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There
are four sacred books in Hindu religion. They
are:
1. The Vedas
2. Upanishads
3. Puranas and
4. Brahmanas Granth.
The last one is a commentary on the Vedas, but
it is considered as a revealed book. These books
are in Sanskrit, the sacred language of the Hindus.
The Vedas are divided into four books: (i) Rig
Veda (ii) Yajur Veda (iii) Sama Veda and (iv)
Atharva Veda. Of these, the first three books
are considered the more ancient books, and the
Rig Veda is the oldest of them. The Rig Veda was
compiled in three long and different periods.
Opinions greatly differ as to the date of compilation
or revelation of the four Vedas. Swami
Daya Nand, founder of the Arya Samaj,
holds the opinion that the Vedas were revealed
1.3 billion years ago, while others (Hindu scholars
and orientalists) hold the opinion that they are
not more than four thousand years old. Analysis
of the Vedas reveal differences in the accounts
of the places where these books were revealed
and the Rishis (Prophets) to whom these scriptures
were given. Nevertheless, the Vedas are the most
authentic scriptures of the Hindus.
The Upanishads are considered next to the Vedas
in order of superiority and authenticity. However,
some Pandits consider the Upanishads to be superior
to the Vedas primarily from the internal evidence
found in the Upanishads.
Next in authenticity to the Upanishads are the
Puranas. The Puranas are the most widely read
of all Hindu Scriptures, as these are easily available
(the Vedas are difficult to find). The compiler
of the Puranas is Maha Rishi Vyasa, and he arranged
the Puranas in eighteen volumes. These books contain
the history of the creation of the universe, the
history of the early Aryan people, and life stories
of the divines and deities of the Hindus. The
Puranas were either revealed simultaneously with
the Vedas or some time before. The sanctity and
reverence of the Puranas is admitted and recognized
in all the authentic books of the Hindus.
For a long time, the Hindu Scriptures were primarily
in the hands of Pandits and a small group of men
who had learned Sanskrit (The majority of the
Hindu population knew Hindi and could comprehend
only a smattering of Sanskrit words). Sir
William Jones, who was a Judge and founded
the Asiatic Society of Bengal, learned Sanskrit
in the last decade of the Eighteenth century.
He was instrumental in generating interest in
Sanskrit and Hindu Scriptures in Europe, and it
was due to his efforts that the Hindu scriptures
were translated into English.
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