Vedas and the like

We have seen the pre-historic age from 3300 B.C -1500 B.C in Indus Valley Civilization. And 1500 B.C - 600 B.C in Indo-Aryan Civilization. Our next focus will be: 600 B.C to 550 A.D to learn about The Great Magada Empire- Its dynasties. Before that, it is fundamental to know some basics about Vedas, their origins, types, etc., 

All the Hindu Sacred Texts basically try and explain one thing i.e., Dharma. Dharma signifies behaviors that are considered to be in accord with Truth. The order that makes life and universe possible. It includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and ‘right way of living’. As per Hinduism, there are three prime sources of Dharma. They are:

• Sruthi - Historical knowledge such as Vedas, Upanishads.

• Smrithi - Observing the behavior and legends of great people such as Itihaasas, Puranas, Dharmasastras. 

• When neither Sruthi or Smrithi texts are available, in that case, ‘Atmatusti’ is the source of dharma in Hinduism. ‘Atmatusti' means that the good person reflects and follows what satisfies his heart, his own inner feeling, what he feels driven to.

It is very important to understand the difference between Sruthi and Smrithi texts of Hinduism. 

Sruthi :

Meaning: 'hearing', is said to be оf divine origin. It is preserved as a whole. As per the Legend, they are said to be the 'Cosmic sound of Truth' heard first by Great Sages and then they translated what was heard to something understandable to Humans. So, authentic Vedas have no written scriptures, they were heard(Sruthi).

Additionally, as per the legend, 

God or Brahma revealed these sacred truths to the ancient sages, and the sages composed hymns and texts in the Sanskrit language to express these truths. Their hymns and texts were then passed on from generation to generation, from teacher to student, by chanting them aloud; they were not yet written down. Eventually, the great rishi, Vyasa, compiled all of their hymns and texts into four divisions which are now known as the Vedas. This dates back vedas to somewhere around 1000 B.C.

In chronological Order, Sruthis include:

• Rig Veda - Contain hymns and prayers to be recited by the Hotri(Priest). 
• Brahmanas

• Yejur Veda - Contains rituals, Ceremonies to be conducted by the Adhvarya(Priest). 
• Aranyakas

• Sama Veda - Contain melodies, raagas and chhendus recited by the Udgatar(Priest). 
• Upanishads or Vedanta (Literal meaning: End of Vedas) 

• Atharvana Veda - Contain magic, witch craft and preventive measures to ward-off evils. 

First three vedas are of Aryan Origin. They are supported by the commentaries(Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishads). Fourth and the last Veda is of non-aryan origin. Hence comes without a commentary.

Smrithi :

Мeaning: 'remembered'. Only Sruti is considered solely of divine origin. Because of the divine origin, it is preserved as a whole, instead of verse by verse. Smriti on the other hand may include all the knowledge that has been derived and inculcated 'after' Śruti had already been received by the great seers or Rishis. In other words it is not 'divine' in origin, but was 'remembered' by later Rishis by transcendental means, and passed down through their followers. In some of the Smriti text itself, we are reminded of the divine nature of the Śruti texts, and are ever advised that in case of any conflict between the two, the Śruti will always overrule Smriti. So, whatever is written/produced by Humans is Smrithi and anything else is Sruthi.

Smrithi includes:

• Vedangas - Limbs of Vedas
• Niryukta           - Etymology of Words - Written by Yaska in 5-6 B.C
• Shiksha            - Pronounciation of Words 
• Chhendus         - Measurement, meter or Volume
• Vyakarana       -  Grammar - Written by Panini
• kalpa                - Rituals 
• Jyothisha         - Astronomy - Written by Lagadha

• Puranas- It is narration of the events that happened long before the life time of the narrator. Ex: Vishnupurana, PadmaPurana etc.,
• Mahapuranas(Primary puranas)

• Upa-Puranas(Secondary puranas)

• Sthala-puranas- This corpus of texts tells of the origins and traditions of particular Tamil Shiva temples or shrines. 

• kula Puranas -These Puranas deal with a caste's origin myth, stories, and legends (the word kula means "family" or "tribe" in Sanskrit). 

• Itihasa- It is narration of the events that happened during the life time of the narrator. Ex: Ramayana, Mahabharata. Puranas can be sub-set of Itihasa but not vice-versa.

Read further: Rise of Mahajanapadas.