History of Vedanta Philosophy can be dated back to thousands of centuries ago. In the medieval period the word Vedanta meant the school of philosophy that interpreted the Upanishads. The traditional Vedanta considers scriptural evidence as the genuine means of knowledge. The philosophy of Vedanta was systematized into one rational treatise that was undertaken by Badarayana in the Vedanta Sutra. This was composed around 200 BCE. Several names have been assigned to Vedanta Sutra and they include Brahma sutra, Sariraka, Vyasa-sutra, Badarayana sutra, Uttara-mimamsa and Vedanta-darsana.

The enigmatic aphorisms of Vedanta Sutras have been interpreted in various ways by many saints. This has resulted in the formation of abundant Vedanta schools. Each of these schools has construed the texts in its own manner. This has led to various sub commentaries. All these school interpreted the texts in its own way thereby producing its own sub-commentaries. However an individual`s quest for truth through meditation has been consistent throughout Vedanta. All sects of Hinduism have been influenced by the thought systems that have been developed by Vedantic thinkers. The principles of Vedanta speak of unity of all existence and the universality of spiritual truth.

Source of Vedanta
The primary source of Vedanta is the Upanishad. However certain portions of Vedanta have been derived from some of the earlier aranyakas. The main principle of Vedanta is the absolute reality that has been termed as Brahman. Sage Vyasa was one of the major proponents of this philosophy. Most schools of Vedanta believe in the concept of Brahman - the eternal, self existent and inspiring Supreme and Ultimate Reality which is the divine ground of all Being.

There are six interpretations of these source texts. Among these six three (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita) are well-known. These Vedanta schools of thought were founded by Shri Adi Shankara, Shri Ramanuja and Shri Madhvacharya. Bhagavad Gita has also played a major role in Vedantic thought. All teachers of Vedanta have completely attested to the importance of Gita to the development of Vedantic thought and practice. Vedanta is not restricted to one book, thus it has no single source.

The thought of Vedanta drew on Vedic cosmology, philosophy and hymns.