Which religious text is foundational to the practices of Hinduism?

The foundational texts of Hinduism are known as the Vedas, which are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. The Four Vedas—the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda—form the core of Hindu sacred literature and contain hymns, rituals, philosophy, and guidance on various aspects of life. They are considered to be revealed knowledge and form the basis for much of Hindu religious practice, belief systems, and cultural traditions.

In contrast, the other texts mentioned belong to different religious traditions: The Bible is central to Christianity, the Tao Te Ching is foundational to Taoism, and the Quran is the holy book of Islam. Each of these texts represents the core beliefs and practices of their respective religions, but none have the same foundational role in Hinduism as the Vedas do. Thus, the choice of the Four Vedas accurately reflects the central scripture for Hindu practices.