original_query: What is the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad?
query: What is the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad?
answer: The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad is the shortest Upanishad, assigned to the Atharvaveda. It's written in prose, contains twelve short verses, and discusses the syllable Aum, four states of consciousness, and the identity of Aum and Brahman (the Whole).  It's considered important in Hinduism, particularly Advaita Vedanta.