Hindu Scriptures and Holy Books

Hindu Scriptures and Holy Books

Hindu scriptures and holy books are divided mainly into two categories, viz. Shruti and Smriti. Shruti literally means “that what is revealed” and Smriti “that what is remembered”. Hence, Shruti is what ancient Hindu sages heard during deep meditation. It belongs to the Vedic period, while Smriti belongs to the post-Vedic period. Shrutis are more philosophical and ritualistic in nature whilst Smritis are concerned more with moral and civil law.

Shruti literature consists of four Vedas:

1. Rigveda.

2. Yajurveda.

3. Samaveda.

4. Atharvaveda.

Each of these Vedas include Upanishads, Samhitas, Brahmanas, and Aranyakas.

Smriti literature consists of a large number of texts including but not limited to Vedangas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras, Arthashastras, Puranas, Upapuranas, Bhagavadgita, poetic literature, commentaries on various texts, and many other texts.

We are trying to list out here as many Hindu scriptures and holy books as possible. If you know any Hindu books other than these, please feel free to inform us about those scriptures.

Four Vedas:

Rigveda

Atharvaveda

Samveda

Yajurveda

Brahmanas

Aitareya

Gopatha

Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana

Kaushitaki

Panchavimsha Brahmana

Sadvimsha Brahmana

Shatapatha Brahmana

Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa

Vamsa Brahmana

Aranyakas

Aitreya Aranyakas.

Sankhayan Aranyak.

Taittiriya Aranyak.

Maitriyani Aranyak.

Madhyandini Vrihadaranyak.

Talvakar Aranyak.

Jaimini.

Upanishads

Aitareya

Chandogya

Kena

Katha

Taittiriya

Svetasvatara

Maitrayani

Isha

Brihadaranyaka

Mandukya

Mundaka

Smritis:

Atri.

Vishnu.

Harita.

Ausanasi.

Angirasa.

Yama.

Āpastamba

Samvartta

Kātyāyana

Brihaspati

Parāśara

Vyāsa

Śaṅkha

Likhita

Dakṣa.

Gautama.

Śātātapa.

Vaśiṣṭha.

Manusmriti.

Narada Smriti.

Yajnavalkya Smriti.

Vedangas (Sutras):

Shiksha (Phonetics)

Kalpa (Ritual)

Vyakarana (Grammar)

Nirukta (Etymology)

Chhandas (Metrics)

Jyotisha (Astronomy)

Upvedas:

Ayurveda (Medical Science)

Dhanurveda (Military Science)

Gandharvaveda (Musical Knowledge)

Shilpveda (Science of Architecture)

Bhagvadgita

18 Puranas:

Vishnu Purana

Shivpurana

Skandhapurana

Varahpurana

Agni Purana

Bhagvatpurana

Bhavishyapuran

Brahmapuran

Brahmandapuran

Brahmavaivartapuran

Kurmapuran

Lingpuran

Markandeyapuran

Matsyapuran

Naradapuran

Padmapuran

Vamanapuran

Vayupuran

Upa-Puranas:

Sanat-Kumara

Narasimha

Brihan-Naradiya

Siva-Rahasya

Durvasa

Kapila

Vamana

Bhargava

Varuna

Kalika

Samba

Nandi

Surya

Parasara

Vasishtha

Devi-Bhagavata

Ganesha

Mudgala

Hansa

Ramayana

Mahabharata

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