Vedanta, also known as Upanishads, belongs to which of the following periods?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 800-500 BCE
Vedanta, which literally translates to "the end of the Vedas," refers to the Upanishads, the final philosophical portion of the Vedic literature. These texts are generally associated with the period of 800–500 BCE.
Historical Context
- Vedic Phases: The Vedic period is broadly divided into the Early Vedic (c. 1500–1000 BCE), when the Rig Veda was composed, and the Later Vedic period (c. 1000–500 BCE).
- The Later Vedic Period: The Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and the early Upanishads were composed during this transition from ritualism to philosophy.
- Upanishadic Era: The core "Mukhya" Upanishads (the primary ones) were largely composed between 800 and 500 BCE, coinciding with the rise of the Shramana movements and the Mahajanapadas in ancient India.