The Sanskrit word VEDANTA can be split into two separate words, Veda and anta, literally meaning the anta (end) or culmination of the Vedas.

The Vedas are the most sacred scriptures of the Hindus. There are four Vedas. They comprise hymns to various gods---Surya (sun), Agni (fire), Ushas (dawn) and so forth, that date back to about 2500 B.C. The Vedas were transmitted orally from generation to generation until the art of writing was invented. To get a glimpse of these beautiful hymns, please see  Photo Gallery.

Although the majority of the hymns indicate that polytheism or the practice of worshipping multiple gods and goddesses prevailed in India during the Vedic civilization, the notion of One God was distinct as well in many hymns. Notable is the hymn I.164.46 of the Rig Veda:

the English translation of which is:

Such monotheistic concepts culminated into VEDANTA philosophy in the concluding sections of the Vedas. The Vedantic philosophers critically analyzed and rejected the notion of multiple gods and goddesses and founded a profound system of philosophy that is not only in tune with the modern scientific thought but may also seem to provide a rational explanation about the universe around us and our lives in general.

VEDANTA, however, is not confined to these scriptures alone; it includes all the spiritual teachings of the saints and philosophers in some form or the other that India has produced during the past five thousand years. Furthermore, it is not based on the life and teachings of any particular saint or prophet. It is a federation of faiths and a commonwealth of spiritual concepts.

Simply stated, VEDANTA includes the following fundamental principles:

1. TRUTH is ONE; sages call it variously. In other words, God is ONE; people following different faiths, worship God in different forms. Vedanta's TRUTH, or the ULTIMATE REALITY (or the popularly known word GOD) is the Sanskrit word Brahman (not to be confused with Brahmin, one of the caste of Hindu caste system).

2. Men and women, in their essential nature, are divine. We do not feel this divinity because of our ignorance.

3. The only goal of our lives is to realize this divinity. It is possible to realize the divinity by removing the ignorance, just as Jesus said:"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God".

4. There are several ways to remove the ignorance and realize the divinity. They are called Yogas.

VEDANTA is not merely a speculative philosophy without any practical utility. It is a way of living and realizing. It gives full freedom to each individual to evolve morally and spiritually according to his or her faith and conviction. It includes various truths found in all religions of the world, including the teachings of the world's great saints and sages. In VEDANTA is found a reconciliation of religion with science, of faith with reason. A Vedantist is a seeker of truth who accepts and respects all religions as paths to the same goal.

Modern VEDANTA is exemplified in the lives and teachings of Sri  Ramakrishna, a great prophet of nineteenth century India (1836 - 1886), and Swami  Vivekananda (1863 - 1902), his foremost monastic disciple.

Swami Vivekananda, the first teacher of VEDANTA to the West, taught VEDANTA in USA and Europe between 1893-1897 and 1899-1900.

You can find the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda in the following books:

1. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, originally recorded in Bengali by 'M' and translated into English by Swami Nikhilananda and published by Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, New York.
2. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (Vol. 1 - 8), published by Advaita Ashrama, 5, Dehi Entally Road, Calcutta 14, India.

You can buy these and other books on VEDANTA from any Vedanta Center.

For more information, please see:  Who We Are