Prasthana Traya

Prasthana Traya - The Three Pillars of Vedanta

The Prasthana Traya are the three foundational texts of the Vedanta tradition. All schools of Vedanta - Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, and Dvaita - base their teachings on these three sources, though they interpret them differently.

The Three Texts

1. The Upanishads (Shruti Prasthana)

The Upanishads are the concluding portions of the Vedas, containing the highest teachings about the nature of reality, the Self, and liberation. They are called shruti - “that which is heard” - because they were originally transmitted orally.

There are over 200 Upanishads, but the traditional list includes 108, and ten are considered major (the Mukhya Upanishads). The Upanishads are the direct source of the Vedanta teaching.

2. The Bhagavad Gita (Smriti Prasthana)

The Bhagavad Gita is the most important smriti text for Vedanta. It is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, covering the paths of karma, bhakti, and jnana.

Shankara wrote a commentary on the Gita, establishing it as a foundational text for Advaita Vedanta. Its concise presentation of Vedantic teaching makes it accessible to a wide audience.

3. The Brahma Sutras (Nyaya Prasthana)

The Brahma Sutras, composed by Badarayana (also identified with Vyasa), systematize the teachings of the Upanishads into a coherent philosophical structure. They consist of 555 sutras (aphorisms) arranged in four chapters.

The Brahma Sutras are extremely condensed, often unintelligible without a commentary. Shankara’s commentary on the Brahma Sutras is considered his most important work and the definitive Advaita interpretation.

The Role of the Acharyas

Each great acharya (teacher) of Vedanta wrote commentaries on all three texts:

• Shankara (Advaita): Commentaries on all three, establishing non-dualism
• Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita): Commentaries on all three, establishing qualified non-dualism
• Madhva (Dvaita): Commentaries on all three, establishing dualism

The commentaries are studied alongside the original texts in the traditional method of learning.

The Unity of the Three

Although the three texts differ in style and emphasis, they teach the same truth:

• The Upanishads state the truth directly
• The Gita applies the truth to the challenges of daily life
• The Brahma Sutras defend the truth against objections

Together, they form a complete system of spiritual knowledge.