Agamas are texts given to the sages, who obtained them by their intuitive powers of meditation. They explain the various aspects of the Ultimate reality, who takes the form of Saguna Brahmam so that the common masses can comprehend and develop the mental powers to elevate themselves to understand the Almighty and practice the faith. It is the first step of the faith before knowing the philosophy, after the stages of rituals and recitations of Manthras. It gives the Devotional forms of worship or the Bhakthi Marga, while the Vedas and Smrithis give the Karma, Upasana and Jnana Pathways. Agamas are independent of Vedas in their authority even though the teachings are similar and they both are based on each other. As we have already noted, worship of totemic markers and likeness of figurines, as 'God' in various forms, have existed in the most ancient period of history of 'Pre -Aryan' India. They also had rituals of Vedic type for Natural forces. At this time, worship of 'Siva', 'Vasudeva', and 'Kaali' or 'Sakthi' in a structure built up like a Temple was popular. There was also worship of 'Maal', 'Varuna' and 'Muruga' in the fields. All these got amalgamated with Vedic prayers.

Agamas gives all the rules of worship of the `Formed Deities' or Saguna Brahmam for the benefit of the masses. They explain the principles and rules of a particular aspect of the Nirguna Brahmam who takes the form of Saguna Brahmam. They give detailed rules of Temple building and worship to the Deities. While most Vedic rituals were in Sanskrit, understood only by the elite and educated, Agamas reached the illiterate and the devout masses. They had prayers in all the languages of the masses and had simple stories and rituals for an image that the masses can see and visualize the Supreme reality in its various aspects. They explain the external worship of God and give us Jnana or Knowledge, Yoga or concentration, Kriya or esoteric ritual and Charya or esoteric worship. They helped in bringing the religion to the hearts of the common people who were able to understand the true meaning of the philosophy and maintain a devotional attachment to the faith.