Vedanta (Sanscrit Veda [q.v.] and anta, "end;" literally the end or ultimate aim of the Vedas) is the second great division of the Mimansa (q.v.) school of Hindu philosophy. It is chiefly concerned in the investigation of Brahman, or the supreme spirit, and the relation of the universe and the human soul to it; and in contradistinction from the Purvani-mansa, or the investigation of the former part of the Vedas, it is called Uttara-mansa, or the investigation of the latter part of the Vedas, i.e. the Aranyakas and Upanishads (q.v.), which treat of (the neuter) Brahman,or supreme spirit.
The Vedanta endeavors to prove that the universe emanates in a successive development from a supreme spirit or soul, which is called Brahman or Parmamatam; that the human soul is therefore identical in origin with Brahman; that the worldly existence of the human soul is merely the result of this sameness between itself and the supreme spirit; and that its final liberation or freedom from transmigration (q.v.).is attained by a removal of this ignorance, that is, by a proper understanding of the Vedanta doctrine. See Ballantyne, A Lecture on the Vedanta, embracing the Text of the Vedanta Sara (Allahabad, 1850); Bibliotheca India (Calcutta, 1863).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More