Final answer:
The oldest Sanskrit literature is the Vedas, composed between 1500 and 900 BCE, which includes texts like the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. These texts, considered as shruti or 'heard', were transmitted orally and consist of hymns, rituals, and philosophical inquiries critical to the development of Hinduism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oldest Sanskrit literature is the Vedas, which includes texts such as the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda. These ancient texts were composed between 1500 and 900 BCE, representing the earliest layer of Vedic literature. Conceived by Indo-Aryan tribes in northern India, the Vedas were transmitted orally and are considered shruti, or 'heard' wisdom, implying divine origin. The Rigveda is recognized as the most ancient of these texts, consisting of hymns that reflect secret ancestral knowledge unified under the Kuru dynasty.
Aside from the Samhitas, which are the original mantras and benedictions, each Veda contains three additional sections, including the Aranyakas on directives about rituals, the Brahmanas as commentaries, and the philosophical enquiries known as the Upanishads. The Upanishads include significant texts like the Bhagavad Gita and hold a critical place as the core of Hindu metaphysical thought, discussing concepts like Brahman, dharma, and atman.
The Vedic texts are not only religious but also philosophical, dwelling into human existence, the purpose of life, and the fundamental concept of karma. During the late Vedic period, between 500 and 200 BCE, great epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana were composed, which later became important literary and cultural cornerstones in the development of Hinduism.