The Classical Upanisads

The Upaniá¹£ads are rich and complex Sanskrit Hindu scriptures dating back to the 8th century BCE and are a staple of world religion courses across the globe. In this volume, Signe Cohen guide readers through on the thirteen "Classical Upaniá¹£ads," those generally regarded as the oldest: Bhadrayaka, Chandogya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Isa, Kena, Katha, Mundaka, Svetasvatara, Mandukya, Prasna, Kausitaki, and Maitri Upanisad. Where most survey textbooks present a cursory overview of these texts, The Classical Upaniá¹£ads: A Guide provides a nuanced but accessible exploration of the Upaniá¹£ads that will benefit both scholars, students, and general readers alike.This volume explores the historical, geographical, and social context of the Classical Upaniá¹£ads and discusses issues of dating, authorship, and transmission of the texts. Cohen also breaks down central ideas in the Upaniá¹£ads, such as atman, brahman, karma, reincarnation, moksa, knowledge, and sacred sounds (mantras). The text also discusses the importance of the Upaniá¹£ads for Hinduism and Indian culture, as well as the reception of the Upaniá¹£ads in the West. Through exploring these works, their key characters and ideas, and their impact on Hinduism''s core beliefs, Cohen provides the reader a thorough but approachable entry into these seminal texts.

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