The Sacred Writings of Hinduism

Hinduism can lay claim to being the world’s oldest religion, dating back more than 5,000 years; but in fact it was not generally recognized as a specific, distinct religion until relatively recent times, and the word Hindu itself derives from a Persian word referring to the peoples of the Indus River region. Hinduism was not founded by any one person, nor can it be traced to one specific period in time. There is no ecclesiastical structure or centralized authority no set creed, no single doctrine of salvation, no single sacred book. But, as diverse as it is, Hinduism nevertheless contains unifying strands and beliefs.

Hindu literature comprises a vast body of work, the earliest being written in Sanskrit after having been passed down orally by sages (risbi) through the centuries. There are two principal categories of books:

Shrutis (literally “heard,” the word of God communicated to the sages), which contain the eternal principles of Hinduism and consist of the Vedas (knowledge), which describe the rituals, incantations, and hymns of ancient India. The basic text of each Veda is the Sambita, supplemented by later commentaries, including the Brahmanas, explaining ritual, and Arankayas (“forest books,” for hermits).

- Rig Veda is the oldest text, and the others are based on it. It consists of a thousand hymns, organized in ten mandalas, or cycles, in praise of gods. It is the oldest book in any Indo-European language, having been written between 1500 and 1000 BC.

- Sama Veda, the Veda of chants, is intended as a text for the priest attending the soma sacrifice. Yayur Veda sets out sacrificial prayers. Athara Veda is intended for private ritual and consists mainly of incantations and spells.

In addition, the Upanishads are works of philosophy and comment that explain the Vedas, and include dialogues between gurus and students. They bring forth the idea of Brahman, the Universal Being, the World Soul.

Smiritis (literally, “remembered”) embody the practical application of the Shrutis, expounding social and moral codes, often allegorically in the form of myths and legends. The most famous written by the great rishi Manu, explains the four stages of life and the caste system, while others, such as the Niti Shastra and Kautilya Shastra, provide advice for rulers. Within this body of literature are the eighteen Puranas, mythological stories, each emphasizing a theological position. The two most famous are the epics of Ramayana and the Mahabharata, inspirational works that offer ideals to aspire to and give examples of nobility, kindness, faithfulness, and other such valued qualities. The Ramayana is the story of Rama as he rescues his wife Sita from the demon king, Ravana. The Mahabharata portrays a civil war between two branches of a ruling family and contains what is considered the jewel of Indian spiritual wisdom, the Bhagavad Gita (The Song of the Lord). This is in the form of a 700-verse poem spoken by Lord Krishna to his disciple, Prince Arjuna, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra before the good and evil. He explains yogic and Vedic philosophies to provide a concise guide to self-realization and the nature of consciousness, the universe, and the Supreme. As such, it stands as the classic summary of the core beliefs of Hinduism.

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This series of articles is taken from the book, "Faith and Religions of the World: the History, Culture and Practice of Beliefs," published by Worth Press Ltd, San Diego California. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.