Vedant

What does Vedant mean?

Vedant means ‘end’ or ‘culmination of the Vedas’ and names the Vedanta philosophical tradition. Wiktionary explains the Sanskrit compound through veda and anta, ‘end’, and records the Hindi given name. The philosophical sense refers to thought based on the Upanishads. The literal and intellectual associations are therefore both documented. The longer form Vedanta retains the Sanskrit ending and is also the form used when discussing the philosophy in English.

Source: Wiktionary, वेदान्त. How we use sources.

Spelling and pronunciation

वेदान्त and वेदांत are read ve-daant in Hindi, in two syllables with a long e and aa. Vedanta retains the Sanskrit final vowel and is also used in English discussion of the philosophy. The d is made near the teeth; the two spellings mark the nasal differently.

Also spelled Vedanta.

Vedant in tradition and story

Vedanta is a Hindu philosophical tradition grounded in the Upanishads. Advaita Vedanta, associated with Shankara, is one of its schools and develops a non-dual interpretation. The name Vedant refers to the wider tradition, rather than only that school.