Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma can be learnt only through the sacred texts. Religion does not mean mere rituals but means Dharma (Righteousness). Dharma is that which if we follow makes us contended and happy.

Which are the sacred texts that speak about true Dharma?

अङ्गानि वेदाश्चत्वारो मीमांसा न्याय विस्तरः

पुराणं धर्मशास्त्रंच विद्या ह्येता श्चतुर्दश |

 

These are fourteen and they are: The four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva); the six Vedaangas namely Siksha (Pronunciation), Vyaakarna (Grammar), Niruktha (Etymology), Chandas (metre), Jyotisha (astrology), Kalpa(procedure); Meemamsa (interpretation of vedic texts), Nyaaya (logic), Puraana (mythology) and Dharma Shastra (code of conduct).

To the above ten, we may add four more Upavedas namely 1) Ayurveda or the science of life, 2) Arthashastra , the science of wealth or economics, 3) Dhanur veda, the science related to weaponry, and 4) Gandharva veda or the treatises on fine arts.

The Vedas are “Anaadi” or without a beginning. This seems difficult to comprehend since we expect every text to have an author and a period of time when this was written. But the Vedas are “Apourusheya”, ie they were not written by man. Before reciting the Veda mantras it is customary to mention the name of the Rishi associated with the mantra, the chandas or the metre in which the mantra is composed and the Devata, the presiding deity of that mantra. The Rishi who is mentioned is not the author /Mantra Karta of the mantra but is the Mantra Drishta. This means that the Rishi discovered the mantra which already existed and did not create them. In their deep state of meditation the Rishis could tune in, receive the Veda mantras and propagate it for the benefit of mankind.

The Shastras say that the Vedas existed prior to creation because Brahma himself is said to have undertaken creation with the aid of the Veda mantras. Iswara (The Supreme Being or Paramaatma) and Veda have existed side by side without a beginning. Brihadharanyaka Upanishad says that the Veda in Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva forms are Iswara’s breath. Being the life breath of the Paramaatma, the Vedas have existed without a beginning along with the supreme self or Paramaatma.