Who wrote Upanishads?

Answer 1

The only way to know when Vedas were written is to check on astronomical information given in them. Precession of equinoxes and the consequent change in the beginning of the Aryan year is one which provides an accurate estimation. For example, the year beginning now is aligned to the rise of sun on the day of vernal equinox in the asterism of Ashwini (beta and gamma Arietis or the Horse-like Woman). This was accepted in around 600 CE. Prior to that Taittiriya Samhita mentions the rise of sun in the asterism of Krittika (Pleidas or Cutting Woman). That shows that Taittiriya Samhita may have been written around 2,250 BC. Prior to that the sun rose in the asterism of Mrigashiras (Orion or Antelope). That would be around 4,000 BC. This was the time when the older books of Vedas were written. Is there a mention of anything earlier than that? Yes. There are references in Vedas which say 'Aditi is the year' (Aditi is considered to be the mother of Gods), 'Aditi is the mouth of the year', 'Aditi is the beginning and the end of the year', 'Aditi gave us the seasons', etc. Aditi is associated with Punarvasu (Castor and Pollux or Return of the Light). That is probably the earliest that we can go with the Vedas, and that is 6,000 BC.

It is not that the whole of RigVeda was written during any one period. Vedas were written over a long period of time. Not all that was written was remembered. Many verses were forgotten, rewritten (because the language of Vedas changed over the period), and many verses were added. The Vedas took their final shape when they were codified in India.

But let us look at the book of the brother tribe of Indian Aryans, the Zoroastrians, or the Bactrian and Central Asian Aryans. Avesta, Gathas, Yasna, Vendidad, and Yasht. These books mention a deluge by snow. Ahur Mazda, there Supreme God informs the King of Men, Yima, that the evil spirit Angra Mainyu a flood of ice when the deep valley, green meadows, and even high mountains will be covered by snow. The rest of the story is similar to the biblical account. Yima constructs an enclosure (not a boat) and the seeds of all life are brought there. They survive.

Now, the question arises, why does Vendidad remember a deluge by ice and not by water? Is that the real story? And was ice replaced by water in the stories remembered by Jews, Christians, Muslims, and even Hindus since such a thing does not happen in lower latitudes? And finally, does the Vendidad mention the climax of the last ice-age (18,000 BC). In that case the description in Vendidad and some verses of RigVeda would be 20,000 year old. Of course, there is no way to check this, but the fact of the mention remains.

Answer 2

Yajnavalkya, Uddalaka Aruni, and Sanatkumara are among the authors to whom some of the Upanishads have been attributed. There may have also been female authors of Upanishads, notably Maitreyi.

Answer 3

THE VEDAS are the most important and sacred texts of Hindus. The Vedas are the world's most ancient scripture.

The earliest written Vedas date to about 1400 B.C.E (Before the Common Era), but the songs they capture in letters are a great deal older, although no one can say by how much.

The language of the Vedas is Sanskrit, a language that is so holy that the very word Sanskrit means "perfect".

The original written Vedas are four in # they are:

1. The Rig Veda
2. The Sama Veda
3. The Yajur Veda
4. The Atharva Veda

Each Veda has four layers they are:

1. Samhitas (a collection of hymns)
2. Brahmanas (directions about sacrifice)
3. Aranyaka (the forest songs)
4. Upanishads(wich search for the meaning behind it all)

Other sacred texts of Hindus are:

1. Ramayana
2. Mahabharatha
3. Bhagwad Geeta
4. Srimad Bhagvatam
5. Manusmriti

Answer 4

The Upanishads are said to be pre-historical, there are no written records about the origin of the Upanishads. They came into existence thousands of years ago, put together by the Rishis, the sages of yore. Then they were recited and passed on from one generation to another. Many generations later, they were captured and written. The Upanishads are the original teachings or the beliefs of Sanatana Dharma from which modern day Hinduism has evolved. But the Upanishads continue to be available in the form of the Mahavakyas that proclaim that we are not the body and mind, we are the Divine Soul.

Answer 5

The Upanishads were written between the years 1000BC and 600BC. It is part of the Vedic Literature.

Answer 6

Upanishad were written by Hindu sages.