Hindu texts

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Hindu texts form a vast body of literature from India’s diverse Hindu traditions. They are typically grouped into two broad categories: Shruti (that which is heard) and Smriti (that which is remembered).

Shruti includes the most authoritative ancient texts. The core of Shruti is the four Vedas—Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva. Each Veda has four parts: Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads. The Upanishads, a key philosophical body, explore ideas like Brahman (the Ultimate Reality) and Atman (the soul) and are often regarded as the heart of Hindu thought. There are many Upanishads, with about ten called the main or mukhya Upanishads.

Smriti consists of texts attributed to authors and considered less authoritative than Shruti. It includes the Hindu epics and other important writings. The Mahabharata (a great long epic) and the Ramayana (the story of Rama) are two famous Smriti works. The Mahabharata contains the Bhagavad Gita, a dialogue on the soul, God, duty, and release. The Ramayana tells Rama’s life and his quest, focusing on virtue and righteousness.

Smriti also covers the Puranas, a wide group of lore that explains legends, cosmology, geography, temple lists, and cultural practices. Among them, the Bhagavata Purana is especially popular for its devotion to Krishna. There are many smaller and larger Puranas (often called Great and Minor Puranas) and a huge number of verses in total. Puranas are revered and influential but are not treated as the primary scriptural authority in Hinduism.

Other important Smriti literature includes the Vedangas (auxiliary sciences related to the Vedas), the six classical schools of Hindu philosophy (Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta), Dharma shastras (law codes), and various treatises on arts, sciences, politics, and daily life. The vast body also contains many Tantras and Agama texts.

Historically, most Hindu texts began as oral teachings and were memorized and passed down through generations before being written. They were originally composed in Sanskrit and in regional Indian languages, and later many were translated into other languages.

Two of the best-known epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, teach important lessons about duty, virtue, and devotion. The Bhagavata Purana emphasizes devotion to Krishna, while the Upanishads lay the foundation for Hindu philosophical inquiry. Together, these texts have shaped Hindu thought, arts, music, dance, festivals, and everyday life across centuries.