Introduction
Hinduism is a term often used to describe Sanatan Dharma, which is followed by over 80 million people in India. It encompasses a set of beliefs and customs. In this article, we will shed light on the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. When Muslims are asked about their holy book, the answer is the Quran; similarly, our Christian brethren respond with the Bible. But when the same question is posed to Hindus, the answers vary; some may mention the Bhagavad Gita, some will say the Ramayana, and very few will mention the Vedas. Let's gain a brief understanding of Hindu scriptures to foster better mutual understanding.
Scriptures of Hinduism
- Vedas
- Upanishads
- Darshan (Philosophy)
- Puranas
- Itihas (History)
- Smriti (Laws)
The precise origins of each of these texts are unknown. Claims about their origins are largely speculative. In fact, regarding the timing of the creation of Hindu scriptures, we have no definitive information or proof. However, what is certain is the order in which they came into existence. For example, there is consensus that the Vedas are the oldest, followed by the Upanishads, and then the Puranas.
A. Vedas
The Vedas are the earliest scriptures of Hinduism, held in the highest regard by knowledgeable Hindus. Vedas are considered "Ishwani" or the word of God. They are said to be "Apaurushay," meaning "Not from human beings" or "divine." There is no precise information available about the time of their origin.
Vedas are divided into four books, and these four books have various divisions. I will mention the latest rules of division for each Veda.
1. Rigveda: It is considered the most sacred and oldest of the Vedas. The Rigveda is divided into ten Mandalas, each Mandala is divided into Suktas, and each Sukta is divided into Mantras. This structure is similar to the division of the Quran, which consists of 30 Paras, each with several Rukus, and each Ruku containing several Ayahs.
For example, "The Only Lord of all created beings. He fixed and holds up this earth and heavens. What gods besides Him shall we adore with our oblation?" – Rigveda 10:121:1.
This means that this statement is from the Rigveda, 10th Mandala, 121st Sukta, and 1st Mantra.
It's essential to note that the Vedas contain only Mantras, not Shlokas.
2. Samaveda: As per the latest division, the Samaveda is divided into 1875 Mantras.
3. Yajurveda: It is divided into 40 Adhyayas, and each Adhyaya is further divided into Mantras.
For example, "Those who worship natural things enter into the darkness of hell, and those who worship man-made things enter further into the darkness of hell" - Yajurveda 40:9.
This means it's from the 40th Adhyaya and the 9th Mantra.
4. Atharvaveda: It is divided into 20 Kands, and each Kand is divided into Suktas, and each Sukta is further divided into Mantras.
For example, "He (God) does not die, nor does he grow old" – Atharvaveda 10:8:32.
This means it's from the 10th Kand, the 8th Sukta, and the 32nd Mantra.
The Vedas are devoid of idol worship.
B. Upanishad
Primarily, 108 Upanishads are accepted. They were authored by scholars and are not claimed to be God's word. Upanishads contain words of wisdom, monotheistic ideas, and insights into social life. They are also free from the concept of idol worship.
Notably, the Chandogya Upanishad is believed to have initiated the concept of the birth-rebirth cycle, and it played a role in reinforcing the caste system. It also elevated the status of Brahmins.
For instance, "A man who steals the gold of a Brahmin, drinks liquor, dishonors his teacher's bed, or kills a Brahmin—these four fall, and a fifth who associates with them" (Chandogya Upanishad, Part 5, Chapter 10, Verse 9).
However, with the Upanishads, there began a trend of human intervention in the divine word of the Vedas. Before the Upanishads, only the Vedas were considered God's word. The process of human interference in the divine word commenced with the writing of the Ishopanishad. It's universally acknowledged among Hindu scholars that the Ishopanishad was the first Upanishad, and surprisingly, it contains, word for word, the final chapter of the Yajurveda, specifically the 40th chapter of the Yajurveda, which was written separately as a book in the form of the Ishopanishad.
C. Darshan (Philosophy)
The term "Darshan" refers to philosophy. There are six books of Darshan, and they encompass philosophy, words of wisdom, and discussions on monotheism. These books are also free from the concept of idol worship. Of these, the most famous and popular is "Uttar-Mimansa-Darshan," also known as Vedanta, which was written by Badrayan.
D. Puranas
Primarily, 18 Puranas are accepted. Puranas were written at a much later time than the Vedas or Upanishads. Some of the famous Puranas include the Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, Shiv Puran, Vishnu Puran, Kalki Puran, Bhavishya Puran, Matsya Puran, Garuda Puran, and more.
Puranas introduce the concept of idol worship, multiple gods, gods with human characteristics, divine marriages, and conflicts among gods. In fact, what is practiced in Hinduism today is not Vedic religion but rather Puranic religion.
For example, in the Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, Lord Krishna is projected as the supreme god, in the Vishnu Puran, Lord Vishnu is portrayed as supreme, and in the Shiv Puran, Lord Shiva takes the central role. The Puranas also contain detailed accounts of the stories of Prophet Adam, Eve, Prophet Noah, and the great flood, along with descriptions of paradise and hell as found in Islam.
E. Itihas (History)
The term "Itihas" refers to history. Two of the most famous books in this category are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
1. Ramayana: This great epic was originally written by Valmiki. However, the version of the Ramayana that is widely known and read in temples is not Valmiki's Ramayana but the Ramcharitmanas written by Tulsidas. Ramcharitmanas was written during the time of Akbar and is predominantly read, preached, and televised in the form of TV serials.
While Valmiki's Ramayana portrays Rama as a human being and an obedient son, Ramcharitmanas depicts him as a divine figure. Valmiki's Ramayana mentions that King Dashrath had over 360 wives, while Ramcharitmanas states that he had only three wives. Similarly, according to Valmiki's Ramayana, Lord Rama had several wives.
2. Mahabharata: This is another significant literary work in Sanskrit. The epic was originally written by Ved Vyas. However, what Ved Vyas wrote was a book called "Jay," which contained 8000 shlokas. Subsequently, Vaishampayan and others added shlokas to the book and named it "Bharat." The number of shlokas increased from 8000 to 24,000, and today, the Mahabharata contains more than 100,000 or 100,000 shlokas, now referred to as the Mahabharata. Therefore, out of every 13 shlokas in the Mahabharata, 12 are interpolations, and only one is in line with the original book.
Bhagwad Geeta:
- Practically, it is considered the most sacred text by Hindus. The Bhagwad Geeta is a small part of the Mahabharata, specifically from the Bhishma Parva. It contains a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. In the battlefield, when Arjuna refused to take up arms against his relatives, Krishna encouraged him to fight for truth and justice. However, as mentioned earlier, the present Mahabharata contains approximately 12 out of 13 interpolated shlokas, so there is only a 1/13 chance, on average, that the words in the Bhagwad Geeta match the original Mahabharata.
F. Smriti
- The most popular book in this category is the Manusmriti, which is a book of Hindu law. Hindu laws are derived from this book, with a strong emphasis on the caste system. However, it's essential not to be confused by the name, as Manu was not the author but was associated with the book in remembrance.
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