AN OUTLINE ON WHAT HINDUISM REALLY IS
The Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Brahmanas Granth are the four sacred books in Hindu religion. The last one is a commentary on the Vedas, but it is considered to be a revealed book. These books are in Sanskrit, the sacred language of the Hindus.
The
VEDAS are divided into four books:The Rig Veda was compiled in three long and different periods. Opinions greatly differ as to the date of compilation or revelation of the four Vedas. There are a lot of doubts about the vedas being revealed to whom but the name of the Rishi mentioned is Maha Rishi, his full name is not mentioned as all the Vedas were revealed to different Prophets at different times but there are proofs of the revelation.
Swami Daya Nand Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj, holds the opinion that the Vedas were revealed 1.3 billion years ago, while others (Hindu scholars and orientalists) hold the opinion that they are not more than four thousand years old. Analysis of the Vedas reveal differences in the accounts of the places where these books were revealed and the Rishis (Prophets) to whom these scriptures were given. Nevertheless, the Vedas are the most authentic scriptures of the Hindus.
The UPANISHADS are considered next to the Vedas in order of superiority and authenticity. However, some Pandits consider the Upanishads to be superior to the Vedas primarily from the internal evidence found in the Upanishads.
Next in authenticity to the Upanishads are the
PURANAS. The Puranas are the most widely read of all Hindu Scriptures, as these are easily available (the Vedas are difficult to find). The compiler of the Puranas is MahaRishi Vyasa, and he arranged the Puranas in eighteen volumes!!The compiler of the
PURANAS, MAHRISHI VYASA, is highly honored among the Hindus as a great rishi and learned person. He was a pious and God fearing man. He also wrote the Bhagwad Gita and the MahaBharata. Among the eighteen volumes of the Puranas is one by the title ‘BHAVISHYA PURANA’ literally meaning future events .The Hindus regard it as the Word of God.THE SHLOKA THAT MENTIONS THE NAME OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMED IN THE BHAVISHYA PURANA.
