Upanishads (Deluxe Silk Hardbound), The

First of all, this book is beautiful just to look at, even before opening it. I was so surprised and happy to find Nachiketa's meeting with Yamraj in it; I have always loved that story. This isn't meant to be a deep or scholarly book, and it is quite short, but it gives you a good taste of what the Upanishads can be.

When embarking on a journey into the unknown, it is useful to have a guide who knows the way. Swami Paramananda thoroughly understands the Upanishads in his beautifully bound book. There are at least 108 Upanishads. Of those, around 10 are considered to the 'major' ones. Swami Paramananda explains and elucidates three of these: the Isa, the Katha, and the Kena Upanishads. The Upanishads come from the four Vedas. The Vedas are a treasure trove of ancient wisdom. They contain mantras and instructions for use in rituals and sacrifices. They also contain teachings about the ultimate nature of existence, and eschatological teachings explaining the identity of the soul (Atman) with the Absolute (Brahman). These teachings are the Upanishads. The teachings are often couched in charming stories such as the story of Nachiketas. Swami Paramananda clearly explains and elaborates the meaning and importance of each the three Upanishads. Though written in the beginning of the 20th century, it is so clear, well written, and easy to understand, it could have been written yesterday.

This edition contains only 3 Upanishads: the Isa, Katha, and Kana Upanishads. While limited to 3, It’s a great edition to any collection, and it’s very difficult to find all the Vedic Upanishads in one book. From IEP: “ The Vedic Upaniṣads are widely recognized as being composed during two chronological stages. The texts of the first period, which would include the Bṛhadāraṇyaka (BU), Chāndogya (CU), Taittirīya (TU), Aitareya (AU) and Kauṣītakī (KsU), are generally dated between 700 and 500 B.C.E., and are considered to predate the emergence of the so-called heterodox traditions, such as the Buddhists, Jains, and Ājīvikas. Scholarly consensus dates the second stage of Vedic Upaniṣads, which includes the Kena (KeU), Kaṭha (KaU), Īśā (IU), Śvetāśvatara (SU), Praśna (PU), Muṇḍaka (MuU), Māṇḍūkya (MaU), and Maitrī (MtU), between 300-100 B.C.E” -IEP

I got the set and am glad i did. Good quality silk for the price. Good paper quality and print. Metal corners make it complete. Great little addition to the library. Would recommend.

A beautifully silk bound book of the ancient Hindu text. The type is easy to read, and there is no annoying bleed through in the pages. It's a treasure.

Beautiful Binding. Thoughtful design. Imperceptible doctrine

I really like the cover of the book, but it's very small. It would be better if the book was larger, making it easier to read.

I was looking for every day, spiritual motivation, and this book is definitely it! This book is great for a regular meditation, or to simply boost your mood. I read one section each morning and it helps to set a positive tone for my day. Really enjoying this book!

The translation is good, easy to understand. I thought the book was big in size as the image, however it's a small sized book. But it's a most read for all the people. Upanishads holds the most important knowledge. Knowing the self should be the ultimate goals of all Hindus. OM Shanti Shanti Shanti

Beautiful Book, nice size to carry and hold too. Great quality and arrived well packaged and fast. Recommended

Soothes the soul. Context as expected. Well worth reading!

A little smaller than I had imagined, but that’s ok. Still excellent quality and very fast shipping. 10/10

For gaining insight into ancient wisdom.