The Upanisads 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 Upanisads," 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 Upanisads: A Guide provides a nuanced but accessible exploration of the Upanisads that will benefit both scholars, students, and general readers alike.
This volume explores the historical, geographical, and social context of the Classical Upanisads and discusses issues of dating, authorship, and transmission of the texts. Cohen also breaks down central ideas in the Upanisads, such as atman, brahman, karma, reincarnation, moksa, knowledge, and sacred sounds (mantras). The text also discusses the importance of the Upanisads for Hinduism and Indian culture, as well as the reception of the Upanisads 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.
