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Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) relied on ten principal Upanishads as the foundation for his Advaita Vedanta philosophy. These Upanishads are considered the most authoritative in the Advaita tradition. Here is the list:

1. Īśā (Isha) Upanishad – Emphasizes the unity of Brahman and the illusory nature of the material world.

2. Kena Upanishad – Explores the nature of Brahman as beyond the senses and the intellect.

3. Kaṭha (Katha) Upanishad – A dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama about death, the self (Ātman), and liberation.

4. Praśna (Prashna) Upanishad – Answers six fundamental questions about the origin of beings, the nature of life, and meditation.

5. Muṇḍaka (Mundaka) Upanishad – Distinguishes between higher (self-knowledge) and lower (ritualistic) knowledge, advocating renunciation.

6. Māṇḍūkya (Mandukya) Upanishad – Describes the four states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and Turiya) using the AUM symbol.

7. Taittirīya (Taittiriya) Upanishad – Discusses different levels of existence (sheaths or koshas) leading to ultimate bliss (ānanda).

8. Aitareya Upanishad – Explores the creation of the universe and the nature of consciousness.

9. Chāndogya (Chandogya) Upanishad – One of the longest Upanishads, focusing on meditation, Om, and the famous teaching Tat Tvam Asi (“You are That”).

10. Bṛhadāraṇyaka (Brihadaranyaka) Upanishad – The most extensive Upanishad, discussing Atman, Brahman, karma, and renunciation in depth.

These ten Upanishads form the basis of Shankaracharya’s commentaries (bhāṣyas), where he argues for non-dualism (Advaita Vedanta)—the idea that the individual self (Ātman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are one and the same.

Would you like insights on how these Upanishads shaped Advaita Vedanta?