The spine of Sanatana Dharma contains the following
vertebras (ancient texts):
Some Slavic and Sanskrit words are almost identical. In Slovak, "veda" is science (knowledge), which is the same (in writing, meaning, and pronunciation) as the Sanskrit word "Veda".
The spine of Sanatana Dharma contains the following vertebras (ancient texts):
There is a lot of information in English Wikipedia, but it is not so apposite. This introduction should make it apt.
The principal and not contestable scriptures - SHRUTI
I. Shruti (Sruti), the God's word (a cosmic sound of the Truth that was once heard). These are the four Vedas:
1. Rig Veda, 2. Yajur Veda, 3. Sama Veda, 4. Atharva Veda
The Vedas are poetical hymns and they have their subgroups: Aranyakas, Brahmanas and Upanishads.
Aranyakas - they discuss philosophy and sacrifice and form part of either the Brahmanas or Upanishads.
Brahmanas - (originated some 900-500 years before Christ); these are commentaries to the Vedas. Every Veda has its Brahmana:
Brahmanas:
* Rigveda
- Shakala shakha: Aitareya Brahmana
- Bashkala shakha: Kaushitaki Brahmana
- Tandya Brahmana
* Samaveda
- Kauthuma
- Jayminiya: Jayminiya Brahmana
- Tandyamaha alebo Pancavimsa Brahmana
- Sadvimsa Brahmana
- Samavidhana Brahmana
- Arseya Brahmana
- Devatadhyaya alebo Daivata Brahmana
- Mantra alebo Chandogya Brahmana
- Samhitopanisad Brahmana
- Vamsa Brahmana
- Jayminiya Arseya Brahmana
- Jayminiya Upanisad Brahmana
* Yajurveda
- Kathaka Brahmana
- Krishna Brahmanas
- Shukla: Vajasaneyi Madhyandina, Shatapatha Brahmana and Kanva: Shatapatha Brahmana
* Atharvaveda
- Paippalada: Gopatha Brahmana
Upanishads:
Upanishads - there are the so called "principal Upanishads"; various sources say that they are 11 in number, or even 13 or more. The source from Wikipedia says that the following 11 belong to the class of the "principal Upanishads":
1. Aitareya, 2. Brhadaranyaka, 3. Isa, 4. Taittiriya, 5. Katha, 6. Chandogya, 7. Kena, 8. Mundaka, 9. Mandukya, 10. Prashna, 11. Svetasvatara
The following section differs more from the above section in various interpretations.
The remembered words of God - SMRITI
II. Smriti - the God's word that was remembered. Four Upavedas belong here:
A)
1) Ayurveda - about "science and health", it belongs to Rig Veda; 2) Dhanurveda - about "military skills", it belongs to Yajur Veda; 3) Gandharva Veda - about "art and science", it belongs to Sama Veda; 4) Arthashastra - "science about politics and economics" (Atharvaveda).
B)
Six Vedangas - these are the organs of the Vedas (auxiliary disciplines for understanding of the Vedas):
1) Siksha phonetics, 2) Vyakarana grammar, 3) Chhandas prosody (melodies of speech, etc.); 4) Nirukta etymology; 5) Jyotisha astronomy and astrology; 6) Kalpa methods for various rituals.
III. Itihasas (sacred epics)
Ramayana and Mahabharata.
IV. Puranas (scared legends and history)
A) 18 main Puranas or Mahapuranas
1. Bhagavata Purana (some 1300 years before Christ).
It is about the life of Krishna (18,000 verses)
2. Vishnu Purana (23,000 verses)
3. Naradiya Purana (25,000 verses)
4. Garuda (Suparna) Purana (19,000 verses)
5. Padma Purana (55,000 verses)
6. Varaha Purana (10,000 verses)
7. Brahma Purana (24,000 verses)
8. Brahmanda Purana (12,000 verses)
9. Brahma Vaivarta Purana (18,000 verses)
10. Markandeya Purana (9,000 verses)
11. Bhavishya Purana (14,500 verses)
12. Vamana Purana (10,000 verses)
13. Matsya Purana (14,000 verses)
14. Kurma Purana (17,000 verses)
15. Linga Purana (11,000 verses)
16. Shiva Purana (24,000 verses)
17. Skanda Purana (81,100 verses)
18. Agni Purana (15,400 verses)
These are also divided into categories (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva). Shakta denomination has its own category; even some of the above Puranas may be understood as glorification of the Great Goddess, such as Markandeya Purana.
B) 18 Upapuranas (standing near the Mahapuranas, but with less relevance: "upa" - near)
These are:
1. Sanat Kumara
2. Narasimha
3. Brihannaradiya
4. Sivarahasya
5. Durvasa
6. Kapila
7. Vamana
8. Bhargava
9. Varuna
10. Kalika
11. Samba
12. Nandi
13. Surya
14. Parashara
15. Vasishtha
16. Devi-Bhagavata
17. Ganesha
18. Hamsa
C) There are also specific Puranas, for example, Tamil Puranas:
1. Shiva Purana
2. Periya Purana
3. Siva Parakramam
4. Tiruvilayadal Purana
V. Agamas (manuals for sacred worship)
Ishvara-Samhita
Ahirbudhnya-Samhita
Sanatkumara-Samhita
Narada-Pancharatra
Spanda-Pradipika
There are vaishnava, shaiva and shakta "Agamas".
VI. "Six philosophies or Shad-Darshana aka "Upa Vedangas"
1. Nyaya - logical approach to spirituality
2. Vaiseshika - it deals with material aspect of the Creation
3. Sankhya - it presents a dualistic concept of Purusha (soul...) and Prakriti (nature)
4. Purva (or karma) mimamsa - it deals with rituals and techniques oriented on outward world (out of the body)
5. Yoga - a technique for inward practice
6. Uttara (or sharirika) mimamsa, a.k.a. Vedanta - it deals with the realization of the Truth
VII. Other texts
In addition to the above texts, there are many others, for example, various Gitas like:
1. Anu Gita (from Mahabharata)
2. Bhikshu Gita (from Shrimad Bhagavata Purana, book 11, chapter 23)
4. Brahma Gita (from Skanda Purana)
5. Shiva Gita (from Padma Purana, book Patala Khanda)
6. Surya Gita, etc.
VIII. Secular texts of spiritual touch
1) Stories of wise recommendations or opinions written by various authors even recently; 2) Poetry; 3) Dramas; 4) Rhetoric.
Interesting literature (not included in the links section, as this is relevant literature for learning)
Petition against
the EU's attempts to prohibit swastika:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Swastika/petition.html
Lord Murugan's website:
http://murugan.org/
Hollow Earth Theory:
http://www.crystalinks.com/hollowearth.html
Rig Veda, Atharva
Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Upanishads:
http://www.ishwar.com/hinduism/
Video gallery of
God Shiva with beautiful ancient temples; striking video of His Holy
Mount Kailash in Tibet:
http://www.shaivam.org/gallery/video/video.htm
Epos Ramayana:
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/extra/bl-ramayana1.htm?nl=1
Ganesha's homepage
in France with rich picture gallery:
http://ganapati.club.fr/anglais/indexe.html
Panchangam - the
Hindu calendar:
http://www.panchangam.com/
