Introduction To The Study of Upanishad's - Meaning of Upanishad - Brahma Vidya Or Theosophy

 - Jagadguru Vidyaranya - The word 'Upanishad' denotes inasmuch as its etymology is applicable to nothing else

- The prefix 'Upa' means near and nothing can be nearer to one than one's own inner Self since all things are said to be more or less near with reference to that inner Self

- The three meanings of the root 'sad' namely to decay to go or know to destroy - are applicable to Theosophy, as the blessed Jagadguru Sureshvaracharya has distinctly shewn

- Thus Theosophy is called Upanishad 1) because it leads Atman, the Self , very near Brahman who in Himself is devoid of duality

- And thereby brings about decay of avidya or unwisdom and its effects - or because it destroys that avidya or ignorance of the true nature of one's own Self

- Which is the root of all evil, and gives one to understand that the Supreme Being who is devoid of all duality is none other than one's own inner Self or

- Because it destroys altogether all germs of outward activity by way of cutting up their root (avidya). As the means of acquiring a knowledge of Theosophy

- The treatise is identified with Theosophy and is itself called Upanishad as the plough is sometimes spoken of as a living

- Now before entering on the study of the Upanishad, we have to answer the following questions in connection with it: