Hinduism School

Islam has the Qur’an and Christianity has the Bible, what is the sacred book of Hinduism? If you want to hear a single-book answer, I am sorry to disappoint you. But, unlike many religions that have a single holy book, Hinduism comprises a diverse collection of sacred texts with scriptures offering unique teachings and significance.

Main Sacred Book of Hinduism

Hinduism does not have a single primary or the main holy book, but rather multiple sacred scriptures that guide its followers. The most revered ones include:

Veda

The Vedas is the oldest and most authoritative scripture of Hinduism.

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is a revered conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna during the great battle of the Kurukshetra, Bhagavad Gita is one of the most famous sacred book of Hinduism, if not the most famous.

Upanishad

Upanishads are the philosophical and spiritual teachings found at the end of Vedas. The Upanishads explore deep metaphysical questions about the Self, the ultimate reality, karma, rebirth, and moksha.

Ramayan

The Ramayan is a epic story of rescuing Lord Rama’s wife Sita, who was kidnapped by demon king Ravana during his exile.

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is the longest epic telling the story of the Kuru dynasty, the war between Pandavas and the Kauravas at Kurukshetra offering narratives on ethical and moral lessons. The Mahabharata includes the Bhagavad Gita.

Now, you might be wondering, Woah that’s a lot to take in, so there are 5 sacred book of Hinduism? Hold on, hold on, I am sorry but, we are not done yet. Firstly, we cannot pinpoint the exact number of holy books like 5 or 10, secondly, all Hindus do not need to read all these books.

In my article, What is Hinduism, I talked about how there are different traditions in Hinduism, and as per these different traditions, the way of worshipping, praying, performing rituals or the way of living drastically differs. Additionally, there is also a concept called Ishta Devta, your personal god, that you get to choose which aligns with you (this will be a different article later on). Therefore, people in Hinduism are given the flexibility to choose which traditions and paths to follow inside Hinduism, and as per that people read the books that are interested in, or books that align with them.

List of Sacred Books of Hinduism

The Hindu scriptures are usually classified into two categories: Shruti and Smriti.

Shruti

Shruti, that which is heard, is considered divine revelation, the holy revelation from the gods to the sages. These include:

• Rig Veda
• Yajur Veda
• Sama Veda
• Atharva Veda

I have briefly explained them in my blog What is Hinduism?

Smriti

Smriti, that which is remembered, are scriptures composed by our great sages. These include:

• Bhagavad Gita
• Ramayana
• Mahabharata
• Puranas

The Puranas consist of stories explaining the cosmology, history, and religious teachings. It includes the key themes such as creation, maintenance, and destruction of the universe known as Parlaya. It narrates the divine plays of different gods, genealogy, dynasties, moral and ethical teaching, sacred places, karma, liberation (moksha), and what happens after death.

Not to overwhelm you, but there are 18 major Puranas. Yes, eighteen. It is often categorized into three Hindu trinities: Vishnava (Vishnu-focused), Shaiva (Shiva-focused), and Shakta/Brahma (Devi (Goddess) & Brahma-focused) texts.

Each Purana serves a different purpose, and as mentioned before, we do not read it all but rather the one that interests us, aligns with us, or sometimes that which our family has been engaging in.

At this point, I want to ask a question: If at the age of 5, you started learning Sanskrit, mastered it at 8, and started learning these scriptures, Vedas Upanishads, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, Puranas, do you think would you be able to read these all till the time you die?

If you think you can, I can mention a other few significant sacred book of Hinduism and ask it again. Wait, wait, wait, calm down, please unload that gun and put that sandal back to the ground, I don’t want to die this soon, after all, I have to learn all these scriptures before I die 😉.

Best Books on Hinduism for Beginners

For those wanting to explore the books, and delve in-depth, I would recommend the following scriptures:

• Bhagavad Gita
• Upanishads
• Ramayana

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main holy book of Hinduism?

There is no single main sacred book of Hinduism. However, the Bhagavad Gita is the most popular while the Vedas hold the highest authority in Hinduism.

Is Bhagavad Gita the Bible of Hinduism?

While the Bhagavad Gita is the most popular, Hinduism does not have an equivalent to the Bible or the Quran. Hinduism doesn’t work that way, hence, as mentioned in the article What is Hinduism?, saying Hinduism is a religion or a way of life itself is a debatable topic for the knowledgeable ones.

If you found this blog insightful, dive deeper into Hinduism’s timeless wisdom by exploring more articles on our website!

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