Upanishads

Principal Upanishads

The early Upanishads that later Vedānta schools keep returning to.

मुख्य उपनिषदः

Read it now

Each link leaves this site for a public edition. Translations and recensions vary. Nothing here replaces a teacher in your tradition.

IIT Kanpur Gita SupersiteSeveral languages

Open on IIT Kanpur Gita Supersite

Vedic Heritage PortalSeveral languages

Open on Vedic Heritage Portal

Educational orientation only — not a canonical edition, a priest’s ruling, or medical or legal advice.

What this is

There is no single closed list; ten or thirteen names are commonly taught as principal. IIT Kanpur and the Vedic Heritage portal both open collections. A few of the most-read texts also have their own pages here.

Another scripture

Upanishads

ईशावास्योपनिषद्

Isha Upanishad

A short Upanishad on living in a world already filled by the Lord.

Open the text Upanishads

कठोपनिषद्

Katha Upanishad

Nachiketa’s questions to Yama on death, the self and what does not die.

Open the text Upanishads

माण्डूक्योपनिषद्

Mandukya Upanishad

Twelve mantras on Om and the four states of the self.

Open the text Upanishads

छान्दोग्योपनिषद्

Chandogya Upanishad

A long Upanishad of the Samaveda, including the teaching “tat tvam asi”.

Open the text Upanishads

बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

A large Upanishad of the Yajurveda, with Yajnavalkya’s debates on the self.

Open the text