Hinduism teaches that the best way we can learn about God is from people who have actually experienced God. We can ask them to help us learn about God. But it is very difficult to find such people. The second best way to find out about God is by studying what these people have said about God. This information has been recorded in holy books called the scriptures.

Hinduism has two types of holy books or scriptures. The first type of books are called the Vedas. They tell us how we can experience God for ourselves. The second type of holy books of the Hindus contain epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata and legends called the Puranas.

Reference: Primary Hinduism by Seeta Lakhani (Ch.3, 'Hindu Holy Books', p.33,37)