Vedantas
Vedantas, in Hindu philosophy, refers to a family of related schools that interpret the Upanishads and related texts to explain the nature of reality, the self, and the ultimate principle called Brahman. The term Vedanta means the “end of the Vedas,” and the tradition centers on the Prasthanatrayi—the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita—as the main scriptural authority, with extensive commentaries by later thinkers. The common aim across Vedanta is liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death, though the path and metaphysical schema vary among the schools.
Major Vedanta traditions include:
Advaita Vedanta, founded by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, teaches non-dualism. It holds that Brahman
Vishishtadvaita, attributed to Ramanuja in the 11th century, proposes qualified non-dualism. Brahman (Narayana) is the supreme
Dvaita, associated with Madhvacharya in the 13th century, advocates strict dualism. God, the individual souls, and
Other notable Vedanta streams include Dvaitadvaita (Nimbarka) and Shuddhadvaita (Vallabha). The Vedanta tradition has shaped modern