Part II: Proliferation—Epics, Upaniṣads, and New Voices
Once the Vedic foundation was established, Hindu sacred literature exploded into magnificent diversity. This section traces how epic storytellers expanded the Mahābhārata from a warrior's tale into a cosmic encyclopedia, how philosophical Upaniṣads revolutionized spiritual inquiry, and how smṛti traditions created new categories of sacred authority. From ritual manuals to law codes to mystical poetry, this proliferation was never random—it reflected the needs, debates, and aspirations of communities seeking to understand dharma in an expanding universe of religious possibility.