Maha Upanishad

Maha Upanishad
The text discusses Narayana (Vishnu)
Devanagariमहा
IASTMahā
Title meansGreat
TypeVaishnava
Linked VedaSamaveda
Chapters6
Verses549
PhilosophyVaishnavism

The Maha Upanishad (Sanskrit: महा उपनिषद्, IAST: Mahā Upaniṣad) is a Sanskrit text and is one of the minor Upanishads of Hinduism. The text is classified as a Samanya Upanishad.

The text exists in two versions, one attached to the Atharvaveda in some anthologies, and another attached to the Samaveda. The Atharvaveda version is shorter, and in prose. The Samaveda version is partly in poetic verses.

The Vaishnava Upanishad describes Vishnu as the highest being, and above Brahma. Both groups of texts, however, use reverential words of all Hindu gods, and assert them to be the same Atman-Brahman. The Upanishad presents a syncretism of Vaishnava and Vedanta ideas, and is notable for its teaching of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", or "the world is one family".