Spiritual text of Vedantic teachings in short maxims, attributed to Badharayana or Vyasa. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

The Brahma sutra is the supreme embodiment of the principles and doctrine propounded by Vyasa; it is the most important of the texts depicting philosophic doctrines. It harmonises the entire body of philosophic beliefs; though based on earlier texts and dissertations, there is no conflict between the earlier and the later. In aphorism of the Brahma sutras, each conclusion attains fulfilment and reconciliation. (BPV, pp. 85-86)

The Brahma sutra is also known as Sariraka Shastra and Vedanta Darsana. Sarira means Body. Sariraka means all the components of the Embodied Atma; Ego (Jiva, Senses etc., Shastra implies ‘examining the nature of all these to the greatest possible degree’. This is to say, the Shastra establishes that the Brahman (the Cosmic Self) is the basis on which all else is imposed, that one’s Reality is ananda itself. (Sutra Vahini, p. 4)

The Brahma sutra adopts the Technique of Objection (Purva Paksha) and conclusion (Siddhanta) to expound the Vedantic truth. Aphorisms discuss contrary points of view in order to remove all possible doubts about the validity and meaning of Vedantic or Upanishadic statements. The body is taken to be the encasement (Upadhi) for the ‘person’, the Jivatma and the Brahma sutra explains its Reality. Hence, the Sutra is called Vedanta Darsana. The Sutras in the text number 555; some schools count them as 449. The word Sutra means ‘that which through a few words only, reveals vast meanings.’ (Sutra Vahini, p. 5)