Uttara meemaamsa darshana – vedanata saara – vedaanta saara is one of the best-known epitomes/textbooks (prakarana grantha) of the philosophy of the upanishats, as taught by shankaraacharya and his followers.

vedaanta saara is the essence of upanishats, the brahma sootras and various commentaries on these texts and the bhagavadgeetaa. shree sadaananda yogindra saraswati, or familiarly known, sadaananda, the author belongs to one of the 10 distinguished orders of sanyaasins (monks) of shankara school. vedaanta saara is a 15th century advaita vedaanta text, presented in the upanishats to suit different levels of understanding and different temperamental attitudes amongst seekers of Truth. The doctrine of Avidya (Ignorance of jiva) or maaya, its aspects, such as materialism, Atomism, Realism, and Idealism are dealt with. The knowledge of brahma sought with the help of shruti (Revelation) and yoga, a guru or an enlightened one, is an indispensable necessity. Just like the druk-dravya-viveka, the vedaanta saara adds samaadhi to the triad of shravana (hearing), manana(reflection) and nidhidhyaasana (repeated meditation). 

The vedaanta saara is divided into 6 chapters and contains 227 verses. 

Chapter 1 has 31 verses dealing with preliminaries that begin with an introductory prayer and thereafter discusses the subject matter of vedaanta, the qualifications for the study of vedaanta and the necessity of a Guru. Nitya (Daily), Naimittika (Occasional) and Praayaschitta (Purifying) works to purify mind. Karma leads to pitruloka, upaasana leads to devaloka. Karma with upaasanaa leads to heavenly abodes. 

Chapter 2 has 90 verses dealing with adhyaasa, i.e., Superimposition of the unreal on the real due to ignorance, individual and collective aspects, the nature of tureeya, the experience of pure consciousness, the extensions of ignorance (avidyaa), the nature of the subtle bodies (sooksma shareera), the nature of Gross bodies (sthoola shareera) and the Limit of Super-imposition. 

Chapter 3 has 15 verses and discusses the jeeva and Superimposition of the true nature of the self (brahma) and in that context discusses the views of the charvakas, of the Buddhists, of the meemaamsakas and the soonya vadins, the followers of naagaarjuna. 

The 4th Chapter has 44 verses dealing with De-superimposition, thou are that (तत्त्वमसि) and I am Brahma (अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि). Truth does not become known till it is made to reveal itself. 

Chapter 5 has 35 verses and prescribes the steps to self-realisation, lays emphasis on the study of vedaantic texts, explains Reflection and Meditation, samaadhi and its nature and varieties, samaadhi and sleep, obstacles to samaadhi and their removal. 

Chapter 6 has 12 verses which deal with the jeevaatmaa, the characteristics of the jeevanmukta (Liberated being) and the Attainment of kaivalya or Absoluteness.