ACKERMANAt a glance
History, context & interpretation
The text and its story
Philosophical dialogues on Brahman (ultimate reality), Atman (self), karma and liberation. Thirteen or so 'principal' Upanishads are the most studied.
Traditional attribution
The 'end of the Vedas' (Vedanta), revealed wisdom.
Historical scholarship
Teachings of sages such as Yajnavalkya and Uddalaka Aruni; the Brihadaranyaka and Chandogya are oldest.
Context and curiosity
The philosopher Schopenhauer kept a Latin translation by his bed.
Chronology and transmission
This text belongs to Hinduism & Vedic India (India). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as c. 800–200 BCE (principal Upanishads) and original language or script as Sanskrit. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.
Sources and further reading
Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.
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