Upanishad

[oo-pan-i-shad, oo-pah-ni-shahd] /uˈpæn ɪˌʃæd, uˈpɑ nɪˌʃɑd/
noun, Hinduism.
1.
any of a class of speculative prose treatises composed between the 8th and 6th centuries b.c. and first written a.d. c1300: they represent a philosophical development beyond the Vedas, having as their principal message the unity of Brahman and Atman.
Origin
< Sanskrit upaniṣad, equivalent to upa near + ni- down + -ṣad, sandhi variant of sad- sit1
Related forms
Upanishadic, adjective
Examples from the web for upanishads
  • Several events in the plot are accompanied by dialogue from the upanishads.
British Dictionary definitions for upanishads

Upanishad

/uːˈpʌnɪʃəd; -ˌʃæd; juː-/
noun
1.
(Hinduism) any of a class of the Sanskrit sacred books probably composed between 400 and 200 bc and embodying the mystical and esoteric doctrines of ancient Hindu philosophy
Derived Forms
Upanishadic, adjective
Word Origin
C19: from Sanskrit upanisad a sitting down near something, from upa near to + ni down + sīdati he sits
Word Origin and History for upanishads

Upanishad

class of treatises in Sanskrit literature, 1805, from Sanskrit upa-nishad, literally "a sitting down beside," from upa "near to" (see up) + ni-shad "to sit or lie down."

upanishads in Culture
Upanishads [(ooh-pah-nuh-shahdz, ooh-pan-uh-shadz)]

A group of writings sacred in Hinduism concerning the relations of humans, God, and the universe.