes at the end of each branch of Veda. Hence the name Vedanta or Upanishad . Veda + anta. Originally there were 1180 branches of Vedas. So there were 1180 Upanishads. Now about 200 or so remain. Out of these, Adi Shankaracharya's commentary is there for 10 Upanishads. So in tradition we study these 10 Upanishads. Adi Shankaracharya chose these 10 Upanishads because Vyasacharya in his Brahma Sutra selects verses from these 10 Upanishads mostly. Then also because each of these 10 Upanishads have their own unique methodology of reaching Brahman. The Upanishads covered in this book are 5 because the work was getting voluminous.