Divisions of the Vedic Literatures

[bhaktajan]

Divisions of the Vedic Literatures

SRUTI – [revealed writings, or “that which is heard”]:

• The four Veda Samhitas - [Rg, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva].
• Brahmanas
• aranyakas
• Upanisads [more than (108) books].

SMRTI – [tradition, or “that which is remembered”]:

• Itihasas - [Epics, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata,

which includes the Bhagavad-gita].

• Puranas (Histories):
  • The (18) Maha-Puranas (“Great Puranas”):

(6) sattvic Puranas (for persons in goodness):
Bhagavata-Purana (Srimad-Bhagavatam),
Visnu-Purana,
Naradiya-Purana
Garuda-Purana
Padma-Purana
Varaha-Purana
(6) rajasic Puranas (for persons in passion):
Matsya-Purana
Kurma-Purana
Linga-Purana
Siva-Purana
Skanda-Purana
Agni-Purana
(6) tamasic Puranas (for persons in ignorance):
Brahma-Purana
Brahmanda-Purana
Brahma-vaivarta-Purana
Markandeya-Purana
Bhavisya-Purana


Vamana-Purana

• • The (18) Upa-Puranas (“Minor Puranas”)
  • The Numerous Sthala-Puranas (“Regional Puranas”)

• Sutras(codes) - [Srauti-Sutra, Grha-Sutra, Kalpa-Sutra, Dharma-Sutra, Sulva-Sutra, Vedanta-Sutra].
• Vedangas (auxiliary Sciences) - [Siksa, Chandas, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisa, Kalpa].
• Upavedas(sciences indirectly related to Vedic Study) - [ayur-veda, Gandharva-veda, Dhanur-veda, Sthapatya-veda].
• Bhasyas (writings and commentaries of the great acaryas throughout history).

[bhaktajan]

the 18 Major Puranas [Histories]

-- After "Compiling" 18 Puranas, Vyasadeva [ref: Matsya Purana] composed the Mahabharata consisting of 100,000 Verses (SB 12.13.9).

-- Ramayana is an account originally related by Brahma, in 1 Billion Verses ~ Later Narada summarized it to Valmiki, who further presented it to Humans for Artha, Kama, and, Dharma. (12.13.9)

--Therefore, the total quantity of Verses in all the above Puranas/Itihasas (Histories) = 525,000 Verses (12.13.9)

--The Supreme Personality of Godhead revealed the Srimad-Bhagavatam in full to Brahma while sitting on the MahaVishnu's Lotus, before creation. (12.13.10)

[bhaktajan]

10 topics of the Bhagavata-purana: