What Are Hindu Revealed Scriptures?
The Vedas and Agamas, revealed by God, are Hinduism’s sovereign scriptures, called shruti, “that which is heard.” Their timeless truths are expressed in the most extraordinarily profound mystical poetry known to man. Aum.§
God holds the holiest of scriptures, the Vedas and Agamas. Around these are an array of other scriptures, enscribed on stone, wood, pillars and scrolls. At left, we see a copy of the Rig Veda Samhita. In the dimmed background, lamps are offered, as prescribed in the Agamas, by priests at Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Sri Lanka. §
EDA, FROM VID, “TO KNOW,” MEANS “SUPREME wisdom or science.” Similarly, Agama, which names the sacred sectarian revelations, means “descent of knowledge.” The Vedas and Agamas are eternal truths transmitted by God through great clairaudient and clairvoyant rishis. They are Hinduism’s primary and most authoritative scriptures, expounding life’s sacredness and man’s purpose on the planet. These psalms of wisdom were disclosed over many centuries, memorized and orally conveyed from generation to generation within priestly families, then finally written down in Sanskrit in the last few millennia. The subtly symbolic language of shruti, the cherished word of God, is lyrical and lofty. In imparting religious practice, rules and doctrine, the Vedas are general and the Agamas specific. The Vedas extol and invoke a multiplicity of Gods through elaborate fire rituals called yajna. The Agamas center around a single Deity and His worship with water, flowers and lights in sanctified temples and shrines. The Tirumantiram lauds, “Two are the scriptures that Lord Siva revealed—the primal Vedas and the perfect Agamas.” Aum Namah Sivaya.§