Holy writing which is the basis of Hindu beliefs and practices?

Answer 1

The VEDAS are the most important and sacred texts of Hindus. The Vedas are the world's most ancient scripture.

The earliest written Vedas date to about 1400 B.C.E (Before the Common Era), but the songs they capture in letters are a great deal older, although no one can say by how much.

The language of the Vedas is Sanskrit, a language that is so holy that the very word Sanskrit means "perfect".

There are four Vedas:

1. The Rig Veda
2. The Sama Veda
3. The Yajur Veda
4. The Atharvana Veda

Each Veda has four layers:

1. Samhithas (a collection of hymns)
2. Brahmanas (directions about sacrifice)
3. Aranyaka (the forest songs)
4. Upanishads (which searches for the meaning behind it all)

Other sacred texts of Hindus are:

• Ramayana
• Mahabharatha
• Bhagwad Geeta
• Srimad Bhagvatam
• Manusmriti
• Shiva Purana