An Overview of Hindu Scriptures

Vedic Knowledge

There are 18 mahasthanas in the vedic knowledge system. They are the four Vedas, four Upavedas, six Vedangas and six Upangas. Apart from these we have six Vedic Darshanas.

Vedic Religion

Mantra is central to Vedic religion. Mantra is said to be the sound-form (vak-rupa) of the God-form. Yajna is central to Vedic philosophy. All life performed as a Yajna (sacrifice - making an offering to derive something greater) is the means to Moksha. Each action, education, earning, eating, sleeping, procreation, war, worship, is a Yajna. Doing each of these as an offering through which transcendence is sought, guarantees liberation. There are different approaches like Tatva Chintana, Upasana, Yajna and so on where aspects like Mantra or Rituals or devotion become more important or less important for each of those paths.