Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad

The Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad is the largest and perhaps most important Upanishad. Comprising over 700 verses, it is around the size of the Bhagavad Gita. On linguistic grounds and from other internal evidence this work is the oldest Upanishad, predating Buddhism, and is thought to be composed about 700 BCE. This Upanishad is part of the Satapatha Brahmana of the White Yajur Veda and is one of the ten Upanishads commented upon by both Shankara and Madhva Acharyas, who built opposing...
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The Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad is the largest and perhaps most important Upanishad. Comprising over 700 verses, it is around the size of the Bhagavad Gita. On linguistic grounds and from other internal evidence this work is the oldest Upanishad, predating Buddhism, and is thought to be composed about 700 BCE. This Upanishad is part of the Satapatha Brahmana of the White Yajur Veda and is one of the ten Upanishads commented upon by both Shankara and Madhva Acharyas, who built opposing Vedanta theologies largely based on how they interpreted this Upanishad. The Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad has, therefore, had a tremendous influence on the later development of Hinduism.There are six major sections called Adhyayas divided into three topics. Adhyayas one and two form the "honey-talks", so called because the last section uses the word madhu (honey) seventeen times. This section discusses the relationship between the individual soul and God. Adhyayas three and four form the Yajnavalkya dialogues where various speakers, one by one, question Yajnavalkya, the greatest teacher of his time. And finally, Adhyayas five and six form a supplement section that discusses various ways of worship and meditation.