one of six schools of Hindu philosophy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vedanta is a school of Hindu philosophy, one of the six recognized in Hinduism. The name means "end of the Vedas". It is based on ideas found in the Upanishads, focusing on knowledge and liberation. Vedanta has various schools that follow texts like the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita. The main Vedanta schools include Bhedabheda, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Tattvavada (Dvaita), Suddhadvaita, and Achintya-Bheda-Abheda. Modern developments include Neo-Vedanta and the philosophy of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.[1][2]
Most Vedanta schools, except Advaita Vedanta and Neo-Vedanta, are linked to Vaishnavism, emphasizing devotion (Bhakti) to God, often Vishnu. Advaita Vedanta, in contrast, emphasizes Jnana (knowledge) and Jnana Yoga. While Advaita has gained attention in the West, other Vedanta traditions mainly focus on Vaishnava theology.[1]
There are different counts of Vedanta schools, ranging from three to six. Some prominent ones include:[1]
Despite their differences, all Vedanta schools share some common ideas:[3]
The main texts of Vedanta are the Upanishads, Brahma Sūtras, and Bhagavadgītā, collectively known as Prasthānatrayī.[4]
Vedanta philosophers discuss three fundamental categories—Brahman, Ātman, and Prakriti—and their relationships.[5]
Most Vedanta schools, along with Samkhya, support Parinamavada, the idea that the world is a real transformation of Brahman. However, Advaita Vedanta, led by Adi Shankara, follows Vivartavada, stating that the world is an unreal transformation of Brahman.[4][4]
Following is the relation between Atman and Brahman in different schools of Vedanta:[4]
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