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#Katha kavyas (Stories, example : Brhatkatha, Kathasaritsagara)

#Katha kavyas (Stories, example : Brhatkatha, Kathasaritsagara)

#Nitikavyas (Didactic poetry, example : Panchatantra and Hitopadesha)

#Nitikavyas (Didactic poetry, example : Panchatantra and Hitopadesha)

In the DharmaWiki portal, articles pertaining to the Vedas and Vaidika Vangmaya are discussed while information pertaining to Laukika Sahitya is outside the scope of this project.

In DharmaWiki, articles pertaining to the Vedas and Vaidika Vangmaya are discussed while information pertaining to Laukika Sahitya is outside the scope of this project.

==Vedas and Vaidika Vangmaya==

==Vedas and Vaidika Vangmaya==

===The Shrutis===

===The Shrutis===

The subject matter of the whole Veda is divided into Karma-Kanda (कर्म खण्ड), Upasana-Kanda (उपासना खण्ड) and Jnana-Kanda (ज्ञान खण्ड). The Karma-Kanda or ritualistic section deals with various sacrifices and rituals. The Upasana-Kanda or worship-section deals with various kinds of worship or meditation. The Jnana-Kanda or knowledge-section deals with the knowledge of Brahman. The [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhitas]] and the [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]] constitute Karma-Kanda; the [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] Upasana-Kanda; and the [[Upanishads]] Jnana-Kanda.<ref name=":022" />

The subject matter of the whole Veda is divided into Karma-Kanda (कर्म खण्ड), Upasana-Kanda (उपासना खण्ड) and Jnana-Kanda (ज्ञान खण्ड). The Karma-Kanda or ritualistic section deals with various sacrifices and rituals. The Upasana-Kanda or worship-section deals with various kinds of worship or meditation. The Jnana-Kanda or knowledge-section deals with the knowledge of Brahman. The [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhitas]] and the [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]] constitute Karma-Kanda; the [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] Upasana-Kanda; and the [[Upanishads]] Jnana-Kanda.<ref name=":022" />

'''Main components of Srutis'''

'''Main Components of Shrutis'''

====The Samhitas ====

====The Samhitas ====

Samhitas are primarily a collection of the mantras, Riks in Rigveda, Yajus of Yajurveda, Samans of the Samaveda and those of Atharvaveda. The '''Rig-Veda Samhita''' is the oldest sacred literary text of the Hindus. The '''Yajur-Veda Samhita''' is mostly in prose and explaining the procedures of the yajnas and yagas, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras. The '''Sama-Veda Samhita,''' shortest of all vedas, is mostly borrowed from Rig-Vedic Samhita sung with melody especially during the Soma yajnas. the '''Atharva-Veda Samhita''' is meant to correct the mispronunciations and wrong performances that may accidentally be committed during the yajnas. Atharvaveda contains mantras on many subjects such as socio-political aspects, medicine, agriculture etc along with philosophical thoughts.<ref name=":42222" /><ref name=":032222">Introduction to Samhitas in [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref>

Samhitas are primarily a collection of the mantras, Riks in Rigveda, Yajus of Yajurveda, Samans of the Samaveda and those of Atharvaveda. The '''Rig-Veda Samhita''' is the oldest sacred literary text of the Hindus. The '''Yajur-Veda Samhita''' is mostly in prose and explaining the procedures of the yajnas and yagas, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras. The '''Sama-Veda Samhita,''' shortest of all vedas, is mostly borrowed from Rig-Vedic Samhita sung with melody especially during the Soma yajnas. the '''Atharva-Veda Samhita''' is meant to correct the mispronunciations and wrong performances that may accidentally be committed during the yajnas. Atharvaveda contains mantras on many subjects such as socio-political aspects, medicine, agriculture etc along with philosophical thoughts.<ref name=":42222" /><ref name=":032222">Introduction to Samhitas in [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref>

====The Upanishads====

====The Upanishads====

{{Main|Upanishads}}The Upanishads are the concluding portions of the Aranyakas, and thus last portions of the Vedas. The teaching based on them is called [[Vedanta]]. The concepts of [[Brahman]] (Ultimate Reality) and Ātman (Soul, Self) are central ideas in all the [[Upanishads]],<ref name="ptraju22">Poola, Tirupati Raju (1985), ''Structural Depths of Indian Thought.'' USA: State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0887061394, pages 35-36</ref> and "Know your Ātman" their thematic focus.<ref name="ptraju22" /> The Upanishads are the very foundation of the siddhantas and tattvas of Sanatana Dharma applicable to man in every walk of life philosophical thought and its diverse traditions. Of the Vaidika Vangmaya, they have been widely studied my many peoples of the world, and in the present day the theosophical ideas and vidyas that have been discussed in the Upanishads have made a great impression on mankind.  

{{Main|Upanishads}}The Upanishads are the concluding portions of the Aranyakas, and thus last portions of the Vedas. The teaching based on them is called [[Vedanta]]. The concepts of [[Brahman]] (Ultimate Reality) and Ātman (Soul, Self) are central ideas in all the [[Upanishads]], and "Know your Ātman" their thematic focus.<ref name="ptraju22">Poola, Tirupati Raju (1985), ''Structural Depths of Indian Thought.'' USA: State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0887061394, pages 35-36</ref> The Upanishads are the very foundation of the siddhantas and tattvas of Sanatana Dharma applicable to man in every walk of life philosophical thought and its diverse traditions. Of all the texts included in Vaidika Vangmaya, Upanishads have been widely studied by many people of the world, and in the present day the theosophical ideas and vidyas that have been discussed in the Upanishads have made a great impression on mankind.  

There are as many Upanishads to each Veda as there are Sakhas, branches or recensions, i.e., 21, 109, 1000 and 50 respectively to the four Vedas, the [[Rigveda|Rig-Veda]] the [[Yajurveda|Yajur Veda]], the [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Sama Veda]] and the [[Atharvaveda|Atharva-Veda]].<ref name=":122">Swami Sivananda, All about Hinduism, Page 32</ref>

There are as many Upanishads to each Veda as there are Sakhas, branches or recensions, i.e., 21, 109, 1000 and 50 respectively to the four Vedas, the [[Rigveda|Rig-Veda]] the [[Yajurveda|Yajur Veda]], the [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Sama Veda]] and the [[Atharvaveda|Atharva-Veda]].<ref name=":022" />

The different philosophers of India belonging to different schools, such as Monism, Qualified Monism, Dualism, Pure Monism, Difference-cum-non-difference, etc., have acknowledged the supreme authority of the Upanishads. They have given their own interpretations and they have built their philosophy on the foundation of the Upanishads.

The different philosophers of India belonging to different schools, such as Monism, Qualified Monism, Dualism, Pure Monism, Difference-cum-non-difference, etc., have acknowledged the supreme authority of the Upanishads. They have given their own interpretations and they have built their philosophy on the foundation of the Upanishads.

More than 200 Upanishads are known, of which the first dozen or so are the oldest and most important and are referred to as the principal or main (''[[mukhya]]'') Upanishads.<ref name="stephenphillips22">Stephen Phillips (2009), Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy, Columbia University Press, ISBN 978-0231144858, Chapter 1</ref><ref>E Easwaran (2007), The Upanishads, ISBN 978-1586380212, pages 298-299</ref> The ''mukhya'' Upanishads are found mostly in the concluding part of the ''[[Brahmanas]]'' and ''[[Aranyakas]]''{{sfn|Mahadevan|1956|p=56}} and were, for centuries, memorized by each generation and passed down [[Oral tradition|verbally]]. The most important Upanishads are Isa, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taittiriya, Chhandogya, Brihadaranyaka, Kaushitaki, Svetasvatara and Maitrayani.

More than 200 Upanishads are known, of which the first dozen or so are the oldest and most important and are referred to as the principal or main (''[[mukhya]]'') Upanishads. The ''mukhya'' Upanishads are found mostly in the concluding part of the ''[[Brahmanas]]'' and ''[[Aranyakas]]''{{sfn|Mahadevan|1956|p=56}} and were, for centuries, memorized by each generation and passed down [[Oral tradition|verbally]]. The most important Upanishads are Isa, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taittiriya, Chhandogya, Brihadaranyaka, Kaushitaki, Svetasvatara and Maitrayani.

Upanishad Brahmanas belong to the [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Sama Veda]]. The Brahmana of the [[Atharvaveda|Atharva-Veda]] is called the Gopatha. Each of the Brahmanas has got an [[Aranyaka]].

Upanishad Brahmanas belong to the [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Sama Veda]]. The Brahmana of the [[Atharvaveda|Atharva-Veda]] is called the Gopatha. Each of the Brahmanas has got an [[Aranyaka]].