Shashtra & Other Hindu Texts

As per Kanchi Paramacharya, SAstra (also spelled as shAstra or śāstra) is an order or commandment. Wise say that a SAstra covers all aspects of life. Hindu Dharma is the most organized way of life where each and every aspect of life be it spirituality or day-2-day activities are coded and organized in a proper and systematic structure. Topics covered include,

• karma kANDa - vedic and Agamic - pUrva mimAmsA (rites and rituals, priestly duties, balancing forces of nature, staying in harmony with nature for good of all living beings mankind, animal, plant and mineral kingdom)

• vedAnta and other spiritual texts for progressing spiritually and experiencing highest truth by various ways and methods. Realising essence of vedAnta means to achieve moksha, be liberated from cycle of birth and death.

• dharma smriti-s for civil laws and rAja-dharma (dharma of king, art of administration, Judiciary system)

• Grihya sUtra-s (Guidelines for day-2-day living)

• dhanurvidyA (art of warfare)

• gandharva veda (art of music and singing)

• kauTilya artha shAstra (art of financial management)

• chANakya niti, vidur niti, etc (art of politics)

• ayurveda, charak samhitA, suShruta samhitA, AchArya vAgabhaTa's works on Ayurveda like Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Heart of Medicine divided in eight parts (internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology and paediatrics, rejuvenation therapy, aphrodisiac therapy, toxicology, and psychiatry or spiritual healing, and ENT (ear, nose and throat)) and Aṣṭāṅgasaṅgraha (Compendium of Medicine)  etc (art of healing, medical practice, surgery, blood transmutation, etc)

• nATya shAstra (art of drama, acting)

• nritya kalA like bharatnATyam, kathaka, kathakali, kuchipuDi, etc (art of dancing, expressing devotion by dancing, used in paurANika dramas)

• Art of codifying secret messages like mathematical formulas, secrets of subtle bodies) in riddles

• Devotional hymns and independent compositions for devotional purpose and instilling devotion in hearts of all.

• varNa vyavasthA (Division of work by dedicating particular work to particular community)

• haTha yoga (haTha yoga pradipikA, Siva samhitA, gherANDa samhitA) and other forms of yoga and tantra like patanjali yoga sUtra-s, dattAtraya yoga sUtra-s, Goraksha banI, Thirumandiram, etc (keep body fit, rise above body consciousness and merge in Brahman i.e. God, supreme consciousness)

• nyAya shAstra / tarka shAstra / vaiseshikhA (school of logic and reasoning)

• vyakaraNa like pANiNi sUtra-s, aShTAdhyAyi and it’s commentary, maheshvara sUtra-s, etc (grammer)