Chandogya Upanishad

The term Upanishad (upa-ni-shad) means to sit down near, representing the intimate process of learning from a teacher through discussion and experience. Among the over 200 Upanishads, many have vanished over time, known only through other texts. The Chandogya Upanishad, a pivotal work from the Sama-veda and one of the oldest, dates back to the Brahmana period of Vedic Sanskrit (before the 8th century BC). It ranks 9th in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads and is part of the Chandogya Brahmana, containing ten Prapathakas (Parts). The first two focus on rituals, while the latter eight delve into the essence of the Upanishad. Included in the 11 principal Upanishads, celebrated in Sankaras commentary on the Vedanta-Sutras, the Chandogya embodies a philosophy that transcends religious boundaries. German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer praised these texts as the pinnacle of human wisdom. (Summary by Jothi)