Composed in vedic sanskrit hymns, the texts constitute the oldest layer of sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of hinduism. It is more so as it is a way of living life and school of thought more than a religion. The book contains 270 pages and is divided in 57 small easytoread chapters, containing authentic information about all the important aspects of hindu religion, culture, and philosophy. There are many proves in most important holy book of hindus named vedas, shastras, puranas and also in shrimadbhagvat geeta ji that is only one sadguru is complete knower of all holy scriptures. The famous quotation from the bhagavad gita, which is the holy book of the hindus, is the basis of their belief that god lord vishnu takes birth on the earth as an avatar or incarnation and as a saviour of the humanity in order to cleanse the world of evil and reestablish dharma or law when the human society reaches the nadir of moral and cultural values, and lose all awareness of what is. First, lets distinguish between two types of hindu literature. Bhagavad gita the holy book of hindus 2059 words bartleby. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. There have been numerous instances of one or both the parents taking on the role of guru for continue reading hindu religious books for children. There is no single scripture as it is in other religions like christianity and islam. In hinduism, there is no particular holy book like christianity and islam.
Sacred hindu scriptures holy books of hinduism holy. The vedas are a large body of hindu texts originating in ancient india, with its samhita and brahmanas complete before about 800 bce. What name is given to the four holy books of the hindus. Everyone knows that the hindu religion is the worlds oldest religion and its books are also the oldest about 3000 bc. Hinduism does not have a single holy book that guides religious practice. The veda is a rather unusual collection of literature. Anyone can read the holy scriptures of hindus and get the spiritual knowledge of this religion. It is one of those very few religions that has survived the winds of change and is sttheyill followed. The most ancient sacred texts of the hindu religion are written in sanskrit and called the vedas. Hindu texts are manuscripts and historical literature related to any of the diverse traditions. Bhagvad gita is also a very vital book of the hindus. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa.
Here, i will give only a brief introduction to the holy books of hinduism. They got their present form between 1200200 bce and were introduced to. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. The belief system in the hindi religion is outlined from these scriptures. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. The vedas are scriptures that the hindu people use as a guide to daily and religious life. She whispers, in the religion section, under holy bible and holy quran. The concept of hinduism being a single monolithic religion is recent, dating back only to the 19th century. Anyone who wants to follow this religion can follow it. The religions founded by individuals have one book that summarizes the philosophies of the founder or the same from the disciples perspective and so on. The institutes of vishnu sbe 7 julius jolly, translator 1880 sacred books of the east, vol. Hinduism includes a diversity of ideas on spirituality and traditions, but has no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophets nor any binding holy book. The narration happens in the battlefield of kurukshethra.
Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf. There are many holy books in hindu religion which cant be read in ones life time. Here were going to talk about some of the main hindu religious books. Download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf ebooks. This sacred text is divided into two main sections, the old testament and the new testament which are then further divided into various books. Nyaya, vaisesika, samkhya, yoga, mimarinsa, and vedanta. Bhagavad gita the holy book of hindus, is one of the major literature work from india to the entire mankind.
Holy scriptures of hindus by vedantacharya bhatt on october 3, 2012 hinduism is considered to be one of the oldest religions in the world. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. Give us health, ample land, and lights, o soma, and grant us long to look upon the sunshine. The body of sacred literature in hinduism is vast and diverse enough to write volumes on. Om lata bahadur, book of hindu festivals and ceremonies 2nd edition.
If the indus valley civilization 3rd2nd millennium bce was the earliest source of hindu traditions, then hinduism is the oldest living religion on earth. Hindu philosophy is an attempt to outline the essence of the six classic systems of hindu philosophy, namely. These are the most ancient religious texts which define truth for hindus. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual. In the wars that occur in the holy books, as in mahabharta, the different sides had different war weapons which had characters similar to modern day war weapons. They also help to preserve the religious dimensions of family and society.
Instead, hinduism has a large body of spiritual texts that guide. The main holy book of the hindus is the mahabharata and the ramayana. Information on hinduism for kids primary homework help. Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but several scriptures. There are many proves in most important holy book of. The vedas a collection of hymns praising the vedic gods. Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book. The holy book in the hindu religion is known as the vedas.
Atharvaved download part i download part ii rigved samved download yajurved download more variants. In this series we are today presenting the holy scriptures and books of hindu religion to free download hinduism vedas. The aryans gave hinduism its priestly language, sanskrit. Hindu sacred literature is the most ancient of the living literatures of the world. The vedas scriptures guide hindus in their daily life.
The guru shishya tradition in hinduism for kids the guru shishya paramparatradition is a very important part of the hindu culture and religion. The four vedas, upanishads, bhramanas, aranyakas and bhagavad gita make up the treasure of sruti literature. It was narrated by lord krishna to prince arjuna in mahabharatha. The shruti refers to the body of most authoritative, ancient religious texts, believed to be eternal knowledge authored neither by human nor divine. This religious book defines the boundary of the religion and the followers would be expected to strictly abide by that holy book.
Five of the hindu holy books are the rig veda, bhagavad gita, sama veda, yajur veda, and athava veda. About the book prophets of all lands and ages have succeeded in their godquest, writes sri sri paramahansa yogananda in the foreword to the holy science. In some stories the traveling vehicles were normally birds and animals. Hindu religious books for children spiritual india trip. All other schools of thought are but variations of these six. But the most important holy books of hinduism are the vedas. The vedas, upanishads, puranas, and brahmanas granth are the four sacred books in hindu religion. Hindu festivals are combinations of religious ceremonies, semiritual spectacles, worship, prayer, lustrations, processions, music and dances, eating, drinking, lovemaking, licentiousness, feeding the poor, and other activities of a religious. As your wise librarian told you, there is no one single book of hinduism. The oral transmission of sacred knowledge, from the teacher to the student, continues till today.
There are a number of scriptures and holy books in hinduism. Linda johnsen, the complete idiots guide to hinduism. The galaxy of hindu literature is very vast and voluminous. The primary sacred texts, known as the vedas, were composed around 1500 b. The scriptures of the vedas are meant to guide hindu believers in their daily lives. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. Hindus can choose to be polytheistic, pantheistic, panentheistic, pandeistic, henotheistic, monotheistic, monistic, agnostic, atheistic or. Many scholars liken hinduism to a family of religions. Another hindu holy book that deals with religious duties is law of manu or the dharma shastra. Holy books of hinduism hinduism a perspective the religions founded by individuals have one book that summarizes the philosophies of the founder or the same from the disciples perspective and so on.
Religion world is dedicated to provide the pure religion and its essence. Hindu philosophy the essence of the six classic system pdf. Hinduism does not have a single holy book, but many ancient texts and scriptures. Vedas and upanishadas are the most authoritative amongst all hindu scriptures and holy books. Along with the book of the dead, the enuma elish, the i ching, and the avesta, they are among the most ancient religious texts still in existence. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world. This holy book is written in the sanskrit language.