Understanding purpose of various scriptures


Have you ever tried to list down all the holy books in Sanatana Dharma? It is like entering a giant library without a map. We have Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Epics, Sutras... the list just goes on!

​A common question comes to mind: "Why do we need so many books? Why not just one book like other religions?"

​The answer is beautiful. Hinduism is not just a religion; it is a way of life. It covers everything—from how to pray, to how to eat, how to fight a war, how to rule a country, and how to realize God.

​Let’s take a quick tour of this "Grand Library" and understand the purpose of each section

The Golden Rule

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Logic : Brahma Sutras

The Upanishads are very vast and sometimes difficult to connect. Sage Vyasa wrote the Brahma Sutras to logically organize and systematize the thoughts of the Upanishads.It deals with Gyan (Knowledge). It answers questions like "Why did God create the world?" and "What is the relation between the Soul and God?" using pure logic and reasoning.

Moral conduct : Dharma Sutras

These are practical guidebooks. They don't talk about high philosophy; they talk about how to live. It deals with Karma (Action). It gives rules for student life, marriage, rituals, and how a king should rule.

Examples: Apasthamba Sutra, Gautama Sutra, Baudhayana Sutra.

The Law Books: Manu Smriti & The Need for Updates

The Dharma Sutras eventually evolved into bigger, more detailed books called the Dharma Shastras or Smritis. These are the law books of Sanatana Dharma.

What is Manu Smriti?

The most famous of these is the Manu Smriti (Laws of Manu). It is an ancient legal code that defined the duties of different Varnas (castes), the laws of inheritance, the punishment for crimes, and the conduct between husband and wife.

This is the most important point that many people miss. Smritis are NOT eternal.

  • Shruti (Vedas): Eternal truths (like "Speak the Truth", "God is One"). These never change.

  • Smriti (Law Books): Social rules. These MUST change as society changes.

Our Rishis were very intelligent. They knew that the rules for a person living in the Satya Yuga cannot be applied to a person living in the Kali Yuga. Just like you update your phone's software when the times change, Smritis are meant to be updated.

That is why we have different Smritis for different times:

  1. Manu Smriti: Was valid for Satya Yuga.

  2. Yajnavalkya Smriti: Was valid for Treta Yuga.

  3. Shankha & Likhita Smriti: Was valid for Dvapara Yuga.

  4. Parashara Smriti: Is considered valid for our current time, the Kali Yuga.

So, if you read a verse in an old Smriti that sounds outdated or harsh today, understand that it was written for a different society in a different time. It was not meant to be a permanent command for eternity.

The Worship Manuals: The Agamas

​While Vedas focus on Fire Labs (Yagnas), the Agamas focus on Temples and Idol worship.

Have you ever wondered: How do we build a temple? How do we carve an Idol? What are the steps for daily Pooja?

The Agamas give us these technical details. They are divided into three main groups based on the deity:

  • ​Vaishnava Agamas: For Vishnu temples.
  • ​Shaiva Agamas: For Shiva temples.
  • ​Shakta Agamas: For Devi temples.

The Intellectual Freedom: The 6 Darshanas

​In Hinduism, you are not forced to think in only one way. Our Rishis gave us 6 different schools of philosophy, called Shad-Darshanas. They debate and discuss reality using logic, physics, and meditation.

  • ​Nyaya & Vaisheshika: Logic and Atomic theory.
  • ​Sankhya & Yoga: Dualism and Meditation psychology.
  • ​Mimamsa & Vedanta: Analysis of Rituals and the Ultimate Reality.

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.

The Storytelling: 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

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.

The Tantras

​Many people hear "Tantra" and think of black magic. That is a big misunderstanding!

Tantra simply means "Technique" or "System." They are separate texts, usually written as a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

While Vedas give knowledge, Tantras give techniques to realize that knowledge quickly.

They focus on using the body and energy to accelerate spiritual journey:

  • ​Mantras: Powerful sounds.
  • ​Yantras: Sacred geometric diagrams.
  • ​Mudras: Hand gestures.

​Famous Tantra Texts:

  • ​Mahanirvana Tantra: Discusses the nature of Brahman and liberation.
  • ​Vigyan Bhairav Tantra: 112 meditation techniques to realize God.
  • ​Kularnava Tantra: Focuses on the discipline of the student.

Summary

So, the next time you see this vast library, don't get overwhelmed. Just remember:

  • ​Vedas: The Roots.
  • ​Upavedas: For a good Body and Society.
  • ​Upanishads: For a realized Soul.
  • ​Puranas/Epics: For an emotional Heart (Bhakti).
  • ​Gita: For a steady Mind.

​Everything has its own place and purpose!

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