The Upani¿ads are rich and complex Sanskrit Hindu scriptures dating back to the 8th century BCE and are a staple of world religion courses across the globe. Where most survey textbooks present a cursory overview of these texts, Signe Cohen provides a nuanced but accessible exploration of the thirteen Classical Upani¿ads that will benefit both scholars, students, and general readers alike.

Signe Cohen is an Associate Professor in Religious Studies at the University of Missouri. She received her MA in Sanskrit from the University of Oslo and her PhD in Sanskrit from the University of Pennsylvania. Her publications include Text and Authority in the Older Upani¿ads (2008), the award-winning edited volume The Upani¿ads: A Complete Guide (2018), and Textual Criticism and Sacred Texts: A Comparative Method (2023).

• A Guide to Pronouncing Sanskrit


• 1. Introduction


• 2. The Historical Context of the Upani¿ads


• 3. Dating and Authorship


• 4. The Classical Upani¿ads


• 5. Social and Political Context


• 6. Central Ideas in the Upani¿ads


• 7. Narrative and Main Characters in the Upani¿ads


• 8. The Canonical Status and Reception of the Upani¿ads


• Glossary of Sanskrit Terms


• Bibliography