What is Vedanta?

Vedanta is the name given to the Upanishads which form the last part or the end of the Vedas!Various definitions are given for the word Vedanta! The word itself is a ' savarnadirgha sandhi' of the two words Veda + Anta= Vedanta which means the end of the Vedas!One of the famous definitions is " upanishaditi Brahmavidya" It is called so because it gives the knowledge of the Brahman otherwise called as the Absolute Reality!!It reveals the path to free oneself from the never ending cycle of birth & Death & the vicissitudes of samsara or material existence!!Quite a number of Upanishads are there & all of them emphasize the same doctrine of how to realize the Brahman!! No mention of the names of Gods, as we see in the Vedas, are found in the Upanishads!! They point out that the Atma,enshrined in the Body is the most important thing to be recognized!!They vehemently argue the uselessness of the body without the Atma within! The Upanishads proclaim with one voice the philosophy of ADVAITA & how one can become the Brahman! Anandavalli of Taittiriya Upanishad says "Om brahmaviadapnotiparam tadesha bhuykta satyam jnana manantam Brahma yo Veda nihitam guhayam parame vyoman sosnuthe sarvan kamansaha Brahmana vipaschiteti" The Rig veda has declared the characteristics of the Brahman as "satyam, jnanam & Anantam" One who has realized the Brahman enshrined in the center of his heart shall merge into that omniscient Brahman!! Another mantra in the same upanishad explains how the Brahman transcends all speech & even Manas!! " yato vacho nivarthanthe aprapya manasa saha anandam brahmano vidwan na bibheti kadachaneti" The wise man, who experiences the Bliss of the Brahman whom no speech or manas can approach shall have no fear!! The supremacy of the Brahman & its omnipotent power is explained in the Khatopanisad! It is the radiance of the Brahman that illuminates the Sun,the Moon,the stars, the lightning & even water & the Fire!! "Na thathra suryo bhati na chandra tarakam ne ma vidyutho bhanthi ku thoya magnihi twameva bhanta manubhati sarvam tasya bhasa midam vibhati" All the Upanishads establish the supremacy of the ATMA or the Brahman!!