The word "upanishad"

[witzel at husc3.harvard.edu]

Yes, as Daniel: --  but while being the lion's pit.


You probably refer to Harry Falk, in Zeitschrift der deutschen 
morgenlaendischen Gesellschaft, a few years ago (c. 1988?). Have to check 
in my office.

Falk has, I think, most of the older literature: still useful, besides
Hermann Oldenberg (Die Weltanschuung der Upanischaden...), is Stanislaw
Schayer, c. 1925: "Upanisad", probably in Zeitschrift fuer Buddhismus Vol. 
5. - where he derives it from upa-ni-sad, but in the meaning of "to lay
siege to (the knowledge of the teacher"; cf. also: Schayer, Die
Weltanschauung der Brahmana-Texte, Rocznik Orientalist. 3. 

Hope this helps. MW





On Sat, 30 Nov 1996, Martin Gansten wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> The word "upanishad" is generally explained as upa+ni+sad "to sit down
> nearby", etc, but some time ago, I saw another etymology suggested, which at
> the time seemed to me to make good sense. However, my dilemma is this: I
> remember neither the etymology itself, nor the text (book? article?) which
> mentioned it. Can anybody help? I do realize that my question is not unlike
> that of Nebuchadnezzar, but I hope that there may be a Daniel on this list
> to answer it for me...  :-)
> 
> Thanks,
> Martin Gansten
> 
> 
>