Upanishads are Sanskrit texts from the ancient times, consisting of spiritual ideas and teachings related to Hinduism. Jainism and Buddhism are the other 2 religious traditions that share similar religious texts as in the Upanishads. Upanishads form a part of the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of Hinduism in they deal with spiritual knowledge, meditation and philosophy, besides which they also deal with sacrifices, mantras, ceremonies, rituals and benedictions.
Upanishads have played a significant role in developing spiritual ideas in ancient India. They marked the transition to new institutions and ideas, from the regular Vedic ritualism. Upanishads are also referred to as Vedanta (the last parts or the last chapters of the Veda). Their central ideas are considered to be at the spiritual core of Hinduism and have served the highest purpose of the Vedas.
Central ideas like the concept of Atman (self, soul) and Brahman (ultimate reality) are described in the Upanishads. Prasthanatrayi are called the Mukhya Upanishads along with the Brahmasutra and the Bhagvad Gita. In Hinduism there are two influential monistic schools as well as many of the later schools of Vedanta have obtained their foundation from the Upanishads.
Records indicate that more than 200 Upanishads are in existence with the initial twelve being considered as most important, oldest and referred to as the main or principal (Mukhya) Upanishads. The earliest Upanishads predate the Common Era and gradually in the early 19th century, the translation of Upanishads began. People from the Western nations gradually started paying attention to the Upanishads.
