List of historic Indian texts

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Collection

Each collection represents a set of books that are collectively known by the collection's name. In the list of books (shown below the table of collections), each book also refers to the collection it belongs to (if it does).

NameDescriptionAlternate NamesDate
Vedas Sacred hymns, which are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. There are four Vedas, and these constitute the Hindu canon.Samhita1500-500 BCE[1]
Shakhas Vedic school. Each school taught a Veda in a specific way, over time evolving specific styles and emphasis, based on how / by whom / where it was taught.
Brahmanas Commentary and elaboration on vedas and description of religious procedures.1000-800 BCE
Upanishads Philosophy in response to Vedas and Brahmanas.800-600 BCE
Vedanta Later commentary on the Vedas, Brahmanas and Upanishads.
Itihasas Ramayana and Mahabharata are known as the itihasas (‘once upon a time’).
Pali Canon Essential collections of teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, as written by his followers, three centuries later.Tipitaka
Puranas Historic texts (usually about a royal lineage) - written by court-appointed historians. Usually contrasted with historical descriptions in vedas, brahmanas, etc., that are written by priests.
Dharmasastra Collection and description of laws (man-made and natural).

Books

Key

  • Subject Area - subject area of the book
  • Topic - topic (within the subject area)
  • Collection - belongs to a collection listed in the table above
  • Date - date (year) book was written
  • Reign of - king/ruler in whose reign this book was written (occasionally a book could span reigns).
  • Reign Age - extent of the reign
  • Geographic Region - as it was known at the time of writing
BookSubject AreaTopicCollectionLanguageAuthorDateReign ofReign AgeGeographic RegionModern Name of Geographic RegionNotes
Rig VedaHindu hymns about various gods, and references to historic events.Part 1 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskritNo concrete information available, but attributed to several rishis.1500-500 BCE[1]Sapta SindhvaIndus region (Indus + its five tributaries + Saraswati)
Yajur VedaHindu sacrificial knowledge.Part 3 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskritNo concrete information available, but attributed to several 'rishis'1500-500 BCE[1]Sapta SindhvaIndus region (Indus + its five tributaries + Saraswati)
Sama VedaHindu music and arts.Part 2 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskrit1500-500 BCE[1]
Atharva VedaHindu medicine, magic, sorcery.Part 4 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskritAttributed to rishis "Atharvana" and Angirasa.1500-500 BCE[1]
Taittiriya Shakha Recension of Yajur VedaShakhaSanskrit
Shaunaka ShakhaRecension of Atharva VedaShakhaSanskrit
Paippalada ShakhaRecension of Atharva VedaShakhaSanskrit
Satapatha Brahmana Hindu sacrificial knowledge.Commentary on Yajur VedaBrahmanaSanskrit600 BCE - 500 BCE
Aitareya Brahmana Hindu vedic practices.Commentary on Rig VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Kaushitaki Brahmana Commentary on Rig VedaSanskrit
Taittiriya BrahmanaHindu sacrificial knowledge.Commentary on Yajur VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Samavidhana BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Arseya BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Devatadhyaya BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Shakdwipiya BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Tandyamaha BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Aitareya AranyakaSanskrit
Kaushitaki AranyakaSanskrit
Taittiriya Upanishad UpanishadSanskrit
Maitri Upanishad UpanishadSanskrit
MimamsaSanskrit
Theravada BuddhismBuddhist Pali CanonPali
YogaSanskrit
RamayanaLife of Rama, a prince of the Sun dynasty.SanskritValmiki 400 BCE - 400 CE [2]
Mahabharata SanskritLord Ganesha while Veda Vyasa narrated it.400 BCE - 400 CE [2]
Bhagavad Gita Krishna's advice to Arjuna on duty.SanskritVeda Vyasa200 BCE - 200 CE [2]Not a separate work. Part of Mahabharata.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika Sanskrit
Gheranda Samhita Sanskrit
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali SanskritPatanjali
Vishnu Purana PuranaSanskrit
Persian Wars GreekHerodotus
Arthashastra politySanskritChanakya (aka Kautilya)Chandragupta Maurya321 BCE - 301 BCEMagadhaBihar
Milinda Panha Dialogues with King Milinda (Menander)PaliMenandercirca 150 BCESagalaSialkot in Punjab
Buddhacharita BuddhismLife of Shakyamuni BuddhaSanskritAshvagoshaKanishka100PurushapuraPeshawar
Periplus of the Erythrean Sea A naval guide to Indian commerce.Greek0-100 CE
Manusmriti (aka Manava Dharmaśāstra) Law, code of conduct.Code of conduct as described by Manu.DharmaśāstraSanskrit
PuranasSanskrit
Kamasutra SexA manual of love.SanskritVātsyāyana
Charaka Samhita MedicineMedical text.SanskritCharaka
Ashtadyayi Sanskrit languageSanskrit grammarSanskritPanini
Siddhāntakaumudī Sanskrit languageSanskrit grammar. Rearranges and provides descriptions for Panini's Ashtadyayi.SanskritBhattoji Diksita
Mahabhashya Sanskrit languageSanskrit grammarSanskritPatanjali
Devichandraguptam DramaDrama about Chandragupta IISanskritVishakhadatta
Aryabhatiya MathematicsMathematicsSanskritĀryabhaṭa
Surya Siddhanta MathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira
Romaka Siddhanta MathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira
Paulisa Siddhanta MathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira
Vasishtha Siddhanta MathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira
Paitamaha Siddhanta MathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira
Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBrahmagupta
Mahabhaskariya MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhaskara IExpansion of Aryabhatta's work
Dhavala MathematicsMathematicsSanskritVirasenaAmoghavarsha
Ganit Saar Sangraha MathematicsMathematicsSanskritMahaviraRashtrakuta
Nav Shatika MathematicsMathematicsSanskritSridharaBengal
Maha-Siddhanta MathematicsMathematicsSanskritAryabhata IIBengalCommentary on Sridhara's work
Siddhanta Sekhara MathematicsMathematicsSanskritŚrīpati
Ganit Tilaka MathematicsMathematicsSanskritŚrīpati
Dhikotidakarana MathematicsLunar and solar eclipsesSanskritŚrīpati
Siddhanta Shiromani MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhāskara II
Lilavati MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhāskara II
Bijaganita MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhāskara II
Gola Addhyaya MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhāskara II
Griha Ganitam MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhāskara II
Karun Kautoohal MathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhāskara II
Travels of Faxian Social lifeTravels in India during the Chandragupta II eraMandarinFaxianChandragupta II375-415 CEMagadhaBihar
Shakuntala DramaDrama about a girl forgotten by her husbandSanskritKalidasaChandragupta II375-415 CEMagadhaBihar
Meghadūta DramaStory of a cloud carrying a message amongst loversSanskritKalidasaChandragupta II375-415 CEMagadhaBihar
Mrichakatika DramaStory of a poor brahman falling in love with a courtesan.SanskritShudrakaChandragupta II375-415 CEMagadhaBihar
Harshacharita BiographyLife of King Harsha VardhanaSanskritBāṇabhaṭṭaHarsha Vardhana606-647 CEThanesarnear Delhi
In the footsteps of Buddha TravelMandarinXuanzangHarsha Vardhana606-647 CEThanesarnear Delhi
In the footsteps of Buddha TravelMandarinXuanzangPulakesin II (Pulikesi)610-642 CEBadaminear Krishna river
Samkhya versesSanskritIsvara Krishna
Soundarya Lahari SanskritSankaracharya
Bhagavata Purana ReligionVarious mythologic storiesPuranasSanskritAttributed to Vyasa1100-1200 CE
Mattavilasa Prahasana SanskritMahendravarman IMahendravarman I (Pallava)600-630 CEKancheepuramKancheepuram
MedicineMa'dan ul ShifaArabicSikandar Lodi1489-1517 CEDelhi
MusicLahjat I Sikandar ShahiArabicSikandar Lodi1489-1517 CEDelhi
PersianKabir
Baburnama AutobiographyBabur's lifeChagataiBaburBaburKabul, Delhi
Humayunnama Humayun's lifePersianHumayunDelhi
Tulsidas Ramayan HinduismTranslation of Ramayana into HindiHindiTulsidasAkbar1556-1605 CEDelhi
Guru Granth Sahib SikhismHoly scripture of SikhismSant BhashaGuru Arjan DevJehangir1605-1627 CEPunjab

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Flood, Gavin (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. p. 37. ISBN 0521438780.
  2. 1 2 3 Molloy, Michael (2008). Experiencing the World's Religions. p. 87. ISBN 9780073535647.
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