Hindu Scripture Series:- 2.Upanishads.

Upanishads:-

(Upanishads:- seating down near the feet of teacher.) 

          Upanishads are the collection of religious texts, composed after Vedas. Upanishads composed between 800 BCE to 500 BCE. It's the period as we discussed when priest start questioning the traditional and religious Vedic principles. so in that way to pursue spiritual knowledge some priests sacrificed their regular life i.e family life by rejecting ordinary concerns. some of their philosophy were compiled into Upanishads. 

          The one of the meaning of the Upanishads is the seating near down in the feet of guru's (teacher). and pursuing knowledge. Upanishads meant to explain by the teachers from the personal experiences. basic source for Upanishads is Hindu cultural philosophy. Upanishads are focused on religious life from external rites and sacrifices to internal spiritual power. 

          Upanishads does not have any divided part. each of them is complete in themselves. there are entirely 200 Upanishads are presents at this time, but only 14 out of them are considered as important. 

the 14 important Upanishads are:- Isa, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandakya, Taittiriya,  Aitareya, Chendogya, Brhadaranyaka, Svetasvatara, Kausitaki, Mahanarayana and The Maitri.

Upanishads represents the opinions, suggestions and experiences of many different men and women.

           The first lesson of Upanishads is human intellect is not able to understand the immense complexity of reality. it does not means that human brain is useless, it has its use to Unlock mystery's of life. it says that the highest understandings comes from direct perception and intitution.

          

THE UPANISHADS ARE COMPOSED ON FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLE:-

 Sansara:-

concept behind the Sansara is reincarnation. it says that our soul is bounded in the cycle or loop of  death and birth. 

Karma:-

Karma means action. actions of every individuals determines its condition of next life and this current life.  If anyone do good will be reborn in good condition or vice versa.

Dharma:-

Most of the people takes the meaning of  Dharma as religion but according to Hindu philosophy it means good behavior and duty of that individual. in ancient times each cast has its particular duty's or Dharma. for example It was great sin for KSHATRIYA( warrior class) to die in the bed. it is honor and Dharma for them to die in battlefield. from one view Dharma encourages or inspire peoples to do there duty's and  complete there responsibility's.

Moksha:-

Moksha means freedom from Sansara or the freedom from the cycle of the death and birth. in Moksha the Atman returns to Brahman. like drop returns to ocean.

their is Concept of Atman and Brahman in Upanishads:-

Atman:- according to Upanishads core of every our own self is Atman(self). It is the core for all individuals. and it can be achieved at deepest levels of our existence.

Brahman:- Brahman is the absolute being which is untouchable essence of the entire existance. it means as source also.

Atman and Brahman are created from same substance.

        this four basic principles and other philosophies are shared by Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. the lessons which are given from the Upanishads are used practice in most of India.