The Mandukya Upanisad, like Mundaka, Prasna and some minor Upanisads, forms part of the Atharva Veda. It is one of the shortest of the ten principal Upanishads. Gaudapada has written two hundred and fifteen verses known as the Karika to explain the Upanishad and Sankara has written a commentary on both the Upanisad an the Karika, Anandagiri in his Tika explains at greater length Sankara’s commentary. The Mandukya Upanisad, like other Upanisads, discusses the problem of Ultimate Reality. The knowledge of Brahman or Atman, the goal of existence, is its theme. Unlike most of the Upanisads, it does not relate any anecdote or any imaginary conversations to elucidate the subject-matter. It is also silent abut rituals and sacrifices is any form as they are irrelevant to the metaphysical or philosophical discussion of Reality. It goes straight to the subject. The extreme brevity of its statements has been the cause of despair to superficial readers who are unable to understand its real significance.
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