Samhita
Mantras and hymns—the core collections preserved through oral recitation.
SANĀTANA
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SANĀTANA
A MAP OF A VAST LIVING TRADITION
Browse 50 detailed introductions spanning the Vedas, principal Upanishads, epics, eighteen Mahapuranas, classical philosophies and living knowledge traditions.
BEGIN WITH STILLNESS
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ॥
Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from mortality toward the immortal.
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28HOW THE VEDAS ARE ORGANIZED
The word “Veda” names a whole transmitted corpus—not merely one printed volume.
Mantras and hymns—the core collections preserved through oral recitation.
Ritual exposition explaining sacrifice, liturgy and the meaning of sacred action.
‘Forest texts’ that reinterpret ritual through symbolism, contemplation and inner practice.
Philosophical inquiry into Self, reality, knowledge, death, rebirth and liberation.
REFERENCE LIBRARY
50 records
ऋग्वेद
The oldest surviving Vedic collection: 1,028 hymns arranged in ten mandalas, addressed to deities such as Agni, Indra, Soma, Ushas and Varuna. Its hymns include praise, ritual poetry, cosmological inquiry and reflections on existence.
सामवेद
The Veda of melodies and liturgical chant. Most verses derive from the Rigveda but are arranged for singing in Soma ritual. It is foundational to Indian traditions of sacred music.
यजुर्वेद
A corpus of prose formulas and verses used by officiating priests in sacrifice. It survives in two broad streams: Shukla (White), where mantra and exposition are separated, and Krishna (Black), where they are interwoven.
अथर्ववेद
A collection concerned with household life, healing, protection, royal rites, prayer and philosophical speculation. Its surviving recensions are Shaunaka and Paippalada.
ईशावास्य उपनिषद्
The indwelling Lord, renunciation and action; a compact meditation on seeing the Self in all beings.
केन उपनिषद्
Asks what power directs mind, speech and senses; teaches that Brahman exceeds ordinary knowing.
कठ उपनिषद्
Nachiketas learns from Yama about death, the Self, disciplined choice and the path to liberation.
प्रश्न उपनिषद्
Six seekers ask about creation, prana, Om, states of consciousness and the person of sixteen parts.
मुण्डक उपनिषद्
Distinguishes higher knowledge of the imperishable from lower learning; includes the image of two birds on one tree.
माण्डूक्य उपनिषद्
Twelve mantras analyze Om and the waking, dreaming, deep-sleep and transcendent states.
तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद्
Explores education, ethical instruction, the five sheaths, Brahman as truth-knowledge-infinity, and bliss.
ऐतरेय उपनिषद्
Reflects on creation, birth and consciousness; associated with the mahavakya ‘Prajñānam Brahma.’
छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्
A large prose Upanishad on meditation, sacred chant, being, the Self and ‘Tat Tvam Asi.’
बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्
One of the oldest and largest Upanishads; dialogues on Self, reality, karma, rebirth and ‘neti neti.’
श्वेताश्वतर उपनिषद्
Develops theistic, yogic and cosmological teaching, prominently identifying Rudra as the supreme Lord.
कौषीतकि उपनिषद्
Dialogues concerning prana, consciousness, rebirth and the path after death.
मैत्री उपनिषद्
Discusses Self, mind, time, rebirth and a sixfold discipline of yoga.
वाल्मीकि रामायण
The Sanskrit epic of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Across seven kandas it explores righteous conduct, kingship, loyalty, exile, devotion, conflict and return. Many regional Ramayanas retell the story with distinct theological and literary emphases.
महाभारत
A vast epic traditionally arranged in eighteen parvas, centered on the Kuru conflict and the problem of dharma under pressure. It contains narrative, law, statecraft, pilgrimage, myth, devotion and philosophy.
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता
A dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna in eighteen chapters. It integrates disciplined action, knowledge, meditation and devotion while addressing duty, grief, the Self, divine manifestation and liberation.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include cosmology, sacred geography and pilgrimage, especially traditions connected with Odisha.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include creation cycles, pilgrimage, devotion, dharma and extensive regional material.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include cosmology, dynasties, avatars, Krishna and a compact presentation of Vaishnava theology.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include Shaiva cosmology, linga theology, forms of Shiva, devotion and sacred narratives.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include devotion, avatars and Krishna’s life; especially influential for bhakti traditions.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include devotion, pilgrimage, festivals, temple practice and summaries of many disciplines.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include cosmology and dharma; contains the celebrated Devi Mahatmya.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include an encyclopedic work covering ritual, iconography, polity, grammar, medicine and arts.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include ritual, festivals, genealogical and later historical material from multiple periods.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include creation and devotional theology centered on Krishna and Radha.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include the cosmic linga, creation, Shaiva observance, pilgrimage and theology.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include pilgrimage, sacred sites, ritual and teachings framed through the Varaha form.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include the largest Purana, rich in regional sacred geography and pilgrimage mahatmyas.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include cosmology, sacred geography and narratives of Vamana alongside Shaiva material.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include Ishvara teaching, yoga, pilgrimage and an inclusive theological outlook.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include flood narrative, genealogies, temple architecture, iconography and rites.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include ethics, rites, medicine, cosmology and teachings concerning death and afterlife.
महापुराण
One of the traditionally enumerated eighteen Mahapuranas. Its received versions are layered and can vary between manuscripts. Major concerns include cosmology, dynasties and sacred geography; transmits the Lalita Sahasranama tradition.
A foundational text of the classical Nyaya tradition, concerned with logic, valid knowledge, debate and methods of reasoning.
A foundational text of the classical Vaisheshika tradition, concerned with categories of reality, substance, quality, action and atomism.
A foundational text of the classical Samkhya Karika tradition, concerned with purusha, prakriti, the evolutes and liberating discrimination.
A foundational text of the classical Yoga tradition, concerned with the eight-limbed discipline, mind, meditation and liberation.
A foundational text of the classical Mimamsa tradition, concerned with Vedic interpretation, ritual duty, language and dharma.
A foundational text of the classical Brahma tradition, concerned with systematic inquiry into Brahman and reconciliation of Upanishadic teaching.
शिक्षा · कल्प · व्याकरण · निरुक्त · छन्दस् · ज्योतिष
Auxiliary disciplines for phonetics, ritual procedure, grammar, etymology, meter and calendrical astronomy.
धर्मशास्त्र
A diverse textual tradition on conduct, law, duties and social order; prescriptions differ by text, place, time and community.
आगम · तन्त्र
Large Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta corpora governing theology, mantra, yoga, temple design, consecration and worship.
भक्ति साहित्य
Devotional works in Sanskrit and regional languages by Alvars, Nayanmars, poet-saints and many sampradayas.
अर्थशास्त्र
A classical work of statecraft, administration, economy, diplomacy and political strategy.
आयुर्वेद
The Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and related medical traditions; historical study is not a substitute for medical care.
MANTRA REFERENCE
Rigveda 3.62.10
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
Contemplation on Savitr and illumination of understanding.
Vedic pronunciation includes accent and is traditionally learned orally. The prefatory vyahritis are used in later practice.
GUIDED READING
These are study sequences, not claims that one school represents all Hindu traditions.
A balanced entrance through ethics, Self-knowledge and practice.
Understand the four Vedas and their surviving textual layers.
Explore devotion through narrative, song and theology.
READ RESPONSIBLY
Hindu traditions contain many lineages, languages and regional customs. A summary helps orientation, but formal mantra initiation, Vedic recitation, temple consecration and complex rites should be learned from a qualified teacher or officiant.
ŚrutiVedic revelation: the four Vedas and their textual layers.
SmṛtiRemembered tradition: epics, Puranas, dharma texts and more.
ĀgamaShaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta systems of theology and worship.
Living practiceCustom shaped by sampradaya, region, temple and family.