The Hindu Scriptures

Traditionally, Hindu texts are divided into two categories, Shruti and Smriti. Literally meaning "that which is heard", Shruti scriptures are believed to be divined revelations, and thus, the most authoritative texts on beliefs. As authorless creations of the divine, these were passed down orally from one generation to the next without any adding additions or amendments.

Shruti texts include vedas, a collection of hymns that are among the world's most ancient extant texts. The oldest among these is the Rig veda, which sum people date back to 1500 BCE. This ancient text, along with the Sama veda, Yajur veda, and Atharva veda, was composed over a period of 1000 years. Along with the Vedas, the brahmanas [treatise on ritual], the aranyakas [discussions on ritual and meditation], and the Upanishads[philosophical elaborations on the Vedas] are also considered Shruti texts. All Shruti literature has been composed in Sanskrit.

Smriti texts explain and expand on the ideas in the Shruti text, and as the derivatives, are seen as less authoritative. Unlike the Shruti texts, smriti meaning that "which is remembered", our text attributed to different authors and were traditionally written down and transmitted. The Smriti corpus includes a vast body of texts on diverse subjects, such as Vedaangas [which are connected with the study of the Vedas], the itihasas [the epics, the mahabharata and ramayana], the puranas [legends and lore, such as creation myths], dharma shastra, artha shastra and the sutras [goddesses of special, technical knowledge], the bhasyas [reviews and commentaries on shruti and non shruti texts], and the Nibandhas, [digest] on a variety of topics such as politics, ethics, culture, arts, and society. Though some of this textbook composed in regional languages, the majority of the Shruti texts are in Sanskrit.

ITHIHASA

The Mahabharata and Ramayana are part of itihasa literature, and narrate incidents said to have actually occurred ("itihasa" translates to "so it happened"). These epics are thus seen as records of contemporary history, as opposed to the puranas, which tell tales of the remote past.

THE UPANISHADS:

Literally meaning "sitting close to", "Upanishad" implies listening closely to a guru's discourses. These Shruti treats sees discuss some of the principal tenants of Hinduism, such as moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth, perhaps why they are known as Vedanta, "the highest purpose of the Vedas". There are more than 200 Upanishads of which about 12 are considered to be "mukhya" or major.

THE PURANAS:

Puranas are smriti texts that describe events said to have occurred in the remote past [as against the itihas are, which records contemporary history]. They include diverse topics, such as legends of kings, and discourses of philosophy, grammar, and geography. The oldest of all the puranas, the Markandeya purana, contains the Devi mahatmya, the oldest great treatise on the all powerful mother goddess.

THE VEDAS:

Foremost in Shruti literature, the Vedas are considered to be knowledge revealed by brahma himself the Rig Veda, the bedrock on which the other three texts are based, codifies hymns of praise. The Samaveda is the book of liturgical melodies; the Azure Dallas mantras spirituals and the Atharva veda offers guidance on everyday life.