Shatyayaniya Upanishad

Shatyayaniya Upanishad
The text discusses the monk tradition in Vaishnava tradition
Devanagari	शाट्यायनीय
IAST	Śāṭyāyanīya
Title means	Named after a Vedic school
Date	~1200 CE
Type	Sannyasa
Linked Veda	Yajurveda
Chapters	1
Philosophy	Vaishnavism

The Shatyayaniya Upanishad (Sanskrit: शाट्यायनीय उपनिषत्, IAST: Śāṭyāyanīya Upaniṣad) is a Sanskrit text, composed about the start of 13th-century, and is one of the minor Upanishads of Hinduism. The text is attached to the Shukla Yajurveda, and is one of the 20 Sannyasa (renunciation) Upanishads.

The Shatyayaniya Upanishad is a significant exception in the collection of ancient and medieval Sannyasa Upanishads, most of which are premised on the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Shatyayaniya is premised on and presents renunciation from Vaishnavism philosophy perspective. However, all Sannyasa texts including the Shatyayaniya Upanishad emphasize nondualism, same renunciation rites and outlook, the use of yoga, meditation on Om and Brahman as the ultimate reality, pursuit of living liberation, a virtuous simple life that journeys towards and with self-knowledge, with Shatyayaniya calling Vishnu as the "very self, and into whom the renouncers enter, liberated".

The Shatyayaniya text extensively references and includes hymn fragments from the Vedas and ancient Principal Upanishads of Hinduism. It opens, for example, with verses from section 6.34 of the Maitri Upanishad, stating "the mind alone is the cause of people's bondage" and suffering, and the mind alone is also the cause of their liberation. It is the mind of man that is the eternal mystery and one that shapes his future course, states its third verse, again referencing the Vedic literature. To know the highest eternal truth one must know the Brahman, which is Vasudeva – the striding Vishnu, states the text.

Conduct prescribed for Hindu monk

Overcoming lust, anger, greed, delusion, deceit, arrogance, envy, egotism, conceit and the like, shunning honor an dishonor, praise and blame, let him stand like a tree and when hacked, not utter a word. Those who know this become immortal in this very world. That has been declared in these Vedic verses: (...)