Prasthanatrayi

The Prasthanatrayi (Sanskrit: प्रस्थानत्रयी, IAST: Prasthānatrayī), which translates to "three sources" refers to the three canonical texts of Vedanta philosophy. The three texts are: the Principal Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras.

In traditional Vedantic hermeneutics, a foundational teacher (also known as an acharya) is required to compose a commentary on all three texts to prove their theological system.

Etymology

The Sanskrit word prasthantrayi meaning "three sources" is derived from prasthan (prasthāna; starting point or source) and trayi (trayī, three).^[1]

Classification

Prasthantrayi refers to the three foundational scriptures: the Principal Upanishads, the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, and Brahmasutras.^[2]

Principal Upanishads

The 10 Principal Upanishads are classified as "shruti" text, meaning, "that which is heard." These texts are authoritative and contain themes on the ultimate reality and the self. These scriptures are also known the "shruti prasthan"^[3]^[4]

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is classified as a "smruti" text, meaning, "that which is remembered." The Bhagavad Gita provides practical and ethical lessons with spiritual disciplines required to realize the truths articulated in the Upanishads. The Bhagavad Gita is also known as the "smruti prasthan."^[1]^[5]

Brahma Sutra

The Brahma Sutras, also known as "Vedanta Sutras", is classified as "nyaya," meaning, "logical synthesis." Written by Badarayana, the aphorisms text provides a logical synthesis of the verses found in the Upanishads through structured reasoning. This text is also known as the "nyaya prasthan."^[6]^[7]

Role in Vedanta

The development of classical Vedanta philosophies occur through curating commentaries on the Prasthantrayi. In traditional Vedantic hermeneutics, a foundational teacher (also known as an acharya) is required to compose a commentary on all three texts to prove their theological system.^[8]^[1]

References

1 2 3 Saha, Niranjan (2017). "Vedāntic Commentaries on the Bhagavadgītā as a Component of Three Canonical Texts". Journal of Indian Philosophy. 45 (2): 257–280. doi:10.1007/s10781-016-9306-y. ISSN 0022-1791.
↑ Apte, Vaman Shivaram (1998). The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 81-208-1568-8. OCLC 45029430.
↑ Brereton, Joel (1990). de Bary, William Theodore; Bloom, Irene (eds.). The Upanishads. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 115–135. ISBN 0231070047.
↑ Deussen, Paul (January 1, 1966). The philosophy of the Upanishads. Dover Publications. ISBN 9780486216164.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
↑ Radhakrishnan, S (2010). The Bhagavadgita with an introductory essay, Sanskrit text, English translation and notes. HarperCollins. ISBN 9788172238988.
↑ Potter, Karl (1970). Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies (2nd ed.). India: Motilal Banarsidass (published 1983).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
↑ Sharma, Chandradhar (1960). A critical survey of Indian philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120803657. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
↑ Flood, Gavin (1996). An introduction to Hinduism (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521438780.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[:1-1] 1 2 3 Saha, Niranjan (2017). "Vedāntic Commentaries on the Bhagavadgītā as a Component of Three Canonical Texts". Journal of Indian Philosophy. 45 (2): 257–280. doi:10.1007/s10781-016-9306-y. ISSN 0022-1791.

[2] Apte, Vaman Shivaram (1998). The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 81-208-1568-8. OCLC 45029430.

[:0-3] Brereton, Joel (1990). de Bary, William Theodore; Bloom, Irene (eds.). The Upanishads. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 115–135. ISBN 0231070047.

[:4-4] Deussen, Paul (January 1, 1966). The philosophy of the Upanishads. Dover Publications. ISBN 9780486216164.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[5] Radhakrishnan, S (2010). The Bhagavadgita with an introductory essay, Sanskrit text, English translation and notes. HarperCollins. ISBN 9788172238988.

[6] Potter, Karl (1970). Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies (2nd ed.). India: Motilal Banarsidass (published 1983).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[7] Sharma, Chandradhar (1960). A critical survey of Indian philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120803657. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[:3-8] Flood, Gavin (1996). An introduction to Hinduism (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521438780.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[1]