literally means the last section of the Vedas (the sacred
books of the Hindus) or it may mean the ultimate knowledge.
The Upanishads and the Brahma-Sutras are the
basic texts of Vedanta. The Gita which is a part of the epic
called Mahabharata, is considered a text containing the principal
vedantic points. Vedanta has undergone an evolution during
the last four millenniums to become the principal element
of what came to be known in course of time as Hinduism. But
since the ninth century the Vedanta has increased its amplitude
of influence and englobed all the other branches of Hinduism.
From the doctrinal point of view, all the paths in Hinduism
are but the difference nuances of Vedanta, within respective
accepts the laws of karma, reincarnation and kalpa (periodic
creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe). Vedantists
hold that the soul is divine (either because of its identity
with the Absolute in the advaitic or monistic tradition, or
because it is derived from the Eternal in the dvaitic or dualistic
tradition). In the language of Swami Vivekananda "the
goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature,
external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship,
or psychic control, or philosophy - by one, or more, or all
of these - and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines,
or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are
but secondary details." Rightly has it been pointed out
by Mr. J.-C. Demariaux in his book entitled Pour Comprendre
l'Hindouisme: The Upanishads have always been a clean
success in the West since the first translations in Latin
done by the French orientalist A.H. Anquetil - Duperron (1731-1805).
They left an indelible influence on A. Schopenhauer. Historically,
as a matter of fact, it is through the Upanishads that Europe
has discovered Indian philosophy and wisdom."