Polyphonic Relational and Transformative Epistemology in the Upanishads

Abstract

Polyphonic relational epistemology in the Upanishads emphasizes that truth is shaped through multiple voices and perspectives, highlighting the importance of dialogue, shared reflection, and community. The term Upanishad—signifies sitting close to the teacher, quieting the mind, and dispelling ignorance through knowledge. Each Upanishad begins with a shared invocation of peace, underscoring that knowledge is relational and requires harmony and joy in learning. Drawing on relational epistemology (Gergen, Thayer-Bacon, Code) and Bakhtin's theory of polyphony, this paper argues that the Upanishads exemplify a transformative epistemological framework: truth as co-constructed, dialogical, and inclusive. Their polyphonic weaving of metaphors, prayers, and unity of Self and world resists reduction to a single perspective, offering enduring relevance for education, care practices, and pluralistic knowledge-making.