Vedanta

Vedanta refers to the advanced exposition of Vedas (Uttara Mimamsa). It is based on the Upanishads (primarily the principal 10 upanishads). The three canons (Prastana Traya) are the Upanishads, Brahma Sutra and Bhagavad Gita. It speaks about the triad Jagath, Jiva and Isvara. The Mandukya Karika says that soul is the witness for the three other states of consciousness - Jagratha, Swapna and Sushupti. The thought of Advaita inherent in Vedanta was explicitly exposed and epitomized by Adi Sankara. He wrote commentary on the three canons. He wrote the preliminary texts for the study of Advaita as a discipline. He is believed to have written many devotional hymns in praise of major Gods and Goddesses of Vedic/Hindu pantheon. After Sankara, the disciples and others who belonged to the lineage wrote various commentaries and original works and contributed to the literature of Advaita.