The Hindu Book Review: Teachings of the Upanishads

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Date:19/08/2003 URL:

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Teachings of the Upanishads

 

SELECTIONS FROM THE UPANISHADS: Edited and Translated by N. S.

Anantha Rangachar; Published by the Editor, 780, V Main Road,

Vijayanagar, Bangalore-560040. Rs. 200.

 

THE UPANISHADS are the concluding portions of the Vedas and the

word "Upanishad" is interpreted as "sitting near".

 

There are more than 100 Upanishads attached to each Veda. But the

teachings of the Upanishads are not strictly related to the practice

and ideology of the particular Veda. Thus the contents are common to

all the Upanishads.

 

Among them the Isa, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya,

Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and the Brhadaranyaka are considered

primary.

 

In the present edition, apart from the above mentioned 10, the

Svetasvatara, Kaushitaki, Mahanarayana and the Maitrayaneeya

Upanishads are included and the editor has provided a collection of

the significant mantras with an English translation.

 

Though these have been translated in English by many scholars from

the standpoint of Vedanta traditions yet from the Visishtadvaita

stand only a few are available and hence this publication is a

significant one.

 

The editor closely follows the commentary of Sri Rangaramanuja Muni,

well known as Upanishadbhashyakara in the tradition. The translation

is lucid and faithful to the original. The book also provides the

alphabetical index of the mantras cited in the edition.

 

S. PADMANABHAN

 

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