Hinduism...

Hindu scriptures and Religious Texts:

Hinduism does not have a singular authoritative text the way that Islam has the Koran or that Christianity has the New Testament. While there are four major ancient texts that were revealed by the God Brahma, known as the Vedas, the text in those books is quite distant from modern Hinduism. Later religious texts have provided much of the philosphical basis for modern Hinduism.
The Vedas:

Meaning “knowledge” or “wisdom,” the Vedas tell stories of ancient gods and goddesses that most Hindus would not recognize today, and they prescribe methods of sacrifice which are performed only by a very small group of people, and even then maybe only on special occasions. They only just barely touch upon the concept of a soul and the possibility of an afterlife.

While the Vedas are still considered the ultimate authority, the texts that were composed thousands of years later, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads have a more direct relationship with the religious beliefs of modern Hindus. The Vedas overwhelmingly concern the importance of sacrifice and religious rituals, as well as sing the praises of the Gods. They deal less with man’s role in the world.

The Brahmanas:
The Brahmanas are a development upon the Vedas, as they contain commentaries and explanations on the rituals found in the Rig Veda. But the Brahmanas also delve into many topics not covered in the Vedas, and are some of the first writing on Gnostic Hinduism. They also lay the ground work for renunciation (abandoning the material world), which is then developed further in the Upanishads. The Brahmanas are written in prose.

The Upanishads:
The word Upanishad means “sit down near,” which possibly denotes the oral tradition of religious stories being told to a close circle of followers, or an individual learning at the feet of the master. Also referred to as Vedanta, meaning, The End of The Vedas, as they are thought to give a philosophical interpretation to the Vedas. The main focus of the Upanishads is to help explain the relationship between soul (atman) and God (Brahman), through parables. The Upanishads seem to have opened the door for more religious literacy and greater diversity of religious thought. Most of the Upanishads were composed around the time that Buddhism began to flourish in India, and one can see they influenced one another.

The Bhaghavad Gita:
The Song Of God is a section of the epic Mahabharata, probably composed at a different time and inserted later, that has become one of the most influential works in Hinduism. It tells the story of how Lord Krishna was the chariot driver for the mighty warrior Arjuna, who, before entering battle, began to feel remorse for the enemies he would slay the following day. Lord Krishna seizes upon this opportunity to teach Arjuna about the nature of the indestructible soul (atman) and its relationship to the Universal Soul (Brahman). Krishna also elaborates on the role of devotion, known as Bhakti, to a deity.

The Puranas:
Composed much later than the Upanishads, the Puranas are written in verse and provide a “historical” story of the Gods and Goddesses, as well as telling the characteristics of those deities, and spell out the pilgrimages for devotees. The Puranas cover a wide variety of topics, including some science and secular topics, along with the history of mankind and royal dynasties.