Sanatan dharm scriptures include Vedas, Puran, Dharmshastra, Itihas (History), Upnishads… the list is infinite… Hinduism literature is so vast that, knowing just 5% of its knowledge is not possible in one’s whole lifetime.
Just as Sanatan Dharma has no beginning and no end, similarly the Sanatan Dharma scriptures are also infinite. Vedas are the foundation of Sanatan Dharma and all literature scriptures originate from the Vedas.
In this article, only the classification of Sanatan Dharma scriptures has been done and the subject matter of each text has been explained very briefly.
The Significance of Sanatan Dharm Shastra (Theology)
Scriptures like Shruti, Smriti, Puranas and Itihas (Ramayana and Mahabharata) etc. provide essential guidelines for living life in an ideal way.
What should a human being do from birth to death (every day, every moment), how should he spend his daily routine from waking up in the morning to going to sleep. More important than “what should be done” is “what should not be done” (Nishedha Karma).
Sanatan Dharma Shastra provide right guidance on our daily routine, lifestyle, common and special daily rites (based on Varna), rituals, conduct (good conduct, cleanliness)- also on thoughts, Yama-Niyama, charity, Shraddha, Tarpan, Panch Mahayajnas, worship rituals, daily rituals, fasting, etc.
Shruti and Smriti
- Shruti is another name for Veda, called shruti since they are learned or known by hearing.
- Shruti are not created or written by human (hence called Apaurusheya).
- Smrithi are created by rishis, great scholars, and they elaborate on the teachings of vedas, for the benefit of mankind.
श्रुतिस्तु वेदो विज्ञेयो धर्मशास्त्रं तु वै स्मृतिः । (Manusmriti 2/10)
Means Shruti is ved and Smruti is Dharmshastra (theology)
पुराणन्यायमीमांसाधर्मशास्त्राङ्गमिश्रिताः ।
वेदाः स्थानानि विद्यानां धर्मस्य च चतुर्दश ॥ (Yagvalkya smruti 1/3 )
That is, Puranas, Nyaya, Mimansa, Dharmashastra, Vedanga (six (body) parts of Vedas are Shiksha, Kalpa, Nirukta, Vyakaran (Grammar), Jyotish (Astrology) and Chhand), and four vedas. These are the 14 areas of Knowledge and put together these 14 knowledge areas are the sanatan dharm foundation.
Let us try to understand this vast and complex Vedic literature in a simple way.
After a lot of effort, Classification of Vedic literature in this flowchart is done, but, being very complex subjects there may be errors. (if you want to share or use this flowchart please use it with dharmsanatan.com reference. Also available in hindi at -bhavambhavaani.com)
Shruti (Veda)
At the end of Dwapar Yuga, Lord Narayana’s incarnation Shri Krishna Dwaipayan Veda Vyas ji divided the Veda, which was only one, into four parts, keeping in mind the short lifespan, weak body and memory power of the people of Kaliyug (Basically there is only one Veda).
Vedas are eternal, they have no creator (a-paurusheya – not created by human). Every time at the beginning of creation, God reveals Vedas in the heart of Brahma and the knowledge of Vedic mantras is acquired by listening to each other, hence Vedas are called Shruti (shruti means to hear/ to listen).
Shruti also has two divisions 1) Vedic 2) Tantric (Three main Tantras are – Mahanirvana Tantra, Narada Pancharatra Tantra, Kularnava Tantra).
Each Veda has many branches and every branch has has two divisions as follows:
1) Mantra section (also known as Samhita)
2) Brahman section (it includes Aranyaka and Upanishads)
In the Brahmin part, the use of Yagya rituals, mantras and prohibited methods (Don’ts) etc. have been described.
There are 13 Brahmin texts which include 2 of Rigveda, 2 of Yajurveda, 8 of Samaveda and 1 of Atharvaveda.
Main Brahmin texts 1) Aitareya 2) Taittiriya 3) Talvakar 4) Shatapatha 5) Tandya
The Primary Subject Matter in All four Vedas:
Yajmaan (individual who is getting yagya ritual done) gets the Yagya performed by Vedic scholars these vedic scholars are called “Ritwiks”. In Shrauta Yagya (a Specific type of yagya with specific procedure), there are four types (specialists) of Ritwiks.- For the Yagya to be successful all four specialists Ritwiks are essential. These four ritwiks are: 1. Hotrugana 2. Adhvaryugan 3. Udgatrugan 4. Brahmagan
The Vedas have been divided according to the useful mantras of these four Ganas, i.e. Rigveda contains a collection of mantras useful for the Hotra class and it has a predominance of padYA (Poetic verses) mantras. The vedas are divided / classified based on the mantras useful four these four ganas for example: rigVed has mantras mostly for the use of Hotrugan.
- Rigveda – Collection of useful mantras and rituals for Hotrugan.
- Yajurveda – Collection of useful mantras and rituals for Adhvaryugan of Yagya, it has more of Gadyatmak mantras (gadya-prose form)
- Krishna yajurved
- Shukla yajurved
- Samveda – Collection of mantras and rituals useful for Audgatrugan.
- Atharva Veda – It is a collection of useful mantras of Brahmavarga of Yagyanushthan, important mantras and methods for maintenance of Yagya procedures, instructions for following rules, correction of error or mistake etc. are in Atharva Veda.
What are the Branches (Of Vedas (Shakha))
The sages taught the mantras to their disciples according to their convenience. Some taught all the mantras of one verse together, some taught all the mantras of one deity together, some taught the mantras according to their subject and use. Thus, one Veda had many branches.
Very few texts / manuscripts of the 1131 branches (Shown in classification flowchart) are available now. For example, out of the thousand branches of SamVed, only 3 are available – Kauthumi, Jaiminiya, Ranayaniya.
Ved-tryai (three Vedas) is often used in place of Vedas
There are three styles of word usage in the world, Pad (poetry), Gadda (Prose) and Gaan (musical) form. Padya (poetic style) has a fixed rule of number of alphabets, punctuations /pauses, hence the name of the Veda mantras with fixed number of punctuations alphabets are named “Rik” So RigVed has padyas.
The mantras in which the number of alphabets and punctuation marka are not fixed as in padya and not as per what the Rishi’s directly receive.. are called the Gadatmak (gadya-prose) mantras known as “Yajuh” (– YajurVed). And all the mantras which are musical and are sung are called “Saam” (- SamVed).
On the basis of these three types of word usage styles, the word “Trayi” is used for Vedas in scriptures (Ved tryai). The word “Trayi” does not mean that there are only three Vedas, the word “Trayi” here is based on the style of using words (gadya, padya and gaan).
Every Branch of Every Veda has text matter in four types/Part
- Mantra part – The original Veda-mantras which are called Samhita are four – RigVeda, YajurVeda, SamVeda and AtharvaVeda. 1133 branches emerge from the differences in their texts.
- Brahmin – which describes the method of performing yajna, pujan, rituals, prohibitions and attainment of fruits etc.
- Aranyaka (Aranya means Forest) – These texts incline man towards spirituality and elevate him above the worldly bondages. The Mind’s receptiveness is best when worldly affairs are abandoned (away from the noise of the city) in the forest locations that are close to nature are places where Aranyak are taught and studied.
- Upanishads – Their main subject is Brahma Vidya, the spiritual thoughts mentioned in the Vedas are explained in the Upanishads, these are called Vedanta. The number of Upanishads is very large, 274 are available today.
The 11 main Upanishads are as follows: 1. Ishopnishad 2. Kenopnishad 3. Kathopnishad 4. Prashnopnishad 5. Mundakopnishad, 6. Mandukya upnishad 7. Taittiriya Upnishad 8. Aitareya Upnishad, 9. Shwetashvatara Upnishad 10. Chhandogya Upnishad, 11. Brahadaranya Upnishad.
Upveda:
The four Vedas have UpVedas – RigVed’s UpVed is – Arthveda (SthapatyaVed), Yajurveda’s UpVed is DhanurVeda , SamaVeda’s – GandharvaVeda, AtharvaVed’s -Ayurveda.
Sthapatya Veda: Deals with Economics, the texts related to it are – Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Somdev Bhatt’s Nitivakyamrit Sutra, Chanakya Sutra, Kamandaka, Shukraniti.
DhanurVeda: Dhanurveda contains the science of making and use of weapons. There are texts / scriptures on this subject like Vaishampayan Neeti Prakasika, Vriddha Sharngdhar, Yukti Kalpataru, Samarangana Sutradhar etc.
GandharvaVeda: It contains knowledge on the subject of Music (art of singing and dancing etc.,) description of Raga-Ragini, rhythms, musical instruments. Related main texts – Bharatanatya Shastra of Bharatmuni, Dattilam of Dattilmuni, Sangeetratnakar of Sharngandev, Sangeetdarpan written by Damodar.
AyurVeda: Anatomy, causes of disease, symptoms, medicine, properties and treatment are the subject of AyurVeda. Important Scriptures: Ashwini Kumar Samhita, Brahma Samhita, Bhel Samhita, Aghridra Sutra Raja, Sushruta Samhita, Dhatuvada, Dhanvantari Sutra, Manasutra, Dalbhya Sutra, Jabalisutra, Indra Sutra, Shabdkutuhal, Charak Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya and Deval Sutra.
Smruti
Man should have knowledge of religion, should know the importance of Dharmik conduct, should have the wisdom to differentiate between sin and virtue, right and wrong, should be aware of his duties towards his parents, Guru-Dev and guests, this is the purpose of religious scriptures.
Scholars have said, “DharmaShastram Tu Vai Smritih” This scripture statement proves that Smriti texts are our Dharm-Shastra, and since Smriti’s are elaborations of Vedas, so Shruti Smriti both are Dharm-Shastra (Theology – Scriptures).
Since it was beyond the capability of the people of Kalyug to understand the Vedas, the compassionate sages and saints, Lord Veda Vyas, composed numerous Smritis, Puranas, History, Vedanta, Philosophy, Upanishads, etc. to make the Vedas accessible.
The Itihas (History) Scriptures
Ramayana and Mahabharata are mainly called Itihas Scriptures. Itihas and Puran Scriptures were created to make people of Kaliyuga, with compromised capabilities, to comprehend he meaning of Vedas. Puran, Mahabharat and Ramayan Granths are considered as 5th Vedas or in a way almost equivalent to Vedas because they are simplified scriptures that explain the Vedic teachings through easy-to-understand stories.
(as said earlier its important for us to understand- “Keeping in mind the low intelligence, memory and age of humans in Kalyug, Lord Veda-Vyas divided the Vedas into four parts at the end of every Dwapar Yuga and composed the Puranas and the Mahabharata for easy understanding of them).
Maharishi Valmiki’s Valmiki Ramayana and Lord Vedvyas’s Mahabharata – these are the two main historical texts. Harivanshpuran being an appendix of Mahabharata is considered as history. Apart from these, there are many other books of spiritual Yogavasishtha,, Adhyatm Ramayan, etc.
Puran
There are four types of Puranas – (1) Mahapurana, (2) Purana, (3) Atipurana, (4) Upapurana, each of these are eighteen in number. Purana’s That generally are known commonly are mainly Mahapuranas . The 18 Mahapurans are as follows:
1.Brahma-puran, 2. Padmapuran, 3. Vishnu-puran, 4. Shiv-Puraan – Vayu-puran, 5. Srimad Bhagwat-Puran, 6. Naradiya-puran, 7. Markandeya-puran, 8. Agni-puran, 9. Bhavishya-puran, 10. Brahmavaivarta-purana, 11. Linga-puran, 12. Varaha-puran, 13. Skandapuran, 14. Vamanpuran, 15. Kurmapuran, 16. Matsyapuran, 17. Garudapuran and 18. Brahmanda Purana. All the above-mentioned topics of Vedas are explained through stories and in easy to understand language in the Puranas.
Shrimad Bhagwat Puran is considered supreme because Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran has a specialty which is not found in any other Purana. The listeners of Shrimad Bhagwat Puran are the distressed worldly beings of Kaliyug. There are some more reasons but they are mostly known well.
Agama or Tantra Granth
Vedas are also called Nigam and Tantra Shastra is called Agama. The subject of Aagam scriptures is worship, Aagam literature is as vast as the ocean and is also mysterious. The necessary information is being given in this article in a very brief manner.
There are two types of Tantras (Aagam) Vedic and non-Vedic. Kulluk Bhatt (1150-1300 AD), the famous commentator of Manusmriti has said – “Shrutischa Dwividhya – Vedico Tantriki Cha” (“श्रुतिश्च द्विविधा – वैदिको तांत्रिकी च”) That is, there are two types of Shruti (Veda) – one is Vedic Shruti and the other is Tantric Shruti.
Pancharatra, Vaikhanasa, Pashupata, Shaiva Tantra etc. are considered to be in accordance with the Vedas, there are many such Tantras which are also considered to be non-Vedic.
The form of the deity, its qualities, actions, its mantra meditation, worship method are discussed in the Agama texts (Vaishnava-Agam), 28 tantras created by Lord Shankar himself and their sub-tantras together number more than 208 (Shaiv-agaam), , in these also 64 are considered to be the main ones, not all of which are available, in Shakt-agam also 64 main texts are considered to be there, not all of them are available.
Vedanga
Vedanga can be translated as body-parts of vedas (humanified) or limbs of vedas. Vedanga are six in number and extremely important knowledge areas in smruti’s.
- Shiksha (Nose) – the science of pronunciation of Vedic mantras which are used to explain Vedic letters, vowels
- Kalp (Hands) – which are Shrautasutra, Grihyasutra, Dharmasutra made by sages like Ashvalayan, Apastamba, Baudhayan and Katyayan etc., which contain the method of use of yagya and usage / procedure of mantra application / recitation.
- Vyakaran (Mouth)- Vyakaran is translated as Grammar which is useful for determining the form of a word and its meaning by reference to its root and suffix etc. Vedic Grammer is very complex and difficult to learn, under the supervision of a capable Guru only its possible.
- Nirukta (Ears) – Deals with the meaning of mantra and description of the deity.
- Chhand (Legs) – Regulations on the number of alphabets and punctuations in mantra.
- Jyotish (Eyes) – Jyotish translated as Astrology, makes arrangements for the Muhurta’s (specific / auspicious time for rituals and sacrifices), place.
Darshan (Philosophy Scriptures)
The deep study of the knowledge given in Vedas has been done in the form of sutras in the Darshan Grantha (philosophy scriptures)
Every living being, whether it is an animal, an insect, a king among humans, a common man, a beggar, every living being wants freedom from sorrow, pain and suffering and keeps on striving for the same, but they do not get relief from suffering.
The material things which a man tries to acquire in search of happiness, when attained, they too give only sorrow. Therefore, these four questions arise before a philosopher and the answers to these questions are the subject matter of philosophy (Darshan).
- Heya – What is the real nature of suffering that is despicable or should be abandoned.
- Heya Hetu – Where does suffering originate from and what is its real cause
- Han – What is the absolute absence of suffering, i.e. what state is called Han.
- Haanopay: What is the means to get rid of suffering?
To explain these four mysterious questions, these three elements (living beings, nature, God) have been logically described in small and simple formulas in ‘philosophies’. Among these philosophies, ‘Shatdarshan’ – six philosophies are the main ones.
- Mimansa 2. Vedanta, 3. Nyaya, 4. Vaisheshika, 5. Sankhya, 6. Yoga. These six darshan (philosophies) are called appendages of the Vedas.
There are thousands of texts on each philosophy, writing the names of the main texts is also beyond the scope of this article.
This subject is very serious and interesting too, therefore many articles on philosophy will be published on bhavambhavaani.com in the future.
Dharm Shastra (Theology)
To understand the profound meaning of the Vedas, compassionate sages have done a wonderful job of expressing the meaning of the Shrutis (Vedas) in simple words and making them accessible to common men through history, Puranas, Nirukta and Dharmashastras.
The Dharm-Shastras (Theology-scriptures) mainly are – Smritis, hence the do’s and Don’ts found in the Smritis and Puranas in the form of duties and obligations are the universally accepted dharma.
The most important Smritis are Manu Smriti, Yagvalkya Smriti, Vasishtha Smriti and Kapil Smriti. Smritis only propound the meaning of Vedas and their main objective is dharmic-conduct and good behavior.
Along with the Smritis, the sutra literature of the Veda stream is also of special importance in Dharmashastra. The main texts in sutra literature are Shrautasutra, Grihasutra, Dharmasutra and Shulbasutra.
Among the religious sutras, the religious sutras written by sages like Gautam, Apastamba, Vashishtha, Baudhayan, Hiranyakeshi, Harit, Vaikhanas and Shankha etc. are especially famous and highly acclaimed.