Twelve Essential Upanishads Vol. III: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Kena, Katha, Isha, Shvetashvatara, Mundaka, Prashna, & Mandukya Upanishads

Volume III consists of ten Upanishads. Seven take an analytical approach in their teachings: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Mandukya, Prashna, Mundaka, Kena, and the Katha Upanishads. These analytical Upanishads no longer build on the Vedic yajña or fire sacrifice as their theological foundation as did Volume I The Brihad Aranyaka and Volume II Chandogya Upanishads. Instead the Taittiriya, for example, analyses the five kośas or "containers" that make up our existence in this physical world: our food container (anna-maya-kośa), our breath container (prāṇa-maya-kośa), our mental container (mano-maya-kośa), our intellect container (vijñāna-maya-kośa), and our joy container (ānanda-maya-kośa). The Mandukya Upanishad provides an analysis of four states of awareness, a waking state, a dream state, a deep sleep state, and a mystical state. The Mundaka Upanishad even criticizes Vedic ritual as inferior and just a distraction to the attainment of brahma. The final three Upanishads, Kaushitaki, Isha and the Shvetashvatara are the devotional Upanishads as they offer prayers to that ultimate power brahma for salvation and protection in this world. They are the precursors of devotion (bhakti) best found in an even later work, the Bhagavad Gita, which is highly theistic in its devotion to Krishna.

Twelve Essential Upanishads Three Volume Series

Reading an ancient document is like looking through the lens of a powerful telescope. The light that reaches the telescope has traveled huge distances before finally reaching the eye of the observer. These Upanishads are ancient religious documents composed thousands of years ago, therefore, as we read them, we are looking back in time, seeing the state of religious thinking and practice in India at that time. 

These twelve principles Upanishads can be divided into three groups according to theme and historical development. Volume 1 Brihad Aranyaka and Volume 2 Chandogya are the sacrificial Upanishads. "Sacrificial" means these Upanishads focus on the Vedic yajña or agni-hotra fire ritual as their main emphasis. They are the oldest Upanishads.

Volume 3 includes the analytical Upanishads. These include the Taittiriya, Aitareya, Mandukya, Prashna, Mundaka, Kena, and Katha Upanishads. These Upanishads no longer build on the Vedic yajña as their theological foundation, but instead take an analytical approach in their teachings. The Taittiriya, for example, analyses the five kośas or "containers" that make up our existence in this physical world: food, breath, mental, intellect, and joy. The Mandukya Upanishad provides an analysis of four states of awareness: a waking state, a dream state, a deep sleep state, and a mystical state. The Mundaka Upanishad even criticizes Vedic ritual as inferior and just a distraction to the attainment of brahma.

The final three Upanishads in Volume 3 are Kaushitaki, Isha and the Shvetashvatara Upanishads. These are the devotional Upanishads as they offer prayers to that ultimate power brahma for salvation and protection in this world. They are the precursors of devotion (bhakti) best found in an even later work, the Bhagavad Gita, which is highly theistic in its devotion to Krishna.

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Twelve Essential Upanishads Vol. III: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Kena, Katha, Isha, Shvetashvatara, Mundaka, Prashna, & Mandukya Upanishads

Volume III consists of ten Upanishads. Seven take an analytical approach in their teachings: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Mandukya, Prashna, Mundaka, Kena, and the Katha Upanishads. These analytical Upanishads no longer build on the Vedic yajña or fire sacrifice as their theological foundation as did Volume I The Brihad Aranyaka and Volume II Chandogya Upanishads. Instead the Taittiriya, for example, analyses the five kośas or "containers" that make up our existence in this physical world: our food container (anna-maya-kośa), our breath container (prāṇa-maya-kośa), our mental container (mano-maya-kośa), our intellect container (vijñāna-maya-kośa), and our joy container (ānanda-maya-kośa). The Mandukya Upanishad provides an analysis of four states of awareness, a waking state, a dream state, a deep sleep state, and a mystical state. The Mundaka Upanishad even criticizes Vedic ritual as inferior and just a distraction to the attainment of brahma. The final three Upanishads, Kaushitaki, Isha and the Shvetashvatara are the devotional Upanishads as they offer prayers to that ultimate power brahma for salvation and protection in this world. They are the precursors of devotion (bhakti) best found in an even later work, the Bhagavad Gita, which is highly theistic in its devotion to Krishna.

Twelve Essential Upanishads Three Volume Series

Reading an ancient document is like looking through the lens of a powerful telescope. The light that reaches the telescope has traveled huge distances before finally reaching the eye of the observer. These Upanishads are ancient religious documents composed thousands of years ago, therefore, as we read them, we are looking back in time, seeing the state of religious thinking and practice in India at that time. 

These twelve principles Upanishads can be divided into three groups according to theme and historical development. Volume 1 Brihad Aranyaka and Volume 2 Chandogya are the sacrificial Upanishads. "Sacrificial" means these Upanishads focus on the Vedic yajña or agni-hotra fire ritual as their main emphasis. They are the oldest Upanishads.

Volume 3 includes the analytical Upanishads. These include the Taittiriya, Aitareya, Mandukya, Prashna, Mundaka, Kena, and Katha Upanishads. These Upanishads no longer build on the Vedic yajña as their theological foundation, but instead take an analytical approach in their teachings. The Taittiriya, for example, analyses the five kośas or "containers" that make up our existence in this physical world: food, breath, mental, intellect, and joy. The Mandukya Upanishad provides an analysis of four states of awareness: a waking state, a dream state, a deep sleep state, and a mystical state. The Mundaka Upanishad even criticizes Vedic ritual as inferior and just a distraction to the attainment of brahma.

The final three Upanishads in Volume 3 are Kaushitaki, Isha and the Shvetashvatara Upanishads. These are the devotional Upanishads as they offer prayers to that ultimate power brahma for salvation and protection in this world. They are the precursors of devotion (bhakti) best found in an even later work, the Bhagavad Gita, which is highly theistic in its devotion to Krishna.

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Twelve Essential Upanishads Vol. III: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Kena, Katha, Isha, Shvetashvatara, Mundaka, Prashna, & Mandukya Upanishads

Twelve Essential Upanishads Vol. III: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Kena, Katha, Isha, Shvetashvatara, Mundaka, Prashna, & Mandukya Upanishads

Twelve Essential Upanishads Vol. III: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Kena, Katha, Isha, Shvetashvatara, Mundaka, Prashna, & Mandukya Upanishads

Twelve Essential Upanishads Vol. III: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Kena, Katha, Isha, Shvetashvatara, Mundaka, Prashna, & Mandukya Upanishads

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Overview

Volume III consists of ten Upanishads. Seven take an analytical approach in their teachings: Taittiriya, Aitareya, Mandukya, Prashna, Mundaka, Kena, and the Katha Upanishads. These analytical Upanishads no longer build on the Vedic yajña or fire sacrifice as their theological foundation as did Volume I The Brihad Aranyaka and Volume II Chandogya Upanishads. Instead the Taittiriya, for example, analyses the five kośas or "containers" that make up our existence in this physical world: our food container (anna-maya-kośa), our breath container (prāṇa-maya-kośa), our mental container (mano-maya-kośa), our intellect container (vijñāna-maya-kośa), and our joy container (ānanda-maya-kośa). The Mandukya Upanishad provides an analysis of four states of awareness, a waking state, a dream state, a deep sleep state, and a mystical state. The Mundaka Upanishad even criticizes Vedic ritual as inferior and just a distraction to the attainment of brahma. The final three Upanishads, Kaushitaki, Isha and the Shvetashvatara are the devotional Upanishads as they offer prayers to that ultimate power brahma for salvation and protection in this world. They are the precursors of devotion (bhakti) best found in an even later work, the Bhagavad Gita, which is highly theistic in its devotion to Krishna.

Twelve Essential Upanishads Three Volume Series

Reading an ancient document is like looking through the lens of a powerful telescope. The light that reaches the telescope has traveled huge distances before finally reaching the eye of the observer. These Upanishads are ancient religious documents composed thousands of years ago, therefore, as we read them, we are looking back in time, seeing the state of religious thinking and practice in India at that time. 

These twelve principles Upanishads can be divided into three groups according to theme and historical development. Volume 1 Brihad Aranyaka and Volume 2 Chandogya are the sacrificial Upanishads. "Sacrificial" means these Upanishads focus on the Vedic yajña or agni-hotra fire ritual as their main emphasis. They are the oldest Upanishads.

Volume 3 includes the analytical Upanishads. These include the Taittiriya, Aitareya, Mandukya, Prashna, Mundaka, Kena, and Katha Upanishads. These Upanishads no longer build on the Vedic yajña as their theological foundation, but instead take an analytical approach in their teachings. The Taittiriya, for example, analyses the five kośas or "containers" that make up our existence in this physical world: food, breath, mental, intellect, and joy. The Mandukya Upanishad provides an analysis of four states of awareness: a waking state, a dream state, a deep sleep state, and a mystical state. The Mundaka Upanishad even criticizes Vedic ritual as inferior and just a distraction to the attainment of brahma.

The final three Upanishads in Volume 3 are Kaushitaki, Isha and the Shvetashvatara Upanishads. These are the devotional Upanishads as they offer prayers to that ultimate power brahma for salvation and protection in this world. They are the precursors of devotion (bhakti) best found in an even later work, the Bhagavad Gita, which is highly theistic in its devotion to Krishna.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781889756080
Publisher: Sri Publications
Publication date: 04/08/2025
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 260
File size: 16 MB
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About the Author

Shukavak Dasa holds a Ph.D. in South Asian Studies and a Master's degree in Sanskrit grammar from the University of Toronto. He regularly lectures on Hinduism and has played a key role in the development of Hindu temples across the United States and Canada. He has officiated thousands of Hindu weddings and performed a wide range of rituals in North America, Europe, and India. With deep knowledge of Sanskrit and the symbolic meaning behind Hindu rites, Shukavak is known for making complex traditions accessible and enlightening for diverse audiences-including both lifelong practitioners and those new to the faith. This translation was undertaken by a Westerner who is also a dedicated practitioner of Hinduism. With a nuanced understanding of the distinction between faith and belief, and drawing from his Western education and personal spiritual practice, the author approaches these sacred texts with both reverence and a desire to find meaning relevant to a Western context. His unique perspective bridges two worlds: rooted in Western thought, yet deeply engaged with Indian spiritual traditions. www.Shukavak.com
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