Kaivalya Upanishad

The Kaivalya Upanishad is a short yet profound text in Vedantic literature, classified among the minor Upanishads, yet carrying the essence of the highest spiritual teachings. It belongs to the Atharva Veda and is deeply revered in the Advaita Vedanta tradition for its clarity and directness in expounding the non-dual nature of the Self.

The term Kaivalya comes from the root word kevala, meaning alone, absolute, or pure. Kaivalya refers to the state of ultimate liberation — mokṣa — where the individual soul (jīva) realizes its identity with the supreme Self (paramātman) and is freed from the cycles of birth and death. The Kaivalya Upanishad is presented as a dialogue between the ancient sage Ashvalayana and the deity Brahma, the Creator. Ashvalayana approaches Brahma with a traditional request for knowledge that leads to liberation (mokṣa), and in response, Brahma imparts the secret knowledge of the Supreme Reality.