'The Message of the Upanishads' is a course offered in the B. Tech. programs at School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.
To give students an introduction to the basic ideas contained in the Upanishads; and explores how their message can be applied in daily life for achieving excellence.
Unit 1
An Introduction to the Principal Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita - Inquiry into the mystery of nature - Sruti versus Smrti - Sanatana Dharma: its uniqueness - The Upanishads and Indian Culture - Upanishads and Modern Science.
Unit 2
The challenge of human experience & problems discussed in the Upanishads – the True nature of Man – the Moving power of the Spirit – The Message of Fearlessness – Universal Man - The central problems of the Upanishads – Ultimate reality – the nature of Atman - the different manifestations of consciousness.
Unit 3
Upanishad Personalities - episodes from their lives and essential teachings: Yajnavalkya, Aruni, Uddalaka, Pippalada, Satyakama Jabala, Svetaketu, Nachiketas, Upakosala, Chakrayana Ushasti, Raikva, Kapila and Janaka. Important verses from Upanishads - Discussion of Sage Pippalada’s answers to the six questions in Prasnopanishad.
- The Message of the Upanishads by Swami Ranganathananda, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
- Eight Upanishads with the commentary of Sankaracharya, Advaita Ashrama
- Indian Philosophy by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Oxford University Press
- Essentials of Upanishads by R L Kashyap, SAKSI, Bangalore
- Upanishads in Daily Life, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore.
- Eternal stories of the Upanishads by Thomas Egenes and Kumuda Reddy
- Upanishad Ganga series – Chinmaya Creations
