Vedanta belongs to which major world religion?

• A. Buddhism
• B. Islam
• C. Judaism
• D. Hinduism

Answer: (D)

Vedanta is a major school of Hindu philosophy that interprets the Upanishads and centers on the nature of ultimate reality, Brahman, and the individual self, Atman. The term itself means “end of the Vedas,” reflecting its origin in the concluding Vedic texts and its role in shaping Hindu thought about existence, consciousness, and liberation. Vedanta is one of Hinduism’s orthodox traditions, with influential sub-schools such as Advaita (non-dualism), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), and Dvaita (dualism), all rooted in Hindu scriptures and practice. This is why Vedanta belongs to Hinduism rather than Buddhism, Islam, or Judaism, which are distinct traditions with different foundational beliefs and scriptures.