upanizad f. [said to be from upani-sad ‘knowledge derived from sitting at the feet of the preceptor’; but, according to Indian authorities, it means ‘to destroy ignorance by revealing the knowledge of the Supreme Spirit and cutting off the bonds of worldly existence’; yaTA ya imAM brahmavidyAmupayaMtyAtmaBAvena SradDABaktipuraHsarAH saMtastezAM garBajanmajarArogAdyanarTapUgaM niSAtayati paraM vA brahma gamayati avidyAdisaMsArakAraRaM cAtyaMtamavasAdayati vinASayatItyupanizad upanipUrvasya saderevamarTasmaraRAt Śaṅkara ] 1 N. of certain mystical writings attached to the Brāhmaṇas, the chief aim of which is to ascertain the secret meaning of the Vedas; Bv. 2. 40 ; Māl. 1. 7 ; other etymologies also are given to explain the name:-(1) upanIya tamAtmAnaM brahmApAstadvayaM yataH . nihaMtyavidyAM tajjaM ca tasmAdupanizadBavet .. or (2) nihatyAnarTamUlaM svAvidyAM pratyaktayA paraM . nayatyapAstasaMBedamato vopanizadBavet .. or (3) pravfttihetUnniHSezAMstanmUlocCedakatvataH . yatovasAdayedvidyA tasmAdupanizadBavet .. . In the muktakopanizad 108 Upaniṣads are mentioned, but some more have been added to this number. They are said to have been the source of the six Darśanas or systems of philosophy, particularly of the Vedānta philosophy. The more important Upaniṣads are: - ISakenakaWapraSnamuMqamAMqkyatittiraH . EtareyaM ca CAMdogyaM bfhadAraRyakaM taTA .. . 2 ( a ) An esoteric or secret doctrine, mystical meaning, words of mystery. ( b ) Mystical knowledge or instruction; maMtrapArAyaRa° U. 6 ; Mv. 2. 2. 3 True knowledge regarding the Supreme Spirit. 4 Sacred or religious lore. 5 Secrecy, seclusion. 6 A neighbouring mansion. 7 A lonely place. 8 A religious observance.