Hindu Scriptures TOP =======UNDERSTANDING HINDUISM======== PAGES Hindu Scriptures Table of Vedas and their branches As set out by Sri V.A.K.Ayer Hinduism & Quantum Physics Index Alphabetical <Click Krishna Yajur Sukla Yajur Atharva Vedas Rig Veda Samaveda Amazing Science Veda Veda Veda Hindu Festivals - 2031 No.of Mantras-Sacred Fire original 21 85 17 101 9 Cows are Sacred Recensions From Scriptures Taitireeya Available Mitrayani Kanva, Kauthuma, Q & A Pippalada Recensions Shakala Katha Madyandina Ranaayaneeya, Guru Saunaka or Shakas Kapisthala (Vajasanya) Jaimineeya Silent Teachings & Sat-sanga Swetaswetara Yuga Dharma Caste System Panchavimsa, Shadvimsa, Untouchables Samavidhana, Taittireeya Duties Aitaraya, Aarsheya, Brahmanas (Samhita) Sathapatha Gopatha Virtue, Wealth & Pleasure Kaushitiki (or Mantra, Shankhyayana) Taitireeya Ashramas Devatadhyaya, Maya Vamsa, Creation Jaimineeya Aitaraya, Brahad- Dissolution Aranyakas Taitttireeya - - Wisdom versus knowledge Sankhyayana aranyaka Divine Wealth Aitaraya, Aitaraya, Mahanarayana, Prasna, Women Isavasya, Chandogya, Upanishads Kaushitiki, Mitrayani, Mundaka, Marriage Brihadaranyaka Kena Bhashkala Katakha, Mandukya Alluring Adornment Swetaswetara Nataraj Nature of Reality Apasthamba, Baudhayana, God Hiranyakesi, Khadira, The Soul & its Destiny Shrouta Aswalayana, Bharadwaja, Katyayana Latyayana, Vikhanasa Death & Life Sutras Shankhyayana Vaikhanasa, (Paaraskara) Drahyayana, Bhishma Vadhoola, Jaimineeya Immortality Manava, Reincarnation Varaha Heaven & Hell Manava, Emancipation Apasthamba, Kadira, Grihya Ashwalayana, Baudhayana, Kaatyayana Gobhila, Empty Chamber Kaushika Sutras Shankyayana Hiranyakesi, (Paaraskara) Gautama, Self-Realisation Vaikhanasa, Jaimineeya Self - Atma Katha Jnani - Self realised Apasthamba Dharma Who am I? Vasishtha Baudhayana ----- Gautama ---- Sutras Worship Hiranyakesi Self-Enquiry Upaveda Ayurveda Dhanurveda Dhanurveda Gandharvaveda Artha-Sastra Bhakti -Surrender http://www.hinduism.co.za/vedas-.htm (1 of 32) [7/6/2001 10:57:55 AM] Hindu Scriptures Japa Click on underlined words to open paragraph Consciousness-The Three States Freedom & Bondage Hindu Scriptures Part 1 Morality Overcoming Difficulties The Srutis The Four Vedas And Their Sub Divisions The Mantra Samhitas Forgiveness versus Might-Anger Penance The Brahmanas and The Aranyakas The Upanishads The Upa-Vedas Renunciation & Abandonment Truth The Vedangas The Smritis Truth versus Falsehood The Itihasas (history) The Valmiki-Ramayana The Yogavasishtha Happiness The Mahabharata The Harivamsa Self-restraint Sin The Puranas The Agamas The Six Darsanas Ignorance That Thou Art Hindu Scriptures Part 2 Sanatan Ved Dharma The Vedas, The Upanishads, Puranas, Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Karma & Destiny Mimamsa, Brahma-Sutras, Sankhya, Yoga, Dharma-Sastras, Destiny & Exertion The Upa-Vedas, The Kalas. Egoism Conscience Gayatri 1. The Valmiki-Ramayana Prayer 2. The Yogavasishtha Meditation 3. The Mahabharata Direct Path 4. The Harivamsa Mind Miracles & Visions Miscellaneous Q & A Preyas & Sreyas Hindu Scriptures Part 1 Pravritti - Nivritti By Swami Shivananda Celibacy The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh Thought, Speech & Deed Gita for children Sanskrit Literature Karma Yoga Gita Sanskrit literature can be classified under six orthodox heads and four secular Sankhya versus Yoga heads. The six orthodox sections form the authoritative scriptures of the Yoga Hindus. The four secular sections embody the latter developments in classical Raja Yoga Sanskrit literature. Tantra Kundalini The six scriptures are: Direct Perception versus Scriptures 1. Srutis Faith 2. Smritis Righteousness Highest Good 3. Itihasas Mother, Father & Teacher 4. Puranas Eldest Brother 5. Agamas Friendship Conduct 6. Darsanas Ethics The four secular writings are: Vices Malevolent & Wicked 1. Subhashitas Kingcraft 2. Kavyas Chastisements 3. Natakas Good and Pure Sattwa, Rajas & Tamas 4. Alankaras East-West-North-South http://www.hinduism.co.za/vedas-.htm (2 of 32) [7/6/2001 10:57:55 AM] Hindu Scriptures Stories - Episodes The Scriptures Gifts Fasting (Religious) The Srutis Tirtha Sacred Waters - Ganga The Srutis are called the Vedas, or the Amnaya. The Hindus have received Tilak their religion through revelation, the Vedas. These are direct intuitional Ideal behind the idol revelations and are held to be Apaurusheya or entirely superhuman, without Rituals any author in particular. The Veda is the glorious pride of the Hindus, nay, of Funerals the whole world! Tarpana Aarati The term Veda comes from the root Vid, to know. The word Veda means Flowers - Incense - Lamps knowledge. When it is applied to scripture, it signifies a book of knowledge. Prasad The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of the Hindus. The Veda is the Sacraments - Samskaras source of the other five sets of scriptures, why, even of the secular and the Sacred Thread materialistic. The Veda is the storehouse of Indian wisdom and is a Food memorable glory which man can never forget till eternity. Your Constitution Trees have Life Revealed Truth Without Beginning Or End Prana-Vyana-Samana Krishna The Vedas are the eternal truths revealed by God to the great Rishis of India. Ganapati - Gopalnanda The word Rishi means a seer, from DRIS, to see. The Rishi is the Kali Yuga Mantra-Drashta, a seer of Mantra or thought. The thought was not his own. Brahma-Sutras The Rishis saw the truths or heard them. Therefore, the Vedas are what are Temples heard (Sruti). The Rishi did not write. He did not create it out of his mind. He Makar Sakranti was the seer of thought which existed already. He was only the spiritual Vasant Panchami discoverer of the thought. He is not the inventor of the Veda. Siva Holi - Festival The Vedas represent the spiritual experiences of the Rishis of yore. The Rishi Ramayana is only a medium or an agent to transmit to people the intuitional experiences Hanuman which he received. The truths of the Vedas are revelations. All the other Raksha Bandhan religions of the world claim their authority as being delivered by special Krishna Janmashthami messengers of God to certain persons, but the Vedas do not owe their Deepavali authority to any one. They are themselves the authority as they are eternal, as Adhik Maas they are the Knowledge of the Lord. Buddhism Buddhism in China-Japan-korea Lord Brahma, the Creator, imparted the divine knowledge to the Rishis or Inter-religious Attitude seers. The Rishis disseminated the knowledge. The Vedic Rishis were great Books realised persons (souls) who had direct intuitive perception of Brahman or the Hindu Scriptures Truth. They were inspired teachers. They built a simple, grand and perfect Philosophy system of religion and philosophy from which the founders and teachers of all Schools of Vedanta other religions have drawn their inspiration. Hindu Sects Dharma The Vedas are the oldest books in the library of man. The truths contained in Speech- Science all religions are derived from the Vedas and are ultimately traceable to the Abusive Speech Vedas. The Vedas are the fountain-head of religion. The Vedas are the ultimate source to which all religious knowledge can be traced. Religion is of divine origin. It was revealed by God to man in the earliest times. It is embodied in the Vedas. The Vedas are eternal. They are without beginning and end. An ignorant man may say how a book can be without beginning or end. By the Vedas, no books are meant. Vedas came out of the breath of the Lord. They are the words of God. The Vedas are not the utterances of persons. They are not the composition of any human mind. They were never written, never created. They are eternal and impersonal. The date of the Vedas has never been http://www.hinduism.co.za/vedas-.htm (3 of 32) [7/6/2001 10:57:55 AM] Hindu Scriptures fixed. It can never be fixed. Vedas are eternal spiritual Truths. Vedas are an embodiment of divine knowledge. The books may be destroyed, but the knowledge cannot be destroyed. Knowledge is eternal. In that sense, the Vedas are eternal. The Four Vedas And Their Sub Divisions The Veda is divided into four great books: 1. The Rig-Veda 2. The Yajur-Veda 3. The Sama-Veda 4. The Atharva-Veda The Yajur-Veda is again divided into two parts: 1. The Sukla Yajur-Veda 2. The Krishna Yajur-Veda. The Krishna or the Tattiriya is the older book and the Sukla or Vajasaneya is a later revelation to Sage Yajnavalkya from the resplendent Sun-God. The Rig-Veda is divided into twenty-one sections, the Yajur-Veda into one hundred and nine sections, the Sama-Veda into one thousand sections and Atharva-Veda into fifty sections. In all, the whole Veda is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty recensions. Each Veda consists of four parts: 1. The Mantra-Samhitas or hymns. 2. The Brahmanas or explanations of Mantras or rituals. 3. The Aranyakas (philosophical interpretations of the rituals). 4. The Upanishads (The essence or the knowledge portion of the Vedas). The division of the Vedas into four parts is to suit the four stages in a man’s life. The Mantra-Samhitas are hymns in praise of the Vedic God for attaining material prosperity here and happiness hereafter. They are metrical poems comprising prayers, hymns and incantations addressed to various deities, both subjective and objective. The Mantra portion of the Vedas is useful for the Brahmacharins (celibate; one who belongs to the first of the four Asramas or orders of life; one who lives in purity and studies the Veda; the first 25 years of life). The Brahmana portions guide people to perform sacrificial