India, June 27 -- Ishavasya Upanishad by Swami Mukundananda delves into the philosophy and premise of the first Upanishads and simplifies it for the reader without diluting its essence, writers GYANESHWAR DAYAL

The Ishavasya Upanishad is the first and one of the shortest yet most profound Upanishads, forming a cornerstone of Vedantic philosophy. It has just 18 mantras, which hold the essence of Indian spiritual philosophy.

It says that the entire universe is pervaded by the divine (Isha), and that one should enjoy life through renunciation rather than attachment. It explores the tension and harmony between action and renunciation, the path of knowledge (jnana) and the path of work (karma), and culminates in a call for self-realisation t...