the chief Hindu philosophy, dealing mainly with the Upanishadic doctrine of the identity of Brahman and Atman, that reached its highest development a.d. c800 through the philosopher Shankara. Compare Advaita, dvaita(def. 2).
Ve·dan·ta (vĭ-dän'tə, -dān'-) n.
Hinduism The system of philosophy that further develops the implications in the Upanishads that all reality is a single principle, Brahman, and teaches that the believer's goal is to transcend the limitations of self-identity and realize one's unity with Brahman.
[Sanskrit vedāntaḥ, complete knowledge of the Veda : Vedaḥ, Veda; see Veda + antaḥ, end; see ant- in Indo-European roots.] Ve·dan'tic adj., Ve·dan'tism n., Ve·dan'tist n.