In short
Vedanta is one of India’s classical schools of philosophy, based on the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras. Its central question is the relationship between the individual self, atman, and ultimate reality, Brahman. Its best-known school, Advaita, was taught by Adi Shankara, who was born at Kaladi in Kerala, about 37 km from Kochi.
Our school is called Santhi School of Yoga & Vedanta Studies, and people often ask what the second half means. Yoga is familiar; Vedanta is not. Yet for many traditional teachers, including the Sivananda lineage I trained in, the two belong together: yoga as the practice, Vedanta as the understanding behind it.
This is a plain-English introduction, not a scholarly one. If you are interested in how Vedanta shapes the teaching of yoga, see also Sivananda yoga in Kochi, where Vedanta appears in the fifth of the five points of yoga.
- Meaning
- The end or culmination of the Vedas
- Sources
- Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras
- Central question
- Self (atman) and reality (Brahman)
- Best-known school
- Advaita, non-dualism
- Key teacher
- Adi Shankara, 8th century
- Born at
- Kaladi, about 37 km from Kochi
What the word means
Vedanta joins Veda, the ancient scriptures, and anta, end. It means both the final part of the Vedas — the Upanishads — and their culmination: the philosophical insight they point towards. It is one of the six classical schools of Indian philosophy, alongside Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga and Mimamsa.
The three foundational sources
| Source | What it is |
|---|---|
| The Upanishads | Philosophical dialogues at the end of the Vedas, exploring the nature of the self and reality |
| The Bhagavad Gita | The dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna in the Mahabharata, on duty, action, devotion and knowledge |
| The Brahma Sutras | Concise aphorisms that systematise the teaching of the Upanishads |
The question at its heart
Vedanta asks what we really are. Its answer turns on two terms: atman, the innermost self, and Brahman, the ultimate reality underlying everything. Much of our suffering, it says, comes from mistaking ourselves for what changes — the body, the thoughts, the roles we play — rather than recognising the awareness in which all of these appear. Seeing this clearly is moksha, liberation.
The main schools
| School | Key teacher | Core view |
|---|---|---|
| Advaita — non-dualism | Adi Shankara | The self and ultimate reality are not two |
| Vishishtadvaita — qualified non-dualism | Ramanuja | The self is real and distinct, yet inseparable from the divine |
| Dvaita — dualism | Madhva | The self and the divine are eternally distinct |
Adi Shankara and Kerala
Advaita Vedanta’s most famous teacher, Adi Shankara, was born at Kaladi in Ernakulam district, on the banks of the Periyar river, traditionally in the eighth century. Kaladi is about 37 km from Kochi and close to Cochin International Airport. From there, Shankara is said to have travelled the length of India, writing commentaries on the Upanishads, the Gita and the Brahma Sutras and founding monasteries that still exist. His birthplace can be visited today — an easy half-day trip for anyone practising in Fort Kochi.
Vedanta and yoga
Yoga and Vedanta are distinct schools, but they have long been practised together. Put simply, yoga steadies the body, breath and mind; Vedanta explains what is found when the mind is steady.
- The Bhagavad Gita describes paths of action (karma yoga), devotion (bhakti yoga) and knowledge (jnana yoga).
- In the Sivananda tradition, the fifth point of yoga — positive thinking and meditation — draws directly on Vedanta.
- Meditation, the goal of the eight limbs of yoga, is where the two meet.
Vedanta in everyday life
- Witnessing. Noticing thoughts and moods as things that come and go, rather than as who you are.
- Discrimination, viveka: telling the lasting from the passing.
- Non-attachment, vairagya: acting fully without clinging to outcomes.
- Self-inquiry. Asking, patiently, “Who am I?”
Studying Vedanta with us
Vedanta philosophy is part of what Master Aksharanand A S teaches alongside Hatha Yoga, pranayama and meditation, and yoga philosophy runs through our 28-day teacher training. For a first reading, a good translation of the Bhagavad Gita with commentary is the usual place to begin.
Study yoga and Vedanta in Fort Kochi
Master Aksharanand teaches Vedanta philosophy alongside Hatha Yoga, and philosophy runs through the 28-day teacher training. Message us to ask about studying with us.
Vedanta is where the closing chant of many classes comes from — why shanti is said three times.
Common questions
What does Vedanta mean?
Vedanta combines Veda, the ancient scriptures, and anta, end. It refers to the Upanishads at the end of the Vedas and to the philosophy that culminates from them.
What is Advaita Vedanta?
Advaita, or non-dualism, is the school of Vedanta which teaches that the individual self (atman) and ultimate reality (Brahman) are not two. Its best-known teacher is Adi Shankara.
Where was Adi Shankara born?
At Kaladi in Ernakulam district, Kerala, traditionally in the eighth century. Kaladi is about 37 km from Kochi and near Cochin International Airport.
Is Vedanta a religion?
Vedanta is a philosophical school within the Hindu tradition. Its questions about the nature of the self and reality are studied by people of many backgrounds, and it can be approached as philosophy.
What is the difference between yoga and Vedanta?
Both are among the six classical schools of Indian philosophy. Yoga emphasises practice and discipline to steady the mind; Vedanta emphasises understanding the nature of the self. Many traditions teach them together.
Can I study Vedanta in Fort Kochi?
Yes. At Santhi School of Yoga & Vedanta Studies, Master Aksharanand A S teaches Vedanta philosophy alongside Hatha Yoga, and yoga philosophy is part of the 28-day teacher training.
Known to his students as Achu, Aksharanand trained in the Sivananda tradition and holds an Advanced Teacher Training Certificate. He has taught Hatha Yoga, pranayama, meditation and Vedanta philosophy in Fort Kochi for over fifteen years, across more than 5,000 group classes.