Studying of Sacred Scriptures
Hinduism's most important and revered scriptures, which explain the sacredness of life and the purpose of man’s life, are the Vedas and Agamas, as explained by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniya Swami in Dancing with Siva. Veda, from vid, ‘to know’, means ‘supreme wisdom or science’. Similarly, Agama, which names the sacred sectarian revelations, means ‘descent of knowledge’.
Hindu scriptures constitute a rich and varied collection of texts that provide guidance on various aspects of everyday life, including personal conduct, the observance of rituals, dietary customs and the upholding of ethical values. Studying these timeless truths lays a strong groundwork for philosophical clarity and provides an accurate understanding of the supreme power, the journey of the soul, and the world we live in. These sacred literatures offer practical paths to achieve wisdom, inner peace, and confidence to move forward in life. They provide the foundation for living a happy, productive and ethical life.
“The man who rejects the words of the scriptures and follows the impulse of desire attains neither his perfection, nor joy, nor the Path Supreme. Let the scriptures be, therefore, thy authority as to what is right and what is not right.”
It is important to study these scriptures on a daily basis as a source of guidance and comfort throughout life. They are broadly categorized into two types: Shruti and Smriti, as listed in What is Hinduism?
Shruti, meaning ‘that which is heard’, are believed to be revealed by God through great illumined clairaudient and clairvoyant sages. These include the Vedas, divided into the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas, ancient texts that were memorized and passed down orally for thousands of years before being written down in the Sanskrit language. They define hymns, rites, interpretations, and philosophical teachings. The Upanishads, an important part of the Vedas, explain the mystical and philosophical foundation. The next primary scriptures are Agamas that are very specific and details personal conduct, temple design, worship, festivals, meditation, and philosophy.
Smriti: these come from human insight and experience, and reveal spiritual teachings, geography, historical traditions and cultures. These include the Itihasas (epic histories like the Mahabharata and Ramayana), the Puranas, Dharma Shastras, and numerous other texts. The Bhagavad Gita, part of the Mahabharata. These also include the nature of self, the world, karma, devotion to God and the ideals of dharma. The Tirukural talks about ethics and moral living. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali explore yoga and meditation.
Hinduism includes numerous other scriptural texts. The Vedic arts and sciences, including ayurveda, astrology, music, dance, architecture, domestic duty and law, are revealed in numerous other sacred texts known as Vedangas and Upavedas.
The writing of Hindu scriptures continues even today, as spiritually enlightened teachers keep sharing eternal truths to guide humanity's journey toward spiritual unfoldment.
