Excerpts from the book HINDUISM AT A GLANCE by Swami Nirvedananda The teachings of the Hindu seers comprise the religion known as Hinduism or Hindu dharma. The holy texts that contain these teachings are known as the shastras. Who is God? Where does He dwell? What does He look like? How are we related to Him? Why should we strive to realize Him? One may learn all these from the shastras. Moreover, the shastras teach us the methods of realizing God. How are we to bring out the divinity within us? What are the obstacles in the way? How are we to get over them? How should we behave? What acts are we to perform? What acts are we to refrain from? The shastras teach us all these as well. The Hindus have been treading the path of religion for scores of centuries. Throughout this period countless earnest souls have reached the goal of religion by realizing God. Many of these sages struck new paths leading to the same goal. Thus many methods of reaching perfection were discovered in this holy land by the Hindu sages. That is why the Hindu shastras, unlike the scriptures of other religions, are many in number and variety. Moreover, the need of explaining religion to different classes of people gave rise to different classes of shastras. Puranas The Darshanas are no doubt very stiff and are meant only for the learned few. For the common folk another class of the shastras was brought out by the Hindu sages. These shastras are called as the puranas. Through these, religion is taught in a very easy and interesting way. The teachings are driven home through inspiring stories and parables. Moreover, glimpses of the ancient history of Hindusthan may be had through the puranas. We have eighteen puranas in all. Of these, the names of the following may be remembered: Vishnu purana, Padma purana, Vayu purana, Skanda purana, Agni purana, Markandeya purana and Bhagavata. A portion of the Markandeya purana is well known to all Hindus as Devi Mahatmyam or Chandi. Worship of God as divine mother is its theme. It is read widely by the Hindus on sacred days.