# Vedic Literature *The original revealed scriptures* Total entries: 182 (including 4 major comprehensive entries) ## Major Topics (Comprehensive Entries) *These are the most extensive compilations of scriptural references:* - [[index/entries/bhagavad-gita-quoted|Bhagavad-gītā (quoted)]] - Complete compilation of all Bhagavad-gītā quotes - [[index/entries/bhagavad-gita-cited|Bhagavad-gītā (cited)]] - All citations of Bhagavad-gītā - [[index/entries/srimad-bhagavatam-quoted|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (quoted)]] - Complete compilation of Bhāgavatam quotes - [[index/entries/srimad-bhagavatam|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam]] - Comprehensive entry on the Bhāgavatam ## The Four Vedas (Śruti) **Original Vedas:** 1. **Ṛg Veda** - Hymns and mantras 2. **Yajur Veda** - Sacrificial formulas 3. **Sāma Veda** - Musical chants 4. **Atharva Veda** - Practical knowledge Each Veda has four sections: - Saṁhitās - Mantras - Brāhmaṇas - Rituals and ceremonies - Āraṇyakas - Forest treatises - Upaniṣads - Philosophical conclusions ## Upaniṣads 108 principal Upanishads, including: - **Īśopaniṣad** - 18 verses on the Supreme Controller - **Kaṭha Upaniṣad** - Dialogue on death and immortality - **Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad** - Knowledge of Brahman - **Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad** - Analysis of Oṁ - **Chāndogya Upaniṣad** - Includes dialogue with Uddālaka - **Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad** - Largest Upanishad ## Vedānta-sūtra (Brahma-sūtra) - Compiled by Vyāsadeva - Summarizes all Upanishadic philosophy - 555 aphorisms in four chapters - Commented on by all ācāryas - Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is natural commentary ## Significance - **Śruti** - "That which is heard" directly from the Lord - Eternal knowledge passed down through disciplic succession - Apauruṣeya - Not made by humans - Complete knowledge for material and spiritual life ## All Related Entries - [[index/A#aitareya upaniṣad|Aitareya Upaniṣad]] - [[index/A#aitareya upaniṣad quoted on durgā, viṣṇu, & kāla|Aitareya Upaniṣad quoted on Durgā, Viṣṇu, & kāla]] - [[index/A#amṛta bindu upaniṣad quoted on mind|Amṛta bindu Upaniṣad quoted on mind]] - [[index/A#antyajas, vedic study optional for|Antyajas, Vedic study optional for]] - [[index/A#apauruṣeya, vedas as|Apauruṣeya, Vedas as]] - [[index/A#astrology in vedic marriages|Astrology in Vedic marriages]] - [[index/entries/astronomy-vedic|Astronomy, Vedic]] - [[index/A#astronomy, vedic, divisions of day & night by|Astronomy, Vedic, divisions of day & night by]] - [[index/entries/atharva-veda|Atharva Veda]] - [[index/A#atharva veda saṁhitā|Atharva veda saṁhitā]] - [[index/B#bahvṛca śruti cited on promises|Bahvṛca śruti cited on promises]] - [[index/B#bhakti vedānta(s)|Bhakti vedānta(s)]] - [[index/B#brahma sūtra cited on cosmic manifestation|Brahma sūtra cited on cosmic manifestation]] - [[index/B#bṛhad āraṇyaka upaniṣad|Bṛhad āraṇyaka Upaniṣad]] - [[index/entries/brhad-aranyaka-upanisad-quoted|Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/B#bṛhad āraṇyaka upaniṣad quoted on brahman|Bṛhad āraṇyaka Upaniṣad quoted on Brahman]] - [[index/B#bṛhad āraṇyaka upaniṣad quoted on kṛṣṇa as supreme person|Bṛhad āraṇyaka Upaniṣad quoted on Kṛṣṇa as Supreme Person]] - [[index/C#chāndogya upaniṣad|Chāndogya Upaniṣad]] - [[index/entries/chandogya-upanisad-cited|Chāndogya Upaniṣad cited]] - [[index/C#chāndogya upaniṣad cited on purāṇas & mahābhārata|Chāndogya Upaniṣad cited on Purāṇas & Mahābhārata]] - [[index/entries/chandogya-upanisad-quoted|Chāndogya Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/C#chāndogya upaniṣad quoted on supreme brahman|Chāndogya Upaniṣad quoted on Supreme Brahman]] - [[index/C#chāndogya upaniṣad quoted on all as brahman|Chāndogya Upaniṣad quoted on all as Brahman]] - [[index/C#contraception, artificial compared with vedic|Contraception, artificial compared with Vedic]] - [[index/D#dhanur veda|Dhanur veda]] - [[index/D#dowry in vedic marriage|Dowry in Vedic marriage]] - [[index/E#economics, vedic vs. modern|Economics, Vedic vs. modern]] - [[index/F#fever, āyur vedic treatment for|Fever, Āyur vedic treatment for]] - [[index/G#garga upaniṣad cited on lords abode|Garga Upaniṣad cited on Lords abode]] - [[index/G#garga upaniṣad quoted on lord as supreme controller|Garga Upaniṣad quoted on Lord as supreme controller]] - [[index/G#gopāla tāpanī upaniṣad cited on kṛṣṇa as cowboy|Gopāla tāpanī Upaniṣad cited on Kṛṣṇa as cowboy]] - [[index/G#gopāla tāpanī upaniṣad cited on pure devotional service|Gopāla tāpanī Upaniṣad cited on pure devotional service]] - [[index/G#gopāla tāpanī upaniṣad quoted|Gopāla tāpanī Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/G#gopāla tāpanī upaniṣad quoted on naiṣkarmya|Gopāla tāpanī Upaniṣad quoted on naiṣkarmya]] - [[index/H#history, vedas relate|History, Vedas relate]] - [[index/H#hymns in sāma veda, kṛṣṇas representation among|Hymns in Sāma Veda, Kṛṣṇas representation among]] - [[index/H#hymns, vedic|Hymns, Vedic]] - [[index/I#injunction, vedic|Injunction, Vedic]] - [[index/I#injunctions, vedic|Injunctions, Vedic]] - [[index/J#jyotir veda|Jyotir veda]] - [[index/J#jāta vedaḥ defined|Jāta vedaḥ defined]] - [[index/K#karma kāṇḍa division of vedas|Karma kāṇḍa division of Vedas]] - [[index/K#kauṣītakī upaniṣad quoted on lords fulfilling desires|Kauṣītakī Upaniṣad quoted on Lords fulfilling desires]] - [[index/entries/katha-upanisad|Kaṭha Upaniṣad]] - [[index/K#kaṭha upaniṣad cited|Kaṭha Upaniṣad cited]] - [[index/K#kaṭha upaniṣad cited on kṛṣṇa|Kaṭha Upaniṣad cited on Kṛṣṇa]] - [[index/K#kaṭha upaniṣad cited on blind leading blind|Kaṭha Upaniṣad cited on blind leading blind]] - [[index/entries/katha-upanisad-quoted|Kaṭha Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/K#kaṭha upaniṣad quoted on kṛṣṇa|Kaṭha Upaniṣad quoted on Kṛṣṇa]] - [[index/K#kaṭha upaniṣad quoted on lord maintaining living entities|Kaṭha Upaniṣad quoted on Lord maintaining living entities]] - [[index/K#kaṭha upaniṣad quoted on body as souls vehicle|Kaṭha Upaniṣad quoted on body as souls vehicle]] - [[index/K#keśava śruti cited on yoga|Keśava śruti cited on yoga]] - [[index/K#keṇa upaniṣad cited on demigods|Keṇa Upaniṣad cited on demigods]] - [[index/entries/knowledge-vedic|Knowledge, Vedic]] - [[index/M#mahā upaniṣad|Mahā Upaniṣad]] - [[index/M#mahā upaniṣad quoted on creation|Mahā Upaniṣad quoted on creation]] - [[index/M#mahābhārata quoted on vipra, vedas, & kṛṣṇa|Mahābhārata quoted on vipra, Vedas, & Kṛṣṇa]] - [[index/M#mahājanas (vedic authorities)|Mahājanas (Vedic authorities)]] - [[index/M#medicine, āyur vedic|Medicine, Āyur vedic]] - [[index/M#military science, vedic & modern|Military science, Vedic & modern]] - [[index/M#monarchy, vedic|Monarchy, Vedic]] - [[index/M#months in vedic calendar|Months in Vedic calendar]] - [[index/M#muktika upaniṣad|Muktika Upaniṣad]] - [[index/entries/mundaka-upanisad|Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad]] - [[index/entries/mundaka-upanisad-quoted|Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/M#mādhyandina śruti cited on vedas|Mādhyandina śruti cited on Vedas]] - [[index/M#māṇḍūkya upaniṣad|Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad]] - [[index/M#māṇḍūkya upaniṣad quoted on material world as manifestation of brahman|Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad quoted on material world as manifestation of Brahman]] - [[index/N#night, vedic divisions of|Night, Vedic divisions of]] - [[index/N#nija veda patha defined|Nija veda patha defined]] - [[index/N#nirveda defined|Nirveda defined]] - [[index/entries/narayana-upanisad-quoted|Nārāyaṇa Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/N#nṛsiṁha tāpanī upaniṣad|Nṛsiṁha tāpanī Upaniṣad]] - [[index/O#oṁ as vedic confirmation|Oṁ as Vedic confirmation]] - [[index/P#praśna upaniṣad|Praśna Upaniṣad]] - [[index/P#praśna upaniṣad quoted on soul as knower & doer|Praśna Upaniṣad quoted on soul as knower & doer]] - [[index/P#priests, vedic|Priests, Vedic]] - [[index/P#puruṣa bodhinī upaniṣad quoted on lords forms|Puruṣa bodhinī Upaniṣad quoted on Lords forms]] - [[index/R#residences, vedic & modern compared|Residences, Vedic & modern compared]] - [[index/R#rukminī, ātma nivedanam exemplified by|Rukminī, ātma nivedanam exemplified by]] - [[index/S#scriptures, vedic|Scriptures, Vedic]] - [[index/S#scriptures. see: vedic scriptures; names of specific scriptures|Scriptures. See: Vedic scriptures; names of specific scriptures]] - [[index/S#self surrender compared with vedānta study|Self surrender compared with Vedānta study]] - [[index/S#skanda purāṇa cited on śruti & smṛti, necessity of following|Skanda Purāṇa cited on śruti & smṛti, necessity of following]] - [[index/S#subala upaniṣad quoted on lord as supersoul of universes|Subala Upaniṣad quoted on Lord as Supersoul of universes]] - [[index/S#sveda defined|Sveda defined]] - [[index/S#sveda ja defined|Sveda ja defined]] - [[index/entries/sama-veda|Sāma Veda]] - [[index/S#sāma veda, garuḍa vibrating|Sāma Veda, Garuḍa vibrating]] - [[index/S#sāma veda upaniṣad cited on kṛṣṇa|Sāma veda Upaniṣad cited on Kṛṣṇa]] - [[index/T#taittirīya upaniṣad|Taittirīya Upaniṣad]] - [[index/entries/taittiriya-upanisad-quoted|Taittirīya Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/T#taittirīya upaniṣad quoted on lords supremacy|Taittirīya Upaniṣad quoted on Lords supremacy]] - [[index/T#taittirīya upaniṣad quoted on demigods|Taittirīya Upaniṣad quoted on demigods]] - [[index/T#taittirīya upaniṣad quoted on soul & body|Taittirīya Upaniṣad quoted on soul & body]] - [[index/T#taittirīya upaniṣad, contents of|Taittirīya Upaniṣad, contents of]] - [[index/entries/upanisad|Upaniṣad(s)]] - [[index/U#upaniṣads cited|Upaniṣads cited]] - [[index/U#upaniṣads cited on lord & living entity as birds in tree|Upaniṣads cited on Lord & living entity as birds in tree]] - [[index/U#upaniṣads cited on vedic scriptural revelation|Upaniṣads cited on Vedic scriptural revelation]] - [[index/U#upaniṣads cited on surrender to lord|Upaniṣads cited on surrender to Lord]] - [[index/U#upaniṣads personified|Upaniṣads personified]] - [[index/U#upāsanā kāṇḍa division of vedas, 54|Upāsanā kāṇḍa division of Vedas, 54]] - [[index/V#veda defined|Veda defined]] - [[index/entries/veda|Veda(s)]] - [[index/V#veda garbha defined|Veda garbha defined]] - [[index/V#veda pratha defined|Veda pratha defined]] - [[index/V#veda pāraga defined|Veda pāraga defined]] - [[index/V#veda vāda explained|Veda vāda explained]] - [[index/V#veda vāda ratas|Veda vāda ratas]] - [[index/V#veda vāda ratas, vedas misconstrued by|Veda vāda ratas, Vedas misconstrued by]] - [[index/V#veda vāda ratāḥ defined|Veda vāda ratāḥ defined]] - [[index/V#veda vādī defined|Veda vādī defined]] - [[index/V#Vedagiri|Vedagiri]] - [[index/entries/vedas-cited|Vedas cited]] - [[index/entries/vedas-quoted|Vedas quoted]] - [[index/V#vedavatī|Vedavatī]] - [[index/V#vedavatī pura|Vedavatī pura]] - [[index/V#vedaśrutas|Vedaśrutas]] - [[index/V#vedic astronomy|Vedic astronomy]] - [[index/entries/vedic-civilization|Vedic civilization]] - [[index/V#vedic civiliātion|Vedic civiliātion]] - [[index/entries/vedic-culture|Vedic culture]] - [[index/V#vedic hymns|Vedic hymns]] - [[index/V#vedic hymns compared to leaves of banyan tree|Vedic hymns compared to leaves of banyan tree]] - [[index/entries/vedic-injunction|Vedic injunctions]] - [[index/entries/vedic-knowledge|Vedic knowledge]] - [[index/entries/vedic-literature|Vedic literatures]] - [[index/V#vedic literatures quoted|Vedic literatures quoted]] - [[index/entries/vedic-mantras|Vedic mantras]] - [[index/V#vedic mantras (hymns)|Vedic mantras (hymns)]] - [[index/entries/vedic-regulations|Vedic regulations]] - [[index/V#vedic scriptures|Vedic scriptures]] - [[index/V#vedic society|Vedic society]] - [[index/V#vedic study|Vedic study]] - [[index/V#vedānta|Vedānta]] - [[index/V#vedānta defined|Vedānta defined]] - [[index/entries/vedanta-philosophy|Vedānta philosophy]] - [[index/V#vedānta quoted on source of everything|Vedānta quoted on source of everything]] - [[index/V#vedānta, atonement as knowledge in|Vedānta, atonement as knowledge in]] - [[index/V#vedānta darśana theory|Vedānta darśana theory]] - [[index/V#vedānta deśika|Vedānta deśika]] - [[index/V#vedānta sāra|Vedānta sāra]] - [[index/V#vedānta sūtra cited|Vedānta sūtra cited]] - [[index/V#vedānta sūtra cited on creations cause|Vedānta sūtra cited on Creations cause]] - [[index/V#vedānta sūtra cited on lord as origin of everything|Vedānta sūtra cited on Lord as origin of everything]] - [[index/entries/vedanta-sutra-quoted|Vedānta-sūtra quoted]] - [[index/V#vedānta sūtra quoted on pleasure potency of lord & living beings|Vedānta sūtra quoted on pleasure potency of Lord & living beings]] - [[index/entries/vedanta-sutra|Vedānta-sūtra(s)]] - [[index/V#vedānta sūtra, lord as knower of|Vedānta sūtra, Lord as knower of]] - [[index/V#vedānta tattva sāra cited on merging of soul|Vedānta tattva sāra cited on merging of soul]] - [[index/V#vedānta vādī|Vedānta vādī]] - [[index/V#vedānta śruti|Vedānta śruti]] - [[index/entries/yajur-veda|Yajur Veda]] - [[index/A#āryans, vedic|Āryans, Vedic]] - [[index/A#ātma nivedanam|Ātma nivedanam]] - [[index/A#ātmā nivedanam in kṛṣṇa consciousness|Ātmā nivedanam in Kṛṣṇa consciousness]] - [[index/A#āyur veda|Āyur Veda]] - [[index/A#āyur veda quoted on lords supremacy|Āyur veda quoted on Lords supremacy]] - [[index/A#āyur veda, medical experts in|Āyur veda, medical experts in]] - [[index/entries/ayur-vedic-medicine|Āyur-vedic medicine]] - [[index/A#āyur vedic medicine, treatment for high fever by|Āyur vedic medicine, treatment for high fever by]] - [[index/A#āyurveda śāstra quoted on remembering viṣṇu|Āyurveda śāstra quoted on remembering Viṣṇu]] - [[index/S#śruti mantra(s)|Śruti mantra(s)]] - [[index/S#śruti mantras cited|Śruti mantras cited]] - [[index/S#śruti prasthāna|Śruti prasthāna]] - [[index/S#śruti śāstras|Śruti śāstras]] - [[index/S#śrutidharas|Śrutidharas]] - [[index/entries/sruti|Śrutis]] - [[index/entries/svetasvatara-upanisad|Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad]] - [[index/entries/svetasvatara-upanisad-quoted|Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad quoted]] - [[index/S#śvetāśvatara upaniṣad quoted on lords supremacy|Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad quoted on Lords supremacy]] - [[index/S#śvetāśvatara upaniṣad quoted on śrīmad bhāgavatam|Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad quoted on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam]] - [[index/S#śāstras (vedic scriptures)|Śāstras (Vedic scriptures)]] - [[index/entries/rg-veda|Ṛg Veda]] - [[index/R#ṛg veda cited on conception|Ṛg Veda cited on conception]] - [[index/R#ṛg veda quoted on viṣṇu|Ṛg Veda quoted on Viṣṇu]] - [[index/R#ṛk saṁhitā. see: ṛg veda|Ṛk saṁhitā. See: Ṛg Veda]] ## Related Categories - [[index/scriptures/puranas|Puranas]] - [[index/scriptures/bhagavad-gita|Bhagavad-gita]] - [[index/concepts/philosophical-terms|Philosophical Terms]]