There are four Veds in Sanatan culture that consist of religious thoughts and principles of Hinduism. Vedas are written by many sages over many years. The Rig Ved is the oldest Ved, which is at least 8000 years old. However, it is noteworthy that knowledge of Ved was transferred through speech (hence it is called ‘Shruti’) and not in written form. Therefore, the actual origin time of the scriptures are much before 8000 years. The Veds consist of concept like Brahman, Vedic deities like Agni, Indra, Soma, Surya, Saraswati, Usha etc. It also has concepts of rebirth, purushartha, astrology, Ayurved etc. The 4 Veds are-

1. Rig Ved – Consists mostly of hymns glorifying Vedic Gods, ways of yagna and meditation.
2. Saam Ved – Consists of shlokas and music (Saam Gaana) to glorify and praise different deities.
3. Yaju Ved – Talks about processes of yagna, rituals, ceremonies.
4. Atharva Ved – Has different magical spells, occult methods.

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The Vedangas explain the rules of grammar, phonetics, prosody, ritual, etc. required to pronounce and understand the Vedas.

Upanishads contain the philosophical speculations and spiritual wisdom of ancient sages. They discuss meditation, consciousness, Atman, Brahman, moksha, etc.  The Upanishads discuss the deepest questions of life, the nature of the reality, the self, and the ultimate goal of existence. They explore concepts like Atman (self), Brahman (ultimate reality), Moksha (liberation), karma, samsara (cycle of rebirth), etc. The Upanishads proclaim that the ultimate truth of existence is the oneness of Atman (individual self) and Brahman (universal self). Realization of this truth liberates one from the cycle of rebirth.

There are considered to be 108 Upanishads in Hinduism. However, 13 of these are regarded as the major or principal Upanishads. These major Upanishads form the core philosophical teachings of Hinduism.

The 13 principal Upanishads are:

1. Isa Upanishad: Discusses meditation, equanimity and liberation. It proclaims the oneness of Atman (self) and Brahman (ultimate reality).
2. Katha Upanishad: Contains stories and questions of a student named Nachiketa regarding death, immortality and the afterlife. It emphasizes the union of Atman with Brahman.
3. Prasna Upanishad: Focuses on meditation, liberation, the nature of ultimate reality and the self. It presents a synthesis of the concepts of Isavasya, Katha and Mundaka Upanishads.
4. Mundaka Upanishad: Consists of three Mundakas or chapters. It highlights knowledge, spiritual realization and the union of Atman and Brahman.
5. Mandukya Upanishad: Discusses the self, Brahman, waking, dream, deep sleep states and turiya (fourth) state. It presents Advaita philosophy that Atman and Brahman are non-different.
6. Taittiriya Upanishad: Contains three chapters: Brahmananda, Taittiriya Aranyaka and Bhriguvalli. It discusses duality, non-duality, cosmic creation, the self, Brahman, and paths to liberation.
7. Aitareya Upanishad: Contains three chapters: Aitareyopanishad, Kaushitakichhandah and Kaundinya. It focuses on creation, the universal self, the individual self, duality and non-duality.
8. Chandogya Upanishad: One of the largest Upanishads, containing 8 chapters. It gives examples, stories and discussions on the unity of Atman and Brahman, meditation, disciplines for spiritual progress, and rituals.
9. Kena Upanishad: Contains four chapters and 38 verses. It presents the nature of Brahman through a series of profound questions regarding who performs actions in the world.
10. Kaushitaki Upanishad: Contains three chapters: Kundah, Muchukunda-sarvasharire, and Lakshatrayaniyah. It discusses meditation, the nature of Brahman, and paths to immortality.

11. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: One of the largest Upanishads containing six adhyayas. It provides in depth and profound insights into cosmic and individual relationships with Brahman.
12. Shvetashvatara Upanishad: Presents a systematic exposition of Vedanta philosophy. It enumerates a twofold path of knowledge and meditation to realize Brahman.
13. Maitri Upanishad: Contains 7 chapters. It discusses charity, austerity, spiritual wisdom, meditation, Brahman, union between Atman and Brahman.

‘Puran’ means ‘ancient’ or ‘old’. The Puranas narrate the legends, myths, cosmology, genealogy and some history of ancient India. There are 18 Purans.

1. Brahma Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Brahma and its creation.
2. Padma Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Narayan, Krishna and Raam.
3. Vishnu Puran – Written by Parashar Muni. It is about Vishnu, Krishna and Raam.
4. Vayu Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Shiv, Sanatan culture and education.
5. Bhagabat Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Krishna and path of enlightenment. This is Srimadbhagabatam.
6. Narad Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Vishnu Avatars as narrated by Narad Rishi. It also talks about education, culture, yagna processes.
7. Markandeya Puran – Written by Markandeya rishi. It is about Durga, Surya and some great ancient sages.
8. Agni Puran – Written by Ved Vyas as told by Agni dev. It is about Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwar, Surya puja.
9. Garuda Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is a conversation between Vishnu and Garuda about afterlife and astrology. This Puran is recited after someone passes away to help the soul attain freedom and enlightenment.
10. Varaha Puran- Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Varaha avatar, Shiv-Parvati and Kartik.
11. Matsya Puran- Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Matsya avatar, Nrisingha avatar, trinity, Sati-Sabitri katha and different holy personalities.
12. Kurma Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Kurma avatar, Shiv, sociology, astrology, time-space knowledge etc.
13. Baaman Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Baaman avatar, Shiv-Parvati and Ganesh.
14. Bhavishya Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about education process, prophecies, Surya puja.
15. Brahmabaibarta Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about the trinity, birth of Ganesh.
16. Linga Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about avatars of Shiv and Shiv puja.
17. Brahmanda Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It is about Parshuraam avatar, great emperors and universe knowledge.

18. Skanda Puran – Written by Ved Vyas. It talks about Shiv, Parvati, Kartik, different teertha-dham and spiritual paths of Hinduism.

1. Ramayana is the saga of Raam, an an Avatar of Vishnu. It depicts how lord Raam fought with Raavan to bring back his beloved and pious wife Sita. The epic celebrates ideals like dharma, morality, virtue, love, courage, devotion and good triumphing over evil. It contains philosophical messages like meditation, spiritual peace and oneness of Atman with Brahman.  The Ramayana promotes and strengthens Hindu values like devotion, morality and helps preserve ancient Indian culture and traditions. It has influenced Hindu customs, literature, temple architecture and iconography. The incidents of Ramayana happened 7150 years ago (approx).
2. Mahabharat is about the Kurukshetra war between the Pandavs and Kauravs. Sri Krishna, an Avatar of Vishnu plays a major role in this whole scenario and the Bhagabat Geeta is told by Krishna to Arjuna during this war. The Mahabharat epic teaches us about dharma, family values, morality, karma, balance of desires and more. The incidents of Mahabharat happened about 5200 years ago (approx).

1. Nyaya – Logic and epistemology: Nyaya focuses on logic, reasoning, epistemology and metaphysics. It aims to establish rules for logical thinking and valid knowledge. Key concepts include inference, perception, logic, doubt, certainty, etc. Prominent philosopher was Gautama Akshapaada.
2. Vaisheshika – Atomism: Vaisheshika emphasizes substance, atomism, free will, continuous creation, natural laws. It believes in 9 substances (atoms, mind, etc.), density/rarity, infinity/finitude. Key proponents were Kanada and Prasastapada.
3. Samkhya – Enumeration: Samkhya aims to explain the relationship between Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (unconscious primordial matter). It enumerates 25 Tattvas or realities including Purusha and Prakriti in a step-by-step emanation. Key philosopher was Kapila.
4. Yoga – Mind control: Yoga focuses on control of thoughts, achieving calmness of mind through meditation and concentration. It believes there are eight limbs of yoga including ethics, meditation, breath control, etc. leading to unity of individual consciousness with the universal Brahman. Key proponent was Patanjali.
5. Mimamsa – Ritualism: Mimamsa examines the Vedas and Vedic rituals in depth. It believes that the world was created by the advice of divine sages. Key concepts include duty, appropriateness, rituals, Vedas, intention, injunction, application, etc. Key philosophers were Jaimini and Kumarila Bhatta.
6. Vedanta – Spiritual unity: Vedanta is the culmination of the Upanishads which believe in ultimate unity of Atman (self) and Brahman (absolute reality). Vedanta aims for spiritual liberation through meditation and wisdom. It includes three sub-schools:

• Advaita – Non-dualism: Atman = Brahman. Adi Shankara. identity of Atman and Brahman.
• Vishishtadvaita – Qualified non-dualism: Atman = Brahman but with attributes. Ramanuja. Vishishtadvaita believes in qualified non-dualism, identity in essence but difference in attributes.
• Dvaita – Dualism: Atman and Brahman are eternally distinct. Madhvacharya. Dvaita believes in dualism, fundamental difference between Brahman (God) and Atman (self).

The Vedas are the oldest dharma-granthas of Hinduism, However, the Bhagabat Geeta is the most popular Hindu religious book that talks about set of behavioural principles that can bring happiness and peace in our life and beyond. The lessons of Geeta were rendered to Arjun by Sri Krishna during Kurukshetra war about 5200 years ago.

The Geeta or Bhagabat Geeta is different from Bhagabat Puran. While Puran talks about glories of Sanatani gods, Geeta is about life lessons and philosophies. The Bhagavad Gita contains many profound and important life lessons and teachings. Some of the key lessons are:

1. Nishkama Karma: Perform all actions without desire for reward or profit. Do one’s duty for its own sake with no selfish motives. This leads to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
2. Karma Yoga: The path of action. One can achieve spiritual enlightenment through selfless action and discipline. By performing nishkama karma with devotion, one realizes the Brahman.
3. Gyaana Yoga: The path of knowledge. One can realize the Brahman or universal soul through meditation, wisdom, discernment and study of Vedanta philosophies. True spiritual knowledge liberates from the worldly cycle.
4. Bhakti Yoga: The path of devotion. Absolute and single-minded devotion to Krishna/Brahman leads to moksha or liberation. Through unconditional love, the devotee and the devascular essence become one.
5. The ultimate reality is Brahman. Atman or individual soul and Brahman are non-different. Enlightenment is realizing and abiding in this truth of the unity of atman and Brahman.
6. One must do the duty prescribed by one’s dharma (duty). Do not forsake it due to desire, fear or sentimentality. Uphold righteousness and moral responsibility.
7. Offer all your actions to Brahman (Krishna). Do all karmic deeds as an offering without any selfish interest. Remember that you are just an instrument of the divine creator.
8. Remain steadfast in your devotion and action. Do not falter due to ego, grief, lust or delusion. Stay focused on the ultimate goal of liberation.
9. Equanimity in success and failure, pleasure and pain. Develop an even mind and do not get disturbed by dualities and opposites. Seek happiness within, not from external sources.
10. Ultimately, realize that you are not the doer of actions. Give up ego and surrender to Krishna/Brahman. See the divine in all beings and all at once. Experience oneness.
11. Through devotion, knowledge, action, meditation or any means – one can realize the Brahman. All paths ultimately lead to the same truth. No one path is inherently superior. Choose what suits your nature best.
12. Look within for happiness. Do not chase fleeting pleasures or worldly joy. Find inner peace and bliss through atman or Brahman. The ultimate perfect and transcendent joy comes from realizing them.
13. Abide by dharma and avoid adharma. Dharma is righteousness, righteousness conduct and law. Adharma is its opposite – unrighteousness, impiety and immorality. Uphold dharma for spiritual progress.
14. All paths lead to the same truth. No one path is superior. All yogas – karma, gyaana, bhakti, raja etc ultimately merge into each other and lead to the realization of Brahman as the truth. Choose the path that resonates with you.
15. Do all for the sake of Brahman or Krishna as an offering. Remember that you are just an instrument of the divine creator in manifestation. Surrender your deeds, actions and results to the supreme.
16. Do not grieve over what is inevitable. Nothing can change what has to be. Accept your circumstances with equanimity. Do not wallow in sorrow over transitory grief or misfortune. Remain balanced in pleasure and pain.
17. Ultimately, one must realize that one does not really do anything. Offer all to Krishna like a tool in the hands of a craftsman. Give up ego and see the Brahman in all beings, all manifestations, all at once. Experience oneness.

No, there are 33 Koti Devatas in Hinduism. Koti is a term indicating level. Koti means supreme. So, there are 33 supreme gods in Sanatan dharma instead of 330000000 gods. These gods are-

1. 12 Adityas – Vivasvan, Aryaman, Tvashta, Savitr, Bhaga, Dhata, Mitra, Varuna, Amsa, Pushan, Indra and Vishnu (baaman avatar)
2. 11 Rudras – Kapali, Pingala, Bhima, Virupaksa, Vilohita, Ajesha, Shasana, Shasta, Shambhu, Chanda, and Dhruva
3. 8 Basus – Aapa/Varun, Dhruva/Stars/Nakshatra, Soma/Chandra, Dhara/Earth, Anil/Vayu, Anal/Agni, Dayus/Akash/Byom/Space, and Prabhas/Sun
4. 2 Ashwini Kumars

Under each of these supreme gods, there are many other gods and deities.

Those who started a civilisation on the banks of Sindhu River (Indus) are called Hindu. Gradually, they spread all across the subcontinent of Bharat. This was the time when Bharat was undivided, it means the geographical borders were from Afghanistan to Myanmar and Tibet to Srilanka. This was about 70000 years ago when primitive men moved out of Africa, crossed Suez Canal and started this civilisation. They started to develop a specific lifestyle that included polytheism and worshipping natural forces. Many of such lifestyles are still followed in 2020s and that’s why Hinduism is more of a culture and a way of living rather than a religion. Also, due to this long history of practices has given the name ‘Sanatan’ which means ‘something that has been happening’. Whoever is born on the land of Bharatbarsha, is a Hindu by birth. Later they may change religion based on family values through processes like baptism etc, but notably, everyone born in this land of Bharat is a born-Hindu. On the other hand, anyone who is not a Bharatiya but has declared oneself as a Hindu and performs the Sanatani behaviours like chanting, worshipping, meditation, celebrating Hindu festivals etc, is a Hindu by choice.

Unlike Baptism in Christianity or Circumcision in Islam, there is no specific ‘process’ of becoming a Hindu. Those who are born in Bharat, they are born Hindu (because it is a culture), later they take up their particular religion as per family beliefs. To become a Hindu, one just has to declare oneself as Hindu. This can be done by posting on social media, newspaper etc. Or one can also bathe in one of the holy rivers in India (Ganga, Yamuna, Sindhu, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri) or visit Hindu temples and take a proper diksha from a suitable Hindu guru. Hinduism also offers official ‘Naamkaran’ ceremony where one is given a Hindu name by a guru. However, as it is a culture, Hinduism is all about practising different behaviours that include worshipping Hindu gods, chanting or meditation, taking part in Hindu festivals, following Hindu traditions and attires etc. There is no boundary to worship just one specific deity, based on preferences one can choose one or many deities he or she connects to.