Hindu Scripture: Historical Significance, Ancient Hindu Scriptures, and list of Hindu Scriptures

Hindu scriptures, often referred to as Hindu texts, are voluminous manuscripts and the writing of historical literature that reflects or writes of the diverse traditions that exist in Hinduism. Some of these writings and texts are the shared resources of an extensive collection of ancient religious writings and oral accounts that ponder upon the eternal truth passed across generations and various traditions. Thus the major scriptures of Hinduism are Vedas which are considered the oldest Hindu scriptures, Itihasa and Puranas. As Hinduism is highly diversified thus, scholars and experts were hesitant to define the term “Hindu Scriptures”. But many people consider Bhagavad Gita and the Agamas as Hindu scriptures. Dominic Goodall also takes into consideration Bhagavata Purana and Yajnavalkya Sm as the ancient Hindu scriptures as well.

More About Hindu Scriptures 

The Hindu scripture is broadly classified into two categories: Smriti and Stuti. Shruti means what has been heard and is taken as the eternal truth by the beliefs of the Hindus that are aligned with the natural law. Their trust is more profound in the way that Hindus believe the truth is present in the universe's vibrations. The old sagas portray that the ancient people who were Hindus used to realise these truths through meditations and then transmitted them orally. The Vedas and the Upnishads are the two ancient manuscripts that are mostly included in the Shruti category. It constitutes the fourth and final part of the Vedas. They are believed to contain the foundation truth of Hinduism, and these texts are revered as “revealed”. People with an open mind and spiritual thinking were believed to have realised the truths of nature.

The second classification is “Smriti”, which means memory and is distinguished from shruti in its origin. These texts are developed to remind the teachings of the “Shrutis”. Thus all the Hindu texts are loosely classified as Smriti. The teachings written in the smriti texts are meant to be read and remembered in terms of the change in the circumstances over time or Kala, personality or guna and land or desha. These texts were created to draw the structure of the society and must be flexible to adjust itself to the change in history, geography and communities. The article thus deals with the list of the Hindu scriptures that is also available in the form of “Hindu scriptures pdf” on the Vedantu website. 

Historical Significance

The Hindu scriptures provide a description of the history of art and science in India in the form of music, dance, sculptures, architecture, astronomy, science, mathematics, medicine and wellness. Ramayana, written by Valmiki, indicated the singing and music by Gandharvas, and dance by the apsaras like Urvashi, Rambha, Menaka, Tilottama Panchāpsaras and both singing and dancing that the wives of Ravana excel in that is referred to as nritya geet and playing the musical instrument like nitravaditra. Panini, who first wrote the text on Sanskrit Grammar that is dated back to 500 BCE, consists of Natasutras that contains the text that is the evidence of earlier dance performances. The other later Vedic texts also contain evidence of dance performance art. Thus there have been two great scholars who are a pioneer in the studies of art, dance, singing and Sanskrit composition of these arts, and their names are Shilalin and Krishashva.  Natasutras was composed around 600 BCE; their complete manuscripts could not survive till the modern age.

Oldest Hindu scriptures

The oldest Hindu scriptures under shruti and smriti are as followers:-

• The Vedas- These are the oldest Hindu scriptures of the Hindus that provide the truth of the universe to mankind. They were written between 1200-200 BCE and then introduced by the Aryans in India. Hindus thus believed that the texts the scholar received were direct from God, passed from generation to generation by oral oration. Thus these texts are sometimes referred to as shrutis, which means “hearing”. It is because it was passed down orally for hundreds and thousands of years from one generation to another. The content of Vedas is as follows:

1. The Samhitas are the oldest Hindu scriptures of Vedas that consist of hymns and the praises of God.

2. The Brahmanas are the rituals and the mantras that must be followed and renunciate by the priest during a prayer.

3. The Aranyakas comprised meditations and worship.

4. The Upanishads are concerned with the mystical studies and philosophical teachings of Hinduism.

• The Samhitas is Classified Into Four Parts: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharv Veda. Rig Veda is the most ancient of all the four Vedas and came into existence in 1200 BCE. It consists of hymns praising the ancient gods, which is almost 1028 in number. To perform Vedic sacrifices, Priests used the Yajur Veda Samhitas as a handbook. Sama Vedas comprise all the songs and hymns sung and performed during the Vedic sacrifices. Atharva Veda Samhitas consist of spells, charms and magical formulae that are preserved in the form of traditions that are dated back to the Aryan influences. 

• The Upanishads- Upanishads actually means Upa- near, Ni- Sit, Shad-Down. Thus, it is named as it was taught to the disciples and the students who sat beside the Gurus or teachers. This was mainly derived from the Vedas, but it influenced in reshaping the Hindu society and culture by providing philosophical knowledge through teachings. It was composed partly of pros and verses that came into existence between 800 to 200 BCE. Later the Upnishads continued to reform up till the 16th century. Most of it was composed orally. The early Upnishads continued to be related to the composition of the sacrifice rituals. Brahmanas were the central concept of the Upanishads. It is considered a sacred power that brings to reality. Whilst the priests (brahmins) had previously been the ones who restricted the reach of the common people with the divine through their rituals and sacrifice are now open for all the higher and the middle cast people and disciples to take those teachings from the teachers.

• Bhagavad Gita- It is part of the sixth book of the continuation of Mahabharata, which is the longest book of poems in the world. Bhagavad Gita means the “song of god”. It is a part of Mahabharata that was composed between 500 BCE to 100 CE that depicts the wars of the house of Bharata. It is known as the smriti text and is one of the most famous Vedas. Though it is considered to be less than the Shruti, the oral texts that are Vedas by some it has held a much more sacred and important place in the culture and tradition of the Hindu society. Bhagvat Gita is depicted in the form of an exchange of dialogue between prince Arjuna and Krishna, his charioteer.

Arjun was a worrier who was joining his brothers in the war between the two branches of one royal family. Before the war, he realised that in the war, he might as well have to kill many of his family members and relatives.  When he wanted to withdraw from the war, Krishna convinced him to remain in the war and do his duty. He also argues that killing a body does not destroy the soul. He quotes that the real path of salvation is knowledge, work and devotion, and loyalty towards God is the central value of one’s life.

• The Ramayana-  The Ramayana was also composed during the same time period as that of Bhagavad Geeta, but it is one of the most popular tales in India, even in today’s time. This is the tale of God Rama, who was sent to exile by his father, his wife Sita, and brother Laxmana. His wife was abducted by an evil king Ravana to teach Rama and Laxmana a lesson. Later she was rescued by them both with the help of the monkey god, Hanumana. This is a story of the win of God over evil, but the story's symbolism has been interpreted in many forms. There are over 24000 copies of this story.  Many people believe that it is a story of dharma or duty.

List of Hindu Scriptures

Here is the list of the Hindu scriptures that is also available in the form of Hindu scriptures pdf on Vedantu’s website:-

Samhitas

• Rigveda

• Yajurveda

• Samaveda

• Atharva

Upanishad

• Brihadaranyaka

• Aitareya

• Taittariya

• Kathaka

• Kena

• Mundaka

• Maandukya

• Chaandogya

• Prashna

• Isavasya

• Kaushitaki

• Shvetashvatara

• maitrayani

Vedanga

• Siksha (phonetics)

• Vyakarana (grammar)

• Kalpasutra (Rites, rules and geometry)

• Jyotish (Astronomy)

• Nirukta (Etymology)

• Chhanda (metre)

Ithihaasa

• Ramayana 

• Mahabharata

• geeta

Darshana

• Nyaaya

• Vaisheshika

• Sankhya

• Yoga

• Mimamsa

• Vedanta

Dharmasastra

• Manu

• Yajnavalkya

• Apastamba etc

Agama

• Pancharatna

• Shaiva

• Shaakt

Upavedas

• Atharasastra

• Ayurveda

• Gandharva Veda

• Dhanurveda

• Shilpa-Sthapatya

Puranas

• Brahma

• Padma

• Vishnu

• Vayu

• Bhagavata

• Narada

• Markandeya

• Agni

• Bhavishya

• Brahmavaivatra

• Linga

• Varaha

• Skanda

• Vamana

• Kurma

• Matsya

• Garuda

• Brahmanda

• Shiva

Conclusion

We discussed the history of Hinduism and the culture of Hindus. Also, we discussed Ramayan and Mahabharat and what Hindu culture actually preaches.