The Upanishads: Heterogeneous Nature and Relation to the Vedas

The Upanishads, composed between 700 BCE and 200 BCE, exhibit a heterogeneous nature and were composed by members of different Vedic schools. They often had slightly different interpretations or emphases on ideas about the self and ultimate reality due to the competition among these schools. While the Upanishads are part of the Vedas, claiming authoritative status and privileging the Brahman caste and Vedic ritual, they also critique earlier Vedic material, questioning the excessive focus on ritual and challenging the understanding of Brahman's teachings. This complex relationship between the Upanishads and the Vedas reflects their layered structure.