The philosophical teachings found in the Upanishads are collectively known by which term that later became one of the major schools of Indian thought?

Introduction / Context:
The Upanishads are a set of ancient Indian philosophical texts that explore the nature of reality, the self and the ultimate principle often called Brahman. Over time, the teachings of the Upanishads were systematised and gave rise to a major school of Indian philosophy. Many competitive exams test your ability to recall the collective name given to these teachings and the philosophical tradition that interprets them. This question asks you to identify that term correctly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the philosophy of the Upanishads.
• We are asked for the collective name of this philosophical system.
• The options include Advaita, Vedanta, Yoga, Samkhya and Nyaya.
• We assume basic familiarity with these broad schools of Indian philosophy.

Concept / Approach:
The word Vedanta literally means the end of the Vedas and traditionally refers to the teachings found in the Upanishads, which are considered the concluding portions of the Vedic corpus. Vedanta as a philosophical school focuses on interpreting Upanishadic doctrines about Brahman, Atman and liberation. Advaita is a particular sub school of Vedanta, famously associated with Adi Shankaracharya, that teaches non dualism. Yoga, Samkhya and Nyaya are distinct schools with their own foundational texts and are not specifically names for Upanishadic philosophy as a whole. Therefore, Vedanta is the correct term for the philosophical system based on the Upanishads.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Upanishads are considered the concluding parts of the Vedic literature. Step 2: Understand that Vedanta literally means end of the Veda and is used to denote philosophical systems based on Upanishadic teachings. Step 3: Recognise that Advaita, while very important, is specifically a non dualistic branch within the broader category of Vedanta. Step 4: Realise that Yoga, Samkhya and Nyaya are independent schools and are not used as collective labels for Upanishadic philosophy. Step 5: Therefore, choose Vedanta as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard introductions to Indian philosophy divide major systems into categories such as Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta. Within Vedanta, there are sub schools like Advaita (non dualist), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non dualist) and Dvaita (dualistic). All of these, however, share the common foundation of Upanishadic texts and their interpretations. Thus, the overarching name for the Upanishad based philosophical system is Vedanta, not any of the other options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Advaita: This is a sub school of Vedanta created by later thinkers like Adi Shankaracharya and does not cover all Upanishad based philosophies. Yoga: Refers to the system associated with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, focusing on discipline and meditation, not specifically a collective name for Upanishadic thought. Samkhya: A dualistic school that explains reality through Purusha and Prakriti, not the general name for Upanishadic teachings. Nyaya: A school emphasising logic and epistemology, with its own foundational texts, separate from the Upanishadic corpus.

Common Pitfalls:
Because Advaita Vedanta is so famous, some students wrongly assume that Advaita itself is the name for all Upanishad based philosophy. It is important to separate the general category Vedanta from its sub traditions. Another error is to assume that Yoga or Samkhya must be correct because they are well known Sanskrit terms, even though they denote different philosophical systems. To avoid confusion, plant firmly in your memory that the philosophy of the Upanishads is collectively called Vedanta.

Final Answer:
The philosophical teachings of the Upanishads are collectively known as Vedanta.