1Q. What is Sanskrit?
1A. Sanskrit is advanced & renowned language. It is an ongoing language since 600 BC & it is also known as the language of god (देव भाषाः) or the mother of all languages.

2Q. What is Hinduism?
2A. Hinduism is the oldest Hindu religion in the world, which started approximately before 20,000BC. During Vedic period, this religion was known as वर्णाश्रम् (Varnashram) & when Buddhism & Jainism came into existence after that the Hindu religion is known as “Hinduism”.

3Q. Why Hinduism or Hindu religion is called Sanatana Dharma (सनातन धर्मः)?
3A. सनातन means everlasting (i.e. ancient) & धर्मः means the religious values. Together it means that, “The eternal religious values”, which means the one who follows these religious values is identified as a Hindu.

4Q. What are the Scriptures (शास्त्रम्)?
4A. The sacred books that has the practical scientific teachings about the way of living is called the Scriptures (शास्त्रम्).

5Q. What are the Vedas (वेदाः)?
5A. Vedas (वेदाः) are the main Hindu Scriptures which were perceived from God by the Rishis during their meditation.

6Q. How many Vedas (वेदाः) are there?
6A. There are four Vedas. Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda & Atharva-Veda.

7Q. What are the Upavedas (उपवेदाः) & how many are there?
7A. Upavedas (उपवेदाः) means a class of writings subordinate to the Vedas. They are 04 in number; 1. Ayur-Veda (आयुर्वेदः), 2. Dhanur-Veda (धनुर्वेदः), 3. Gandharva-Veda (गान्धर्ववेदः) & 4. Sthapatya-Veda (स्थापत्यवेदः).

8Q. How many sections (शाखा) are there in Rig-Veda?
8A. There are 05 sections in the Rig-Veda. They are; 1. Shakal (शाकल), 2. Bashkal (बाष्कल), 3. Aashvalayan (आश्वलायन), 4. Shankhayan (शांखायन) & 5. Mandukayan (माण्डूकायन).

9Q. How many sections (शाखा) are there in Yajur-Veda?
9A. There are mainly two parts of Yajur-Veda; Shukla-Yajurveda & Krishna-Yajurveda. In Shukla-Yajurveda there are two (02) sections (शाखा); 1. Madhyandin (माध्यन्दिन्) & 2. Kanva (काण्व). In Krishna-Yajurveda there are four (04) sections (शाखा); 1. Taittiriya (तैत्तिरीय), 2. Maitrayani (मैत्रायणी), 3. Katha (कठ) & 4. Kapishthala (कपिष्ठल).

10Q. How many sections (शाखा) are there in Sama-Veda?
10A. There are total 13 sections (शाखा) in Sama-Veda from which only 03 are available. They are; 1. Kauthumiya (कौथुमीय), 2. Raanaayaniya (राणायनीय) & 3. Jaiminiya (जैमिनीय).

11Q. How many sections (शाखा) are there in Atharva-Veda?
11A. There are total 09 sections (शाखा) in Atharva-Veda. They are; 1. Pippalada (पिप्पलाद), 2. Shaunak (शौनक), 3. Mauda (मौद), 4. Stauda (स्तौद), 5. Jaajala (जाजल), 6. Jalada (जलद), 7. Brahmaveda (ब्रह्मवेद), 8. Devadarsha (देवदर्श) & 9. Chaaranavaidya (चारणवैद्य).

12Q. How many Brahmanas (ब्रह्मणम्) (a particular portion of the Vedas) are there in the Rig-Veda?
12A. There are 02 Brahmanas (ब्रह्मणम्) in the Rig-Veda. They are; 1. Aitareya (ऐतरेय) & 2. Shankhayana or Kaushitaki (शांखायन/कौषीतकि).

13Q. How many Brahmanas (ब्रह्मणम्) (a particular portion of the Vedas) are there in the Yajur-Veda?
13A. There are 06 Brahmanas (ब्रह्मणम्) in the Yajur-Veda. They are; 1. Shatapatha (शतपथ), 2. Kanva (काण्व), 3. Taittiriya (तैत्तिरीय), 4. Maitrayani (मैत्रायणी), 5. Katha (कठ) & 6. Kapishthala (कपिष्ठल).

14Q. How many Brahmanas (ब्रह्मणम्) (a particular portion of the Vedas) are there in the Sama-Veda?
14A. There are 09 Brahmanas (ब्रह्मणम्) in Sama-Veda. They are 1. Praudha (प्रौढ), 2. Shadbinsha (षड्बिंश), 3. Samavidhana (सामविधान), 4. Aarsheya (आर्षेय), 5. Devta (देवता), 6. Upanishad (उपनिषद्), 7. Samhitopanishad (संहितोपनिषद्), 8. Vansha (वंश) & 9. Jaiminiya (जैमिनीय).

15Q. How many Brahmanas (ब्रह्मणम्) (a particular portion of the Vedas) are there in the Atharva-Veda?
15A. There is only 01 Brahmana (ब्रह्मणम्) in Atharva-Veda; that is Gopatha (गोपथ).

16Q. How many Auxiliary Sciences of Vedas (वेदाङ्गानि) are there?
16A. There are six Auxiliary Science (वेदाङ्गानि) of Vedas. They are 1. शिक्षा (Phonetics), 2. कल्पः (Vedic Rituals), 3. व्याकरणम् (Grammar), 4. निरुक्तम् (Etymology), 5. छंदः (Prosody) & 6. ज्योतिषम् (Astrology).

17Q. What are the Upanishadas (उपनिषद्)?
17A. Upanishad word is elaborated as उप+ नि+ षद्. उप means “near”, नि means “closeness” & षद् means “sitting”. Which means “sitting closely near the Supreme God”. Upanishads imparts the true knowledge regarding the Supreme Reality Brahman.

18Q. How many Upanishads (उपनिषद्) are there?
18A. There are eleven main Upanishads. They are – 1. Isha, 2. Kena, 3. Katha, 4. Prashna, 5. Mundaka, 6. Mandukya, 7. Taitiriya, 8. Aitareya, 9. Chandogya, 10. Bruhadarnyaka & 11. Shwetashvatar.

19Q. What is Vedanta (वेदान्तः)?
19A. Vedanta (वेदान्तः) is the philosophical foundation of the Hinduism. Here वेद means “the knowledge” & अन्तः means “the end of” or “the goal of”. The knowledge which is related to the Self-knowledge, the knowledge of the Soul, the knowledge of the Liberation (मोक्षः) & the knowledge of the Supreme Reality Brahman (ब्रह्मन्) is called Vedanta.

20Q. What is the difference between the Mantra (मन्त्रः) & Shloka (श्लोकः)?
20A. A Vedic one line hymn is called Mantra (मन्त्रः) & the praise of any god/goddess in verse form consisting of two to four lines is called Shloka (श्लोकः).

21Q.What is the difference between the Suktam (सूक्तम्) & Stuti (स्तुतिः)?
21A. A Vedic hymn is called Suktam (सूक्तम्) & a small verses in the praise of any god/goddess is called Stutis (स्तुतिः).