The Upaniṣads A Complete Guide

The Upaniṣads A Complete Guide by Signe Cohen, published by Routledge in 2019, is a comprehensive exploration of the foundational scriptures of Hinduism. Spanning 456 pages, this book delves into the complexities of the Upaniṣads, which have been composed from 800 BCE onwards and are integral to understanding both Hinduism and broader Asian religious traditions. The text provides “knowledge lessons” on significant themes such as life, death, and immortality, making it a vital resource for those interested in the intricacies of these sacred writings.
Readers will find this guide divided into five parts, addressing topics such as the composition and transmission of the Upaniṣads, their historical and cultural contexts, and the philosophical discussions they encompass. Each chapter critically examines the origins, authorship, and redaction of the Upaniṣads while unpacking their religious and philosophical themes. This book serves as a valuable reference for undergraduate students and researchers in religious studies, history, and philosophy, offering insights into the contextual relevance of these texts and clarifying challenging terms and concepts.
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The Upaniṣads are among the most sacred foundational scriptures in the Hindu religion. Composed from 800 BCE onwards and making up part of the larger Vedic corpus, they offer the reader “knowledge lessons” on life, death, and immortality. While they are essential to understanding Hinduism and Asian religions more generally, their complexities make them almost impenetrable to anyone but serious scholars of Sanskrit and ancient Indian culture.
This book is divided into five parts:
- Composition, authorship, and transmission of the Upaniṣads;
- The historical, cultural, and religious background of the Upaniṣads;
- Religion and philosophy in the Upaniṣads;
- The classical Upaniṣads;
- The later Upaniṣads.
The chapters cover critical issues such as the origins of the Upaniṣads, authorship, and redaction, as well as exploring the broad religious and philosophical themes within the texts. The guide analyzes each of the Upaniṣads separately, unpacking their contextual relevance and explaining difficult terms and concepts. The Upaniṣads: A Complete Guide is a unique and valuable reference source for undergraduate religious studies, history, and philosophy students and researchers who want to learn more about these foundational sacred texts and the religious lessons in the Hindu tradition.
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