Lost in Scriptures, stories, beliefs? What should we believe


If you start counting the holy books in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), you might get dizzy. We have the Vedas, the Puranas, the Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Sutras, and countless Gitas. Sometimes, you might read one text that says "do this," and another that says "do that." It is natural to trip on these controversies.

Because there are different authors, written in different times, for different purposes, contradictions are bound to happen. So, what should we believe? What is the final authority?

To understand this, we need to know the "Golden Rule" of classification: Shruti vs. Smriti.

The Golden Rule: Shruti is Supreme

The entire library of Hindu texts is divided into two main categories:

  1. Shruti ("That which is heard"): This is the highest authority. It refers to the Vedas. They are considered eternal and not written by any human author (Apaurusheya).

  2. Smriti ("That which is remembered"): This includes everything else—Puranas, Epics, Sutras, etc. These are written by sages and authors.

The Thumb Rule: If there is a clash between Shruti and Smriti, Shruti wins outright. Smriti is not "false"; it is just secondary. Smriti is meant to explain the hard truths of the Vedas using stories, examples, and emotions so common people can understand. But they must always align with the Vedas.

Let’s break down this huge library, starting from the roots.

1. Shruti : The 4 Vedas (Foundation Layer)

The Vedas are the root of all knowledge. They contain hymns, rituals, and philosophy. There are four of them: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda

2. The Tools: The 6 Vedangas

You cannot just pick up a Veda and read it like a novel. To understand the Vedas, you need specific tools called Vedangas (Limbs of the Veda). Without these, the meaning cannot be understood.

  1. Shiksha: Phonetics. How to pronounce the mantras correctly.

  2. Kalpa: Rituals. The rulebook for performing sacrifices.

  3. Vyakarana: Grammar. The structure of the language.

  4. Nirukta: Etymology. The dictionary/meaning of words.

  5. Chhandas: Meter. The rhythm and poetry of the mantras.

  6. Jyotisha: Astronomy/Astrology. Calculating the right time to perform rituals.

3. The Lifestyle: The 4 Upavedas

While the Vedas talk about spiritual knowledge, they also gave birth to technical and practical sciences called Upavedas (Secondary or Applied Vedas). These texts are meant to improve our quality of life here on earth. Each Veda has an Upaveda attached to it.

  1. Ayurveda (Medicine): Associated with Rig Veda (sometimes Atharva Veda). It is the science of life, health, and healing.

  2. Dhanurveda (Martial Arts): Associated with Yajur Veda. It covers the science of archery, war, and fighting.

  3. Gandharva Veda (Music & Arts): Associated with Sama Veda. It covers music, dance, and aesthetics.

  4. Sthapatya Veda / Arthashastra (Architecture & Economics): Associated with Atharva Veda. It covers engineering, town planning, and also politics/economics.

4. The Philosophy: Upanishads (Vedanta)

The Vedas have two parts: the ritual part and the knowledge part. The knowledge part is called Vedanta (End of Veda). This is where the Upanishads live.

They deal with deep spiritual practices and questions: Who am I? What is God? While there used to be 1000s of Upanishads, many are lost. Today, we preserve 108 of them. Out of these, 10 are the most prominent, known as the Dasopanishads. These are pure Shruti—very deep and philosophical.

They are Isha , Kena , Katha , Prashna , Mundaka , Mandukya , Taittiriya , Aitareya , Chandogya , Brihadaranyaka

5. The Logic: Brahma Sutras & Dharma Sutras

Because the Upanishads are so deep, Sage Vyasa wrote the Brahma Sutras to logically explain and summarize the philosophy. It connects the dots.

Then we have Dharma Sutras, which are guidebooks on social conduct and law. Famous examples include:

  • Apasthamba Sutra

  • Gautama Sutra

  • Baudhayana Sutra

6. The Commentaries: Bhashyams

Since the language of the Vedas, Sutras, and Upanishads is very old and deep, it is hard for a common man to understand them directly. This is where Bhashyams come in.

A Bhashyam is a detailed commentary or explanation written by great Acharyas. They do not just summarize; they explain the text word-by-word, clarifying the grammar, context, and meaning. Prominent Acharyas like Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya wrote these commentaries to establish the correct understanding of the scriptures.

They mostly wrote Bhashyams on three key texts (called Prasthana Trayi):

  1. Upanishads (The texts of revelation)

  2. Brahma Sutras (The logic)

  3. Bhagavad Gita (The practical application)

Without these Bhashyams, we would be lost in translation.

7. The Storytelling (Smriti): Puranas & Epics

Since not everyone can understand high philosophy or complex Sanskrit grammar, the Rishis gave us Smriti teaching the same Vedic truth through stories.

The Itihasas (Epics) : Iti (This) ha (indeed) asa (Happened) that means history

  • Ramayana: Shows us the Ideal Path. Lord Rama is the embodiment of Dharma. It teaches us how to live as a perfect human.

  • Mahabharata: Shows us Reality. It is a vast text covering politics, family fights, and moral dilemmas. It shows practical scenarios and solutions for when life gets complicated.

Srimad Bhagavatam

This is considered a "flowery Kavyam" (beautiful poetry). It focuses entirely on Bhakti (devotion), specifically towards Lord Krishna/Vishnu. It melts the heart.

The 18 Puranas

The purpose of the Puranas is to take the difficult philosophy of the Vedas and explain it via stories of creation, destruction, kings, and sages. They also talk about timelines and life after death. The Main 18 Puranas:

  1. Brahma 2. Padma 3. Vishnu 4. Shiva 5. Bhagavata 6. Narada

  2. Markandeya 8. Agni 9. Bhavishya 10. Brahmavaivarta 11. Linga 12. Varaha

  3. Skanda 14. Vamana 15. Kurma 16. Matsya 17. Garuda 18. Brahmanda

8. The Essence: Bhagavad Gita

Finally, we have the Bhagavad Gita. While there are many Gitas (like Uddhava Gita, Avadhuta Gita), the Bhagavad Gita is unique.

It takes the difficult philosophy of the Upanishads and makes it practical. It is the "juice" of the Vedas. It doesn't just give theory; it tells you how to live, how to handle stress, and how to do your duty. It is the most practical manual for life.

What to Believe?

When you see a contradiction, look at the context.

  • If a Purana tells a story that seems to go against the Vedas, remember the Vedas (Shruti) are the final authority.

  • The Puranas and Epics are there to help us, not to confuse us. They use different flavors—sometimes fear, sometimes love, sometimes logic—to get us to the same destination: the Truth spoken in the Vedas.

So, respect the Smriti, but root your faith in the Shruti.  Every other text is trying to explain Smriti in its own way. 

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