Vedanta
One of six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, focusing on the Vedas' conclusion.
Vedanta, also known as Uttara Mīmāṃsā, is one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word Vedanta means 'conclusion of the Vedas,' and encompasses ideas that emerged from or reinterpreted the speculations in the Upanishads, focusing on devotion, knowledge, and liberation. It developed into many traditions, all interpreting a common group of texts called the Prasthānatrayī: the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita.
- field
- Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis
- known_for
- Investigation of Brahman and Ātman; foundational scriptures: Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad Gita
- traditions
- Bhedabheda, Advaita, Dvaitadvaita, Vishishtadvaita, Tattvavada (Dvaita), Suddhadvaita, Achintya-Bheda-Abheda, Neo-Vedanta, Swaminarayan Sampradaya
- key_concepts
- Brahman/Īśvara, Ātman/Jīvātman, Prakriti/Jagat, moksha, samsara, karma
- scriptural_authority
- Śruti (scripture) as main reliable source of knowledge (pramāṇa)
Lore & Background
Vedanta literally means 'end of the Vedas' and originally referred to the Upanishads, the last literary products of the Vedic period and the pinnacle of Vedic philosophy. It is also called Uttara Mīmāṃsā, the 'latter enquiry,' contrasting with Pūrva Mīmāṃsā, which deals with ritualistic sections. All Vedanta traditions place great emphasis on textual exegesis and discuss ontology, soteriology, and epistemology, though there is much disagreement among them.
Reader's Guide
Vedanta's significance lies in its systematic investigation of Brahman and Ātman, and its influence on Hindu thought through diverse traditions. All Vedanta schools share common features: reliance on scripture (śruti) as the main epistemic authority, belief in Brahman as the cause of the world (except Dvaita, which holds Brahman only as efficient cause), belief in karma, samsara, and moksha, and rejection of Buddhism, Jainism, and conclusions of other Vedic schools. The three canonical sources—Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita—are foundational, with the Bhāgavata Purāṇa also central to theistic Vaishnava schools. Advaita Vedanta's monism has attracted Western attention due to figures like Vidyaranya, Swami Vivekananda, and Ramana Maharshi, but most Vedanta traditions focus on Vaishnava theology. The schools differ fundamentally on the relation between Ātman and Brahman: Advaita sees identity, Vishishtadvaita sees organic unity with difference, and Dvaita sees distinctness. These metaphysical debates continue to shape Hindu philosophy.
Did You Know?
- Vedanta means 'conclusion of the Vedas' and originally referred to the Upanishads.
- All Vedanta traditions give specific interpretations of the Prasthānatrayī: the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita.
- Many major Vedanta schools are related to Vaishnavism and emphasize devotion (bhakti) to Vishnu, though Advaita Vedanta also has historical ties to Vaishnavism (e.g., Shankara's hymns to Vishnu), and Neo-Vedanta's relati
- The Brahma Sutras of Badarayana are a foundational text whose meaning is debated; different schools interpret them through their own lenses, so they are not definitively a 'bhedabheda-based synthesis.'
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