Vedānta

Vedānta (devanāgarī: वेदान्त) is a Sanskrit term originally used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for the texts known as the Upanishads, found in the last part of the Vedas. The meaning comes from Veda-anta = "Veda-end" meaning "the appendix to the Vedic hymns", although it is also speculated that it means "the purpose or goal [end] of the Vedas".

By the 8th century, the word came to be used to describe a group of philosophical traditions concerned with the realization of the ultimate nature of reality (Brahman). There are several schools of Vedanta, the most popular being the one known as Advaita Vedānta.