Vedic Scripture and Indian Philosophy

Yoga didn’t just drop out of the sky or begin in a studio. It’s rooted in one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions—shaped by a vast body of scripture and an equally vast landscape of philosophical schools. This is the backbone of yoga: not just practice, but perspective. Here’s where it all comes from.

Shruti vs Smriti | Astika vs Nastika

Before diving into the texts themselves, it’s worth understanding how Indian tradition classifies sacred knowledge. Not all scriptures are treated the same, and not all schools agree on what counts as “truth.”

Shruti means “heard”—these are the revealed, eternal texts received by sages in deep states of meditation.
Smriti means “remembered”—texts composed by humans, still sacred but considered secondary to Shruti.

Yoga aligns with the Astika schools—those that accept the authority of the Vedas. In contrast, Nastika schools like Buddhism and Jainism reject the Vedas but still offer rich paths to liberation.

 

Vedic Scriptures – Where it all begins

Vedic scripture isn’t just one book or one voice—it’s a whole library of interlinked wisdom. Think of it like a living ecosystem: philosophy, ritual, ethics, cosmology, and mystical insight all coexisting and evolving.

  1. The Four Vedas:

    • Rigveda: Hymns to cosmic forces and deities

    • Yajurveda: Ritual formulas and ceremonies

    • Samaveda: Chants and musical expressions of devotion

    • Atharvaveda: Spells, healing rites, and practical wisdom

  2. Upavedas (applied knowledge derived from the Vedas):

    • Ayurveda (health and healing)

    • Dhanurveda (warfare and strategy)

    • Gandharvaveda (music and art)

    • Sthapatyaveda (architecture and design)

  3. Vedangas (limbs of the Vedas, essential for correct study):

    • Phonetics, grammar, meter, etymology, astronomy, ritual rules

  4. Upanishads:

    • The philosophical heart of the Vedas—direct teachings on the Self, Brahman, and liberation

  5. Mahavakyas:

    • Great declarations like “Tat Tvam Asi” (“You are That”) that distill Upanishadic insight into single, transformative truths

  6. Itihasas (epics with embedded dharma teachings):

    • Mahabharata (includes the Bhagavad Gita)

    • Ramayana

  7. Puranas:

    • Mythic and devotional texts that make cosmic stories accessible to all

  8. Agamas:

    • Ritual and philosophical texts especially central to Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Shakta traditions

Indian Philosophy – The Six Schools That Shaped Yoga

Indian philosophy isn’t rigid or dogmatic. It’s a conversation—one that’s been evolving for over 2,000 years. Among the many schools of thought, six are considered Astika (orthodox)—meaning they accept the Vedas. Each offers a different lens on reality, consciousness, and liberation.

  1. Nyāya – Logic, reasoning, and the science of debate

  2. Vaiśeṣika – Analysis of matter, time, and atoms

  3. Sāṅkhya – Dualistic framework of consciousness (Purusha) and matter (Prakriti)

  4. Yoga – Practical system of inner discipline building on Sāṅkhya

  5. Pūrva Mīmāṃsā – Ritual action and dharma

  6. Uttara Mīmāṃsā (Vedānta) – Non-dualism and Self-realization

Yoga + Sankhya – A Philosophical Partnership

Yoga doesn’t stand alone—it’s deeply entwined with the Sankhya worldview. Together, they form a powerful map of the inner landscape:

  • Purusha: The unchanging, observing consciousness

  • Prakriti: Nature—everything that moves, shifts, or changes

Where Sankhya stops at analysis, Yoga takes action. It adds the concept of Ishwara—a supreme consciousness or divine principle—and offers a method to quiet the mind, pierce illusion, and rest in the Self.

Key Yogic Concepts in Indian Thought

Yoga borrows liberally from the greater Indian philosophical pool. Here are some core ideas you’ll see across traditions, especially in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras:

  • Pramāṇa – Ways we know things

    • Pratyaksha (direct perception)

    • Anumāna (inference)

    • Shabda (authoritative testimony)

  • Antaḥkaraṇa – The inner instrument of the mind

    • Mahat/Buddhi – Higher intelligence

    • Ahamkāra – Ego, the sense of “I”

    • Chitta – Memory and subconscious impressions

    • Manas – Mind that processes sensory input

This is the machinery of perception—what Yoga teaches us to observe and transcend.

Dharma Sutras – Living the Philosophy

Indian wisdom doesn’t just speculate—it gives structure to life. The Dharma Sutras outline how to live in balance: socially, spiritually, and psychologically.

4 Purusharthas – Life’s aims:

  • Dharma: duty, ethics
  • Artha: prosperity
  • Kāma: pleasure and connection
  • Moksha: spiritual liberation

4 Ashramas – Stages of life:

  • Brahmacharya: student
  • Grihastha: householder
  • Vānaprastha: contemplative retreat
  • Sannyāsa: renunciate

4 Varnas – Functional roles in society:

  • Brahmana: learning and teaching
  • Kshatriya: protection and leadership
  • Vaishya: commerce and agriculture
  • Shūdra: service and support

This isn’t about hierarchy. It’s about function, alignment, and evolving with purpose.

Final Word

This is the context behind your yoga mat. These scriptures and philosophies aren’t background noise—they are the map, the compass, and the soil your practice grows from. The deeper you understand them, the more grounded and liberated your yoga becomes.