What are the Vedas?

The earliest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism - The Vedas - is some of the oldest surviving religious literature in the world, and simultaneously some of the best preserved. In this video, we talk about these fascinating texts as the first part in a new series on religion in India.

Sources/Further Reading:
Flood, Gavin (2003). "The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism". Blackwell publishing.

Jacobsen, Knut A. (2003). "Hinduismen: Historia, tradition, mångfald". Kultur och Natur.

Videos used:

#Vedas #Hinduism #India

[SR-mvmf]

I am a person born into Hinduism. I left religion and became agnostic, no one in my family was killed for my idea. I love that Hindus have freedom of thought and expression and we do not bully people to convert to Hinduism. This itself makes me happy about hinduism even though I myself don't follow many Hindu customs.

[iHaveAimAssists]

This is literally most respectful channel I’ve come accross. No non sense, no jokes, just facts and education. I luv it

[bjosephine]

I really appreciate Hinduism because it has a lot of truth about many things. It is a deeply spiritual religion.

[janakakumara]

I read the Uppanishads. Truely timeless and very emotionally fulfilling.

[LongmirTeron]

*_Beautifully explained. I like how the comment section doesn't have hate comments. Everyone wants to learn with open mind. Nice to see this._*

[pspsolutions]

Vedas and Puranas are much older than their written texts. It was memorized by the sages.

[marktwain]

As a college professor, I applaud and appreciate your introduction on this presentation, and your careful statements about the complexity of classification and characterization of world faiths and their respective practices and beliefs. That gives an authoritative stance and tone to your (always) excellent work here.

[THE_BRAHMIN_HULK]

Few hindu scriptures
1. VEDAS — 1. Rig veda 2. Sama veda 3. Yajur veda Black and White, 4. Atharva veda
2. Brahmanas — 1. Aitareya, 2. Kausitaki, 3. Sankhayana, 4. Taittiriya, 5. Katha, 6. Satapatha, 7. Paficaviméa, 8. Sadvimsa, 9. Jaiminiya, 10. Sama vidhanam, 11. Chandogya, 12. Gopatha

3. Aranyakas — 1. Aitareya, 2. Kausitaki, 3. Sankhayana, 4. Taittiriya, 5. Katha, 6. Brhadaranyaka, 7. Talavakra

4. Major Upanisads

1. Aitareya, 2. Kausitaki, 3. Taittiriya, 4. Katha, 5. Maitri, 6. Brhadaranyaka, 7. Svetasvatara, 8. la, 9. Chandogya, 10. Kena, 11. Mundaka, 12. Mandukya, 13. Prasna.

5. Minor Upanisad

1. Adhyatma Up. 2. Advaya taraka Up. 3. Aksa malika Up. 4. Aksi Up. 5. Amrta bindu Up. 6. Annapurna Up. 7. Atharva sikha Up. 8. Atharvasirasa Up. 9. Atrna Up. 10. Atma bodha Up. 11. Avadhita Up. 12. Avyakta Up. 13. Bahvricha Up. 14. Bhasma jabala Up. 15. Bhavana Up. 16. Bhiksuka Up. 17. Brahma Up. 18. Brahma vidya Up. 19. Brihad jabala Up. 20. Daksina miurti Up. 21. Dattatreya Up. 21. Devi Up. 23. Dhyana bindu Up. 24. Ekaksara Up. 25. Ganapati Up. 26. Garbha Up. 27. Garuda Up. 28. Gopala tapiniya Up. 29. Gopala pirva tapini Up. 30. Harhsa Up. 31. Hayagriva Up. 32. ISavasya Up. 33. Jabala Up. 34. Jabali Up. 35. Kaivalya Up. 36. Kalagni-rudra Up. 37. Kali santarana Up. 38. Katha Up. 39. Katha rudra Up. 40. Ksurika Up. 41. Maha Up. 42. Maha narayana Up. 43. Maha vakya Up. 44. Maitrayani Up. 45. Maitreyi Up. 46. Mandala-brahmana Up. 47. Mandakya Up. 48. Mantrika Up. 49. Mudgala Up. 50. Muktika Up. 51. Nada bindu Up. 52. Narada parivrajaka Up. 53. Niralamba Up. 54. Nirvana Up. 55. Nrsimha uttara tapini Up. 56. Nrsimha pirva tapini Up. 57. Paingala Up. 58. Pafica brahma Up. 59. Para brahma Up. 60. Paramaharnsa Up. 61. Paramahamsa parivrajaka Up. 62. PaSupata-brahmana Up. 63. Pranagnihotra up. 64. Rama rahasya Up. 65. Rama plrva tapiniyaUp. 66. Rama tapiniya Up. 67. Rudraksa jabala Up. 68. Sandilya Up. 69. Sanyasa Up. 70. Sarabha Up. 72. Sarasvati rahasya Up. 73. Saririka Up. 74. Sarva sara Up. 75. Satyayaniya Up. 76. Saubhagya laksmi Up. 77. Sita Up. 78. Skanda Up. 79. Subala Up. 80. Suka rahasya Up. 81. Surya Up. 82. Tarasara Up. 83. Tejo bindu Up. 84. Tri Sikhi brahmana Up. 85. Tripura tapini Up. 86. Tripura Up. 87. Turtyatita avadhuta Up. 88. Tripada vibhuti maha narayana Up. 89. Varaha Up. 90. Vasudeva Up. 91. Vajrasucika Up. 92. Yajnavalkya Up. 93. Yoga cudamani Up. 94. Yoga kundalini Up. 95. Yoga sikha Up. 96. Yoga tattva Up.

6. Upa Vedas — 1. ayur Veda. 2. dhanur Veda 3. Sastra Sastra 4. gandharva Veda 5. sthapatya Veda 6. silpa Sastra.

7. Grihya Sutras — 1, Agvalayana, 2. Kausitaki, 3. Sankhayana, 4. Baudhayana, 5. Apastamba, 6. Hiranyakesin, 7. Bharadvaja, 8. Satyasadha, 9. Vaikhanasa, 10, Paraskara, 11. Gobhila, 12. Khadira, 13. Jaimini, 14. Kausika. 15. Vaikhanasa.

8. Dharma Shastras —1. Manu Smrti, 2. Yajnavalkya Smrti, 3. Parasara Smrti, 4. Visnu, 5. Daksa, 6. Samvarta, 7. Vyasa, 8. Harita, 9. Satatapa, 10. Vasistha, 11. Yama, 12. Apastamba, 13. Gautama, 14. Devala, 15. Sankha, 16. Likhita, 17. Usana, 18. Atri, 19. Saunaka, 20. Angirasa, 21. Katyayana 22. Vaikhanasa 23. Madalasa (written by a woman). 24 .narada smriti .

9. Major Puranas — 1. Visnu, 2. Bhagavata, 3. Padma, 4. Naradiya, 5. Garuda, 6. Varaha 7. Matsya, 8. Linga, 9. Skanda, 10. Kurma, 11. Siva, 12. Agni 13. Brahma, 14. Brahma vaivarta, 15. Vamana, 16. Brahmanda, 17. Markandeya, 18. Bhavisya.

10. Minor Puranas — 1. Adya 2. Narasimha 3. Skanda 4. Shivadharma 5. Durvasa 6. Naradiya 7. Kapila 8. Vamana 9. Aushanasa 10. Brahmanda 11. Varuna 12. Kalika 13. Maheshvara 14. Samba 15. Saura 16. Parashara 17. Maricha 18. Bhargava 19. Devi bhagwat 20. Ganesh 21. Surya 22. kalki 23 .Jain puran 24. Vishnudharmottar puran .

11. Tantras — (a) Sivagama 1. Kamika 2. Suksma 3. Candrajnana 4. Yogaraja 5. Cintya 6. Karana 7. Makutha 8. Ajita 9. Raurava 10. Dipta 11. Sahasra 12. AmhSumat 13. Suprabheda

(b) Rudragama 1. Vijaya 2. NihSvasa 3. Svayambhiva 4. Anala 5. Vira 6. Vimala 7. Mukhabimba 8. Prodgjita 9. Lalita10. Siddha 11. Santana 12. Sarvokta 13. Paramesvara 14. Kirana 15. Vatula

(c) Saktagama — 1. Chinnamasta Tantra, 2. Gandharva T. 3. Ganapati T.4. Svacchanda T. 5. Guptasadhana T. 6. Jiianarnava T. 7. Kakachandisvara kalpa T. 8. Nirvana T.9. Kali T. 10. Niruttara T.11. Kamakhya T.12. Kaulavali T.13. Kubjika T. 14. Kulachudamani T. 15. Kundalini T. 16. Malinivijayottara T. 17. Matrikabheda T. 18. Maya T. 19. Netra T. 20. Nila Tantra T. 22. Saraswati T. 23. Tantra loka T. 24. Tantra raja T. 25. Tara T. 26. Vinasikha T. 27. Yogini T. 28. Yoni T. 29. Mahé nirvana T. 23. Prapaficasara T. 24. Todala T. 25. Kularnava T. 26. Visnu yamala T. 27. Rudra yamala T. 28. Brahma yamala T. 29. Kula sara T.

12. Agamas (Vaisnava) (a) Vaikhdnasa Agama. (b) Paficaratra 4gama:1. ISvara Sarhhita, 2. Parama S. 3. Brihad Brahma S. 4. Pauskara S. 5. Sattvata S. 6. Jianamrtasara S. 7. Agastya S. 8. Aniruddha S. 9. Ahirbhudnya S. 10. Kapifijala S. 11. Kasyapa S. 12. Jayakhya S. 13. Jfianamrtasara S. 14. Naradiya S. 15. Paramapurusa S. 16. Parasgara S. 17. Padma S. 18. Paramesvara S. 19. Purusottama S. 20. Pauskara S. 21. Bharadvaja S. 22. Markandeya S. 23. Laksmi Tantra S. 24. Visvamitra S. 25. Visnu Tilaka S. 26. Visnu S. 27. Visvaksena S. 28. Sandilya S. 29. Sesa S. 30. Sriprasnav 31. Sanatkumara S. 32. Hayasirga Samhitas.... And 100 more unpublished.

13. Itihasas 1. Ramayanas (Sanskrit - many more in regional languages.)

(a) Valmiki Ramayana, (b) Agastya Ramayana, (c) Adhyatma Ramayana, (d) Adbhuta Ramayana; (e) Vasistha Ramayana (f) Laghu Yoga Vasistha, (g) Ananda Ramayana, (h) Ramokhyana Parva (i) krittivasi ramayan

2. Mahabharata 3. Harivamsa. 14. Gitas

1. Anu-gita, 2. Avadhuta-gita, 3. Astavakra-gita, 4. Kapila-gita 5. Adhyatma Gita 6. Arhad gita Or Tattva gita 7. Bhagavad Gita 8. Bhiksu-gita 9. Bodhya-gita 10. Brahma-gita 11. Brahmana gita 12. Devi gita 13. Ganesa gita 14. Hamsa gita 15. Har gita 16. Harita gita 17. Jayanteya gita 18. ISvara gita, 19. Kapila gita 20. Manki gita 21. Mahavira Gita (Jaina) 22. Pandava gita 23. ParaSara gita 24. Pingala gita 25. Prema gita 26. Rama gita 27. Rudra-gita 28. Siva gita 29. Sivagarnpaka-gita 30. Surya-gita 31. Suta gita 32. Vicikhyu gita 33. Vrtra gita 34. Vyadha Gita 35. Vyasa gita 36. Yama gita, 37 Ribhu gita, 38 Uddhava gita, 39 Janaka gita.

15. Social Sciences

1. Aesthetics (a) Kama sutra (b) Koka Sastra, (c) Anangaranga.

2. Polity & Administration Artha sastra
3. Encyclopaedia - Brihatsamhita
4. Ethics Niti Sastra (a) Brihaspati Niti Sastra, (d) Vidura N.S. (c) Sukra N.S. (d) Canakya Raja N.S. (e) Bhritrahari N.S (f) Kamandaki N.S

5. Jataka Mala 6. Panca Tantra 7. Hitopadesa. 8. Kavya. 9. Natya Sastra (Dance), 10. Alankara Sastra (rhetoric), 11. Sangita Sastra (Musicology).

16. Metaphysics (Sad-darsana)

(1) Mimamsa Sutras (Jaimini), (2) Nydya Sutras (Gautama) (3) Sankhya Sutras (Kapila) (4) Vaisesikha Sutras (Kanada) (5) Yoga Sitras (Patafijali) (6) Vedanta Sutras (Badarayana)
17. Samhitas . ravan samhita, shiva samhita, saptashati samhita and many more .
19 . Other imp Sutras . Brahm sutra, rudra sutra etc etc .
20. Other scripture . Ramakrishna kathamrit, chaitanya charitamrit, chaitanya bhagwat, chaitanya upanishad and many more .

[davelamphier]

Though a Christian I have always had a deep interest, love & affinity for Hinduism. Love your videos they are very important in creating understanding between the different faiths.

[noahdanielg]

Beautiful to see you cover the Dharmic traditions Filip, you did not disappoint. Your channel is, to me, the best on You Tube. There is indeed so much to tackle, but I would especially love to see a video on Bhagavad Gītā!

[dracodistortion]

Germanic Pagan here. Respect to my Indo-European Hindu brothers, may Indra keep you ⚔

[lovetwentyfourseven]

God bless you; I love this channel, As a Christian I enjoy learning and understanding all the various religions!

[sriharshacv]

Basically Hinduism is an evolving religion whose evolution is comparable to how open source software projects work. I love the idea.

[IIImobiusIII]

I've never seen so many Jains on the street. Everyone seems to be wearing a mask.

[janardannn]

Hinduism is more like a culture of the people who live in India

[mateigheorghiu]

Man, I don't know how you do it, but I can't get enough of your channel since I've discovered it a month ago. You explain so well and there's this deep soothing atmosphere as well in every video. Still got about 80% to go of all videos, but so far, pure gold! Keep up the great work! Greetings from neighboring Finland!

[anubratabit]

As a devout Hindu, I would like you to do videos on the Puranic literature, the Tantrika literature & the 3 main sects of Hinduism (Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta).

[mrscientist]

Hinduism is like whole physics subject where many people came contributed and helped human to seek enlightenment inward what Buddhism says .

[lakshaygosain]

Your content is unemotional and I think that’s the beautiful part. It’s detached from the bias and the need to shock/get peoples attentions. It’s pure information haha and it’s laid out beautifully. I have never found a channel or content producer on such topics as efficient as you. Keep up the good work.

[kallumama]

Even atheism ( charvak darshana) is part of sanathan dharma... You can talk about various darshana