Difference between Vedas and Upanishads
Few differences between Vedas and Upanishads:
Upanishads |
Vedas |
---|---|
Upanishads are written around 700-400 BCE. |
Vedas are composed around 1200-400 BCE. |
Upanishads focuses on spiritual enlightenment. |
Vedas focus on traditions and rituals. |
Upanishads are made up of two words i.e. “Upa” and “shad”. The former means near and the latter means to sit. It means sitting near the feet of the teacher. |
Vedas means knowledge in Sanskrit. |
There are more than 200 Upanishads. There are 13 well-known Upanishads i.e. Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Munda, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka. |
Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajur Veda and Atharvaveda are types of Vedas. |
Upanishads provide metaphysical and transcendental knowledge. |
Vedas provide worldly knowledge. |
Also Read: Difference between Vedas and Upanishads
Upanishads – History, Facts & Importance
The Upanishads are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit books that record the evolution of the core Hindu religious principles as well as “the transition from the ancient ritual of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions.”
The Upanishads portray an interconnected world in which the seeming diversity of the universe is based on a single, unifying principle, known as brahman, in any of its speech. In this regard, the Upanishads impart the knowledge that Brahman is a part of the atman, which means the immortal soul of the human being.
In this article, we will look into the meaning, history, facts, importance, and teachings of Upanishads. We will also discuss 13 major Upanishads as well.
Table of Content
- What are Upanishads?
- History of Upanishads
- 13 Major Upanishads
- Facts About Upanishads
- Importance of Upanishads
- Main Teachings of the Upanishads
- Difference between Vedas and Upanishads