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There are several scriptures in Hinduism that guide worship. They provide Hindus with information and teachings, and they act as guides for life. These scriptures are:

• The Samhitas, which are the oldest parts of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of praise to God. They form part of worship both at home and in the temple.
• The Brahmanas, which are rituals and prayers. These help priests in their duties during worship.
• The Aranyakas, which concern worship and meditation and give practical guidance in relation to worship.
• The Upanishads, which consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings of Hinduism. They allow Hindus to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of the world.

The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is a central Hindu scripture and includes guidance for worshippers. It explains that Hindu worship should focus on God:

Another passage shows that Hindus (who are referred to as yogis in the quote) should worship God as the Supreme Being. This passage also says that God is within all things: The yogi who is established in union with me, and worships me as the Supreme Soul residing in all beings, dwells only in me, though engaged in all kinds of activities (Bhagavad Gita 6.31).

This idea that God can be found everywhere allows Hindus to worship in a variety of ways. For example, they can worship through yoga practice, through nature, through acts of kindness and through being mindful that God is everywhere and everything.