Question

what are puranas and Vedas ? are they literary sources ?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Differences between Vedas and  Puranas

Vedas  

Puranas

There are four types of Vedas:

The Rig Veda

The Yajur Veda

The Sama Veda

The Atharva Veda

There is 1 Maha Purana, 17 Mukhya Purana (Major Puranas), 18 Upa Puranas (Minor Puranas) with over 400,00 verses

Each Veda has four subdivisions. They consist of the following:

The Samhitas which speak about mantras and benedictions,  

The Aranyakas which is a text on rituals, ceremonies and symbolic-sacrifices,  

The Brahmanas which are commentaries on rituals and ceremonies,  

The Upanishads which discuss meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).

Some scholars add a fifth category – the Upasanas (worship)

The literature of the Puranas is vast and converse a diversified range of topics that include but not limited to:

Cosmology

Genealogy

Medicine

Astronomy

Gods and Goddesses

Grammar

Demigods

Heroes

Sages

Vedas are considered as Shruti which distinguishes it from other scriptures. Shruti means “that which is heard” in Sanskrit and is used to describe the most authoritative and religious texts in Hinduism The Puranas are considered Smriti texts (meaning “that which is remembered). Smriti texts do not have the authority of Shruti scriptures but they are still held in equal regard

The Vedas were orally transmitted since the 2nd Millenium BC. The Rig Veda was composed in its written form around 1500 BC – 1200 BC. The Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas were composed around 1200 BC – 900 BC. The first versions of the Puranas were likely to be composed between 3rd – 10th Century AD.

Traditionally, Veda Vyasa is regarded as the compiler of the Vedas. The 18 Upa Puranas had their origins in the work of Lomaharshana (a disciple of Ved Vyasa) and his three students – the Mulasamhita.

Explanation:

Answer 2

The Vedas are a large body of religious texts composed in Vedic Sanskrit and are widely regarded as the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. The Puranas are a vast collection of Indian literature that cover a wide range of topics, such as legends and traditional folklore.