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| {{Hindu scriptures}} | | {{Hindu scriptures}} |
− | A major component under '''Hindu texts''' come from Sanskrit literature. Sanskrit literature can be classified under '''six orthodox heads''' and '''four other literary heads.''' The Orthodox heads form the authoritative scriptures of the Hindus. The four other literary heads embody the later developments in classical Sanskrit literature.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All about Hinduism, Page 28</ref> | + | A major component under '''Hindu texts''' come from Samskrit literature. Samskrit literature can be classified under '''six orthodox heads''' and '''four other literary heads.''' The Orthodox heads form the authoritative scriptures of the Hindus. The four other literary heads embody the later developments in classical Sanskrit literature.<ref name=":0">Swami Sivananda, All about Hinduism, Page 28</ref> |
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| The six scriptures are: | | The six scriptures are: |
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| The Srutis are called the [[Veda (वेद)|Vedas]]. The Hindus have received the Vedas through revelation. Vedas are considered to be ''[[Apauruseya|apauruṣeya]]'', or entirely superhuman, without any author.<ref name=":0" /> The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of the Hindus.<ref name=":0" /> | | The Srutis are called the [[Veda (वेद)|Vedas]]. The Hindus have received the Vedas through revelation. Vedas are considered to be ''[[Apauruseya|apauruṣeya]]'', or entirely superhuman, without any author.<ref name=":0" /> The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of the Hindus.<ref name=":0" /> |
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− | There are four Vedas: the [[Rigveda]], the [[Yajurveda]], the [[Samaveda]] and the [[Atharvaveda]]. The Yajur Veda is again divided into two parts- The Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittirya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage [[Yagnyavalkya|Yajnavalkya]] from Sun-God.<ref name=":0" /> The Rig-Veda is divided into twenty one sections, the Yajur Veda into one hundred and nine sections, the Sama Veda into one thousand sections and the Atharva Veda into fifty sections. In all, the Veda is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty recensions.<ref name=":0" /> | + | There are four Vedas: |
| + | # [[Rigveda]], |
| + | # [[Yajurveda]], |
| + | # [[Samaveda]] |
| + | # [[Atharvaveda]] |
| + | The Yajur Veda is again divided into two parts- The Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittirya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage [[Yagnyavalkya|Yajnavalkya]] from Surya.<ref name=":0" /> The Rig-Veda is divided into twenty one sections, the Yajur Veda into one hundred and nine sections, the Sama Veda into one thousand sections and the Atharva Veda into fifty sections. In all, the Veda is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty recensions. |
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| Each Veda has been subclassified into four major text types<ref name=":0" />: | | Each Veda has been subclassified into four major text types<ref name=":0" />: |
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| ==== The Samhitas<ref name=":1">Swami Sivananda, All about Hinduism, Page 32</ref> ==== | | ==== The Samhitas<ref name=":1">Swami Sivananda, All about Hinduism, Page 32</ref> ==== |
− | The '''Rig-Veda Samhita''' is the oldest book of the Hindus. Its priest is called the Hotri. The '''Yajur-Veda Samhita''' is mostly in prose and is meant to be used by the Adhvaryu, the Yajur-Vedic priest for explanations of the rites, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras. The '''Sama-Veda Samhita''' is mostly borrowed from Rig-Vedic Samhita and is meant to be sung by the Udgatri, the Sania-Vedic priest. the The '''Atharva-Veda Samhita''' is meant to be used by the Brahma, the Atharva-Vedic priest, to correct the mispronunciations and wrong performances that may accidentally be committed by the other three priests. | + | The '''Rig-Veda Samhita''' is the oldest book of the Hindus. Its priest is called the Hotri. The '''Yajur-Veda Samhita''' is mostly in prose and is meant to be used by the Adhvaryu, the Yajur-Vedic priest for explanations of the rites, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras. The '''Sama-Veda Samhita''' is mostly borrowed from Rig-Vedic Samhita and is meant to be sung by the Udgatri, the Sania-Vedic priest. the '''Atharva-Veda Samhita''' is meant to be used by the Brahma, the Atharva-Vedic priest, to correct the mispronunciations and wrong performances that may accidentally be committed by the other three priests. |
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| ==== The Brahmanas and the Aranyakas<ref name=":1" /> ==== | | ==== The Brahmanas and the Aranyakas<ref name=":1" /> ==== |