What are Hindu Scriptures?

 Hindu scriptures are generally classified as sruti and smriti literature.  Sruti means that which is heard and smriti means that which is remembered.  Sruti scriptures are mainly the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Atharva, and Sama) which comprise the knowledge revealed to the rishis.  Smriti scriptures are itihasa and puranas.  Itihasa includes the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.  There are 18 major puranas (e.g.,Srimad  Bhagavad) and 18 minor puranas   There are many other ancient scriptures (e.g., agama, upaveda, vedanga) and sacred texts that deal with a variety of subjects such as medicine (Ayurveda), astrology (jyotish vidya), weaponry and warfare (dhanurvidya), music (gandharva vidya), wealth and economics (artha vidya).

 Next question: What is Vedanta?  Answer will be posted next week.

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