The Upanisads, which contain lofty philosophical teachings of the great seers, constitute the most authoritative source book for the Vedanta system of philosophy. However, there is no unanimity among the ancient exponents of Vedanta regarding the nature of the philosophy adumbrated in the Upanisads.

Dr. Chari's scholarly work attempts to make a dispassionate study of the philosophical passages of the fourteen Principal Upanisads by giving due consideration to not only the comments of Samkara, Ramanuja and Madhava, but more importantly the authoritative views of Badarayana as enshrined in his classic Vedanta sutras. In the first part of the book, he presents the the important passages of the Upanisads along with English rendering indicating the variations in the interpretation by the three commentators and also discusses their philosophical implication with reference to the Vedanta doctrines developed in the post-Upanisadic period. In the second part he has attempted to consolidate the variety of philosophical thoughts scattered all over the Upanisads into coherent doctrines under five broad subjects: Brahma, jivatman, jagat, sadhana and parama-purusartha. In the final chapter he conclusively establishes on the basis of an objective evaluation of the views of the commentators that the Upanisads do not support the main tenets of Advaita such as the concept of Nirvisesa Brahman, the identity of jivatman and Brahman, the phenomenal character of the jagat and the doctrine of maya. The author maintains with sufficient textual support that the nature of the philosophy advocated by the Upanisads in Theistic Monism (savisesadvaita). This book, which is the first of its kind, presents an authentic and comprehensive exposition of the Philosophy of the Upanisads.

About the Author:

S.M. Srinivasa Chari is a Vedanta scholar trained up by eminent traditional teachers. He did his Ph.D. from University of Madras. His other published works are: Advaita and Visistadvaita - A study based on Vedanta Desika's Satadusani; Fundamentals of Visistadvaita Vedanta - A study based on Vedanta Desika's Tattva-mukta-kalapa; Vaisnavism-Its Philosophy, Theology and Religious Discipline; Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Alvars; and The Philosophy of the Vedantasutra - A study based on the evaluation ofthe commentaries of Samkara, Ramanuja and Madhva.

CONTENTS

Of Related Interest:

The Upanisads An Introduction

Sixty Upanishads of the Veda (2 Vols.)

Eternal Stories from the Upanishads

Tales From The Upanishads

Gems From The Upanishads