Shvetashvatara Upanishad
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A devotional Upanishad that sees the one reality as a personal God, Rudra-Shiva, and contains early teachings on yoga.
| Tradition | Hindu (Vedic) |
|---|---|
| Type | Upanishad |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| Period | c. 1st millennium BCE, later than the oldest Upanishads (scholarly estimate) |
| Composed or compiled by | Named after the sage Shvetashvatara, who teaches in it |
What it contains
- Belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda.
- Brahman as the Lord (Ishvara), identified with Rudra-Shiva.
- Early descriptions of meditation and posture.
- Ideas also found in Samkhya and Yoga philosophy.
- An early use of the word bhakti (devotion) to God and to the guru.
Significance
It links Upanishadic philosophy with theistic devotion and is an important text for Shaiva traditions.