shastra

Hindu literature

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July 13, 2026

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In Hinduism, "shastra" refers to sacred scriptures, encompassing four categories: Shruti, Smriti, Purana, and Tantra. The Vedas, which include the Upanishads, are considered Shruti, meaning "Heard," and form the foundational revealed scripture. Smriti, or "Remembered," texts are those composed by human authors but are still considered authoritative. The Dharma-shastra are compilations of Hindu law derived from the earlier Dharma-sutras. Puranas are encyclopaedic collections of myths, legends, and genealogies, traditionally covering five subjects including creation and genealogies of gods and dynasties. The epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana, are also significant texts that discuss dharma and have profoundly influenced Indian culture.12345

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Hinduism
Dharma-sutras and Dharma-shastras
Among the texts inspired by the Vedas are the Dharma-sutras, or “manuals on dharma,” which contain rules of conduct and rites as they were practiced in various Vedic schools. Their principal contents address the duties of people at different stages of life, or ashramas…
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Among the texts inspired by the Vedas are the Dharma-sutras, or “manuals on dharma,” which contain rules of conduct and rites as they were practiced in various Vedic schools. Their principal contents address the duties of people at different stages of life, or ashramas…
Read More