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{{Short description|none}}{{Hindu scriptures}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}Hindu texts or Hindu scriptures are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. Some of the major Hindu texts include the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Itihasa. Scholars hesitate in defining the term "Hindu scriptures" given the diverse nature of Hinduism,Dominic Goodall (1996), Hindu Scriptures, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0-520-20778-3}}, p. ix–xliii but many list the Agamas as Hindu scriptures,Klaus Klostermaier (2007), A Survey of Hinduism: Third Edition, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0-7914-7082-4}}, pp. 46–52, 76–77RC Zaehner (1992), Hindu Scriptures, Penguin Random House, {{ISBN|978-0-679-41078-2}}, pages 1–11 and Preface and Dominic Goodall includes Bhagavata Purana and Yajnavalkya Smriti in the list of Hindu scriptures as well.

History

There are two historic classifications of Hindu texts: Shruti (Sanskrit: श्रुति, {{IAST3|Śruti}}) – that which is heard, and Smriti (Sanskrit: स्मृति, IAST: Smṛti) – that which is remembered. The Shruti texts refer to the body of most authoritative and ancient religious texts, believed to be eternal knowledge authored neither by human nor divine agent but transmitted by sages (rishis). These comprise the central canon of Hinduism.James Lochtefeld (2002), "Shruti", The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N–Z, Rosen Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 645BOOK, Ramdas Lamb, Rapt in the Name: The Ramnamis, Ramnam, and Untouchable Religion in Central India,weblink 2002, State University of New York Press, 978-0-7914-5386-5, 183–185, It includes the four Vedas including its four types of embedded texts – the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads.Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty (1988), Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism, Manchester University Press, {{ISBN|0-7190-1867-6}}, pp. 2–3 Of the Shrutis, the Upanishads alone are widely influential among Hindus, considered scriptures par excellence of Hinduism, and their central ideas have continued to influence its thoughts and traditions.{{Sfn|Olivelle|1998|p=3}}Wendy Doniger (1990), Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism, 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0-226-61847-0}}, pp. 2–3; Quote: "The Upanishads supply the basis of later Hindu philosophy; they alone of the Vedic corpus are widely known and quoted by most well-educated Hindus, and their central ideas have also become a part of the spiritual arsenal of rank-and-file Hindus."The Smriti texts are a specific body of Hindu texts attributed to an author, as a derivative work they are considered less authoritative than Shruti in Hinduism.James Lochtefeld (2002), "Smrti", The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N–Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, pp. 656–657 The Smriti literature is a vast corpus of diverse texts, and includes but is not limited to Vedāngas, the Hindu epics (such as the Mahabharat and Ramayan), the Sutras and Shastras, the texts of Hindu philosophies, the Puranas, the Kāvya or poetical literature, the Bhasyas, and numerous Nibandhas (digests) covering politics, ethics, culture, arts and society.Purushottama Bilimoria (2011), The idea of Hindu law, Journal of Oriental Society of Australia, Vol. 43, pp. 103–130Roy Perrett (1998), Hindu Ethics: A Philosophical Study, University of Hawaii Press, {{ISBN|978-0-8248-2085-5}}, pp. 16–18Many ancient Hindu texts were composed in Sanskrit and other regional Indian languages. In modern times, most ancient texts have been translated into other Indian languages and some in non-Indian languages. Prior to the start of the common era, the Hindu texts were composed orally, then memorized and transmitted orally, from one generation to the next, for more than a millennium before they were written down into manuscripts.Michael Witzel, "Vedas and Upaniṣads", in: Flood, Gavin, ed. (2003), The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism, Blackwell Publishing Ltd., {{ISBN|1-4051-3251-5}}, pp. 68–71 This verbal tradition of preserving and transmitting Hindu texts, from one generation to next, continued into the modern era.William Graham (1993), Beyond the Written Word: Oral Aspects of Scripture in the History of Religion, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-521-44820-8}}, pp. 67–77

Shruti

The Shruti texts, defined as "that which is heard", are texts that are believed to be divine revelations of God and were heard by ancient rishis thousands of years ago. Thus, an author is not attributed to these texts.Roger R. Keller, "Hinduism," Light and Truth: A Latter-day Saint Guide to World Religions (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012), 16–39. The origin language of these texts is Sanskrit. The Vedas are considered Shruti texts. The Vedas consist of four parts: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.WEB, Hindu Philosophy,weblink Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Each Veda is subcategorized into Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.

Vedas

{{multiple image| direction = vertical| width = 320| footer = Manuscripts of 18th-century Hindu texts in Sanskrit(Devanagari) and Odia.| image1 = Sanskrit Manuscript Wellcome L0070805.jpg| image2 = Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) Manuscript LACMA M.71.1.33.jpg| align = | total_width = | alt1 = | caption1 = | caption2 = }}The four Vedas (Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda) are a large body of Hindu texts originating from the Vedic period in northern India, the Rig Veda being composed {{Circa|1200 BCE}}, and its Samhita and Brahmanas complete before about 800 BCE.BOOK, Gavin D. Flood,weblink An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press, 1996, 978-0-521-43878-0, 35–39, registration, Composed in Vedic Sanskrit hymns, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.see e.g. {{Harvnb|MacDonell|2004|pp=29–39}}; Sanskrit literature (2003) in Philip's Encyclopedia. Accessed 2007-08-09see e.g. {{Harvnb|Radhakrishnan|Moore|1957|p=3}}; Witzel, Michael, "Vedas and {{IAST|Upaniṣads}}", in: {{Harvnb|Flood|2003|p=68}}; {{Harvnb|MacDonell|2004|pp=29–39}}; Sanskrit literature (2003) in Philip's Encyclopedia. Accessed 2007-08-09Sanujit Ghose (2011). "Religious Developments in Ancient India" in Ancient History Encyclopedia. Hindus consider the Vedas to be timeless revelation, apauruṣeya, which means "not of a man, superhuman"Vaman Shivaram Apte, The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary, see apauruSeya and "impersonal, authorless".D Sharma, Classical Indian Philosophy: A Reader, Columbia University Press, pp. 196–197Jan Westerhoff (2009), Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka: A Philosophical Introduction, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-19-538496-3}}, page 290Warren Lee Todd (2013), The Ethics of Śaṅkara and Śāntideva: A Selfless Response to an Illusory World, {{ISBN|978-1-4094-6681-9}}, p. 128 The knowledge in the Vedas is believed in Hinduism to be eternal, uncreated, neither authored by human nor by divine source, but seen, heard and transmitted by sages.Vedas are also called shruti ("what is heard") literature,{{Harvnb|Apte|1965|p=887}} distinguishing them from other religious texts, which are called {{IAST|smṛti}} ("what is remembered"). The Veda, for orthodox Indian theologians, are considered revelations, some way or other the work of the Deity.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} In the Hindu Epic the Mahabharata, the creation of Vedas is credited to the deity responsible for creation, Brahma.Seer of the Fifth Veda: Kr̥ṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa in the Mahābhārata Bruce M. Sullivan, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 85–86There are four Vedas: the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda.Bloomfield, M. The Atharvaveda and the Gopatha-Brahmana, (Grundriss der Indo-Arischen Philologie und Altertumskunde II.1.b.) Strassburg 1899; Gonda, J. A history of Indian literature: I.1 Vedic literature (Samhitas and Brahmanas); I.2 The Ritual Sutras. Wiesbaden 1975, 1977 Each Veda has been subclassified into four major text types – the Samhitas (mantras and benedictions), the Aranyakas (text on rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices), the Brahmanas (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices), and the Upanishads (text discussing meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).Gavin Flood (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-521-43878-0}}, pages 35–39A Bhattacharya (2006), Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology, {{ISBN|978-0-595-38455-6}}, pp. 8–14; George M. Williams (2003), Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-19-533261-2}}, page 285Jan Gonda (1975), Vedic Literature: (Saṃhitās and Brāhmaṇas), Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-447-01603-2}}

Upanishads

The Upanishads are a collection of Hindu texts which contain the central philosophical concepts of Hinduism.{{Sfn|Olivelle|1998|p=3}}{{refn|group=note|These include rebirth, karma, moksha, ascetic techniques and renunciation. {{harvtxt|Olivelle|1998}}}} The Upanishads are the foundation of Hindu philosophical thought and its diverse traditions.Wiman Dissanayake (1993), Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice (Editors: Thomas P. Kasulis et al.), State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0-7914-1080-6}}, p. 39; Quote: "The Upanishads form the foundations of Hindu philosophical thought and the central theme of the Upanishads is the identity of Atman and Brahman, or the inner self and the cosmic self.";Michael McDowell and Nathan Brown (2009), World Religions, Penguin, {{ISBN|978-1-59257-846-7}}, pp. 208–210The Upanishads are commonly referred to as Vedānta, interpreted to mean either the "last chapters, parts of the Veda" or "the object, the highest purpose of the Veda".Max Muller, The Upanishads, Part 1, Oxford University Press, page LXXXVI footnote 1 The concepts of Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and Ātman (Soul, Self) are central ideas in all the Upanishads,{{sfn|Mahadevan|1956|p=59}} and "Know your Ātman" their thematic focus.PT Raju (1985), Structural Depths of Indian Thought, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0-88706-139-4}}, pp. 35–36 The central ideas of the Upanishads have had a lasting influence on Hindu philosophy.{{Sfn|Olivelle|1998|p=3}}{{Refn|Even though theoretically the whole of vedic corpus is accepted as revealed truth [shruti], in reality it is the Upanishads that have continued to influence the life and thought of the various religious traditions that we have come to call Hindu. Upanishads are the scriptures par excellence of Hinduism.|group=note}}More than 200 Upanishads are known, of which ten are the oldest and most important and are referred to as the mukhya (main) or principal Upanishads.Stephen Phillips (2009), Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-231-14485-8}}, Chapter 1E Easwaran (2007), The Upanishads, {{ISBN|978-1-58638-021-2}}, pp. 298–299 The ten mukhya Upanishads are: Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, and Brihadaranyaka.BOOK, Piparaiya, Ram K., Ten Upanishads of Four Vedas., Motilal Banarsidass, 2003, The mukhya Upanishads are found mostly in the concluding part of the Brahmanas and Aranyakas{{sfn|Mahadevan|1956|p=56}} and were, for centuries, memorized by each generation and passed down verbally. The early Upanishads all predate the Common Era, some in all likelihood pre-Buddhist (6th century BCE),{{Sfn|Olivelle|1998a|p=12-14}} down to the Maurya period.{{sfn|King|Ācārya|p=52|1995}} Of the remainder, some 95 Upanishads are part of the Muktika canon, composed from about the start of common era through medieval Hinduism. New Upanishads, beyond the 108 in the Muktika canon, continued being composed through the early modern and modern era, though often dealing with subjects unconnected to Hinduism.{{sfn|Ranade|1926|p=12}}{{sfn|Varghese|2008|p=101}}

Smriti

Smriti is the classification of literature which includes various scriptures and Itihasas (epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata), Harivamsa Puranas, Agamas and Darshanas. This genre of texts includes the Sutras and Shastras of the six schools of Hindu philosophy: Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta.Andrew Nicholson (2013), Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in Indian Intellectual History, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-231-14987-7}}, pp. 2–5Karl Potter (1991), Presuppositions of India's Philosophies, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-81-208-0779-2}}The Sutras and Shastras texts were compilations of technical or specialized knowledge in a defined area. The earliest are dated to the latter half of the 1st millennium BCE. The Dharma-shastras (law books), derivatives of the Dharma-sutras. Other examples were bhautikashastra "physics", rasayanashastra "chemistry", jīvashastra "biology", vastushastra "architectural science", shilpashastra "science of sculpture", arthashastra "economics" and nītishastra "political science".Jan Gonda (1970 through 1987), A History of Indian Literature, Volumes 1 to 7, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-447-02676-5}} It also includes Tantras and Agama literature.Teun Goudriaan and Sanjukta Gupta (1981), Hindu Tantric and Śākta Literature, A History of Indian Literature, Volume 2, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-447-02091-6}}, pp. 7–14File:Bhagavad Gita, a 19th century manuscript.jpg|thumb|A 19th century manuscript of the Hindu text Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

Puranas

The Puranas, which mean "history" or "old", are Sanskrit texts which were composed between 3rd century BCE and 1000 CE.WEB, Puranas,weblink UCLA Social Sciences, The Puranas are a vast genre of Hindu texts that encyclopedically cover a wide range of topics, particularly legends and other traditional lore.Greg Bailey (2001), Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (Editor: Oliver Leaman), Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0-415-17281-3}}, pp. 437–439 Composed primarily in Sanskrit, but also in regional languages,John Cort (1993), Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaina Texts (Editor: Wendy Doniger), State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0-7914-1382-1}}, pp. 185–204Gregory Bailey (2003), The Study of Hinduism (Editor: Arvind Sharma), The University of South Carolina Press, {{ISBN|978-1-57003-449-7}}, pp. 139 several of these texts are named after major Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi.Ludo Rocher (1986), The Puranas, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-447-02522-5}}, pp. 1–5, 12–21BOOK,weblink Echoes of Ancient Indian Wisdom: The Universal Hindu Vision and Its Edifice, Nair, Shantha N., Hindology Books, 2008, 978-81-223-1020-7, 266, The Puranic literature is encyclopedic,Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, {{ISBN|0-877790426}}, page 915 and it includes diverse topics such as cosmogony, cosmology, genealogies of gods, goddesses, kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, folk tales, pilgrimages, temples, medicine, astronomy, grammar, mineralogy, humor, love stories, as well as theology and philosophy. The content is diverse across the Puranas, and each Purana has survived in numerous manuscripts which are themselves voluminous and comprehensive. The Hindu Puranas are anonymous texts and likely the work of many authors over the centuries; in contrast, most Jaina Puranas can be dated and their authors assigned.There are 18 Maha Puranas (Great Puranas): Agni Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, Garuda Purana, Kurma Purana, Linga Purana, Markandeya Purana, Naradiya Purana, Padma Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Vamana Purana, Varaha Purana, Vayu Purana, and Vishnu Purana and 18 Upa Puranas (Minor Puranas),Cornelia Dimmitt (2015), Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas, Temple University Press, {{ISBN|978-81-208-3972-4}}, pp. xii, 4 with over 400,000 verses. The Puranas do not enjoy the authority of a scripture in Hinduism, but are considered a Smriti.Greg Bailey (2001), Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (Editor: Oliver Leaman), Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0-415-17281-3}}, p. 503 These Hindu texts have been influential in the Hindu culture, inspiring major national and regional annual festivals of Hinduism.Ludo Rocher (1986), The Puranas, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-447-02522-5}}, pp. 12–13, 134–156, 203–210 The Bhagavata Purana has been among the most celebrated and popular text in the Puranic genre.Dominic Goodall (1996), Hindu Scriptures, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0-520-20778-3}}, page xliBOOK,weblink The Cosmology of the Bhagavata Purana 'Mysteries of the Sacred Universe, Thompson, Richard L., Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2007, 978-81-208-1919-1, 10, The Bhagavata Purana emphasizes bhakti (devotion) towards Krishna. The Bhagavata Purana is a key text in Krishna bhakti literature.WEB, Hindu Philosophy,weblink Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy,

Mahabharata

The Mahābhārata, which translates to "Great story of Bharat", was probably compiled between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE, with the oldest preserved parts not much older than around 400 BCE.BOOK, Austin, Christopher R., Pradyumna: Lover, Magician, and Son of the Avatara, 2019, Oxford University Press, 978-0-19-005411-3, 21,weblink en, 11 January 2020, 7 September 2023,weblink live, Brockington (1998, p. 26) The text probably reached its final form by the early Gupta period ({{Circa|4th century CE}}).WEB,weblink How did the 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata' come to be (and what has 'dharma' got to do with it)?, Devdutt, Pattanaik, Scroll.in, 13 December 2018, 30 May 2020, 14 August 2020,weblink live, Van Buitenen; The Mahabharata – 1; The Book of the Beginning. Introduction (Authorship and Date) The composition is traditionally attributed to Vedavyasa and is made up of over 100,000 shlokas.WEB, Doniger, Wendy, Mahabharata,weblink Encyclopædia Britannica, 5 February 2024, The plot of the Mahabharata covers the events of the war between two groups of cousins (the Pandavas and the Kauravas) and the aftermath of the Kurukshetra War. The Mahabharata also teaches about dharma (duty), the stories of many key figures in Hinduism, and includes the Bhagavad Gita.The Bhagavad Gita is made up of 700 shlokas and is the discussion between Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield before the start of the war. Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita teaches Arjuna about atma (soul), God, moksha, and dharma.WEB, The Bhagavad GÄ«tā,weblink Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy,

Ramayana

Main article: RamayanaThe Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit text with the earliest part believed to have been composed in the 5th century BCE, is attributed to the sage Valmiki and contains over 24,000 verses.WEB, Basu, Anindita, 30 August 2016, Ramayana,weblink World History Encyclopedia, The epic covers the life journey of Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, along with his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana. Central to the plot is the fourteen-year exile endured by Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, during which Sita is abducted by Ravana of Lanka. Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana, Hanuman (a devotee of Rama), and an army, engages in a battle with Ravana, ultimately emerging victorious with Rama's slaying of Ravana. The epic concludes with Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana's return to Ayodhya, where Rama is crowned king and reigns over Ayodhya.

Other Hindu texts

Hindu texts for specific fields, in Sanskrit and other regional languages, have been reviewed as follows:{| class="wikitable sortable"! Field !! Reviewer !! Reference

		978-3-447-05306-8}}

	Bruno Dagens>B Dagens	PK Acharya (1946), An Encyclopedia of Hindu Architecture, Oxford University Press, Also see Volumes 1 to 6Bruno Dagens (1995), MAYAMATA : An Indian Treatise on Housing Architecture and Iconography, {{ISBN|978-81-208-3525-2}}

		978-0-19-535190-3}}

		The Sanskrit Drama, Oxford University PressRachel Baumer and James Brandon (1993), Sanskrit Drama in Performance, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN>81-208-0772-3}}Mohan Khokar (1981), Traditions of Indian Classical Dance, Peter Owen Publishers, {{ISBN|978-0-7206-0574-7}}

		978-90-04-12556-8}}

		978-90-04-10260-6}}

		978-3-447-01546-2}}

		3-447-01722-8}}

		3-447-01519-5}}

		3-447-01722-8}}

		978-0-691-12067-6}}David Pingree, A Census of the Exact Sciences in Sanskrit, Volumes 1 to 5, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN|978-0-87169-213-9}}

		978-81-250-2505-4}}Kenneth Zysk, Medicine in the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-81-208-1401-1}}

		978-3-447-01831-9}}Lewis Rowell, Music and Musical Thought in Early India, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|0-226-73033-6}}

		978-3-447-02522-5}}

		81-208-0309-4}}

		3-447-01722-8}}

		Sexual Life in Ancient India, Vol 1 and 2, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN>978-1-4826-1588-3}}

		978-0-19-989182-5}}

		3-447-02091-1}}

		978-81-208-0222-3}}

		3-447-01603-5}}

Historical significance

The Hindu scriptures provide the early documented history of arts and science forms in India such as music, dance, sculptures, architecture, astronomy, science, mathematics, medicine and wellness. Valmiki's Ramayana (500 BCE to 100 BCE) mentions music and singing by Gandharvas, dance by Apsaras such as Urvashi, Rambha, Menaka, Tilottama Panchāpsaras, and by Ravana's wives who excelling in nrityageeta or "singing and dancing" and nritavaditra or "playing musical instruments").Ananda W. P. Guruge, 1991, The Society of the Ramayana, Page 180-200. The evidence of earliest dance related texts are in Natasutras, which are mentioned in the text of Panini, the sage who wrote the classic on Sanskrit grammar, and who is dated to about 500 BCE.BOOK, Natalia Lidova, Drama and Ritual of Early Hinduism,weblink 1994, Motilal Banarsidass, 978-81-208-1234-5, 111–113, {{Sfn|Richmond|Swann|Zarrilli|1993|p=30}} This performance arts related Sutra text is mentioned in other late Vedic texts, as are two scholars names Shilalin (IAST: Śilālin) and Krishashva (Kṛśaśva), credited to be pioneers in the studies of ancient drama, singing, dance and Sanskrit compositions for these arts.{{Sfn|Tarla Mehta|1995|pp=xxiv, xxxi–xxxii, 17}} Richmond et al. estimate the Natasutras to have been composed around 600 BCE, whose complete manuscript has not survived into the modern age.{{Sfn|Richmond|Swann|Zarrilli|1993|p=30}}

See also

• Rigveda
• Yajurveda
• Samaveda
• Indian epic poetry
• Hindu eschatology
• List of Hindu texts
• List of historic Indian texts
• Sutra
• Prasthanatrayi
• Sanskrit literature
• Sanskrit-related topics
• Timeline of Hindu texts

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

Bibliography

• BOOK, Apte, Vaman Shivram, The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, 1965, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi, 81-208-0567-4,
• BOOK, Flood, Gavin, The Blackwell companion to Hinduism, 2003, Blackwell Publ, Oxford, 1-4051-3251-5,
• {{citation|first1=Richard|last1= King|year= 1995|last2= Ä€cārya|first2= Gauḍapāda|title= Early Advaita Vedānta and Buddhism: the Mahāyāna context of the GauḍapādÄ«ya-kārikā|publisher= SUNY Press|isbn= 978-0-7914-2513-8}}
• {{Citation|title=History of Philosophy Eastern and Western|first=T. M. P|last=Mahadevan|editor=Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|year=1956|publisher=George Allen & Unwin Ltd}}
• BOOK, Arthur Anthony, MacDonell, 2004, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, Motilal Banarsidass, 978-81-208-2000-5,
• BOOK, Tarla Mehta, Sanskrit Play Production in Ancient India,weblink 1995, Motilal Banarsidass, 978-81-208-1057-0,
• BOOK, Patrick, Olivelle, 1998a, The Early Upanisads, Oxford University Press, 978-0-19-512435-4,
• {{Citation|last=Olivelle|first=Patrick|title=Upaniá¹£ads|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|isbn=978-0-19-283576-5}}
• BOOK, Radhakrishnan, S., Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Moore, C. A., 1957, A Source Book in Indian Philosophy, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 978-0-691-01958-1, registration,weblink
• {{Citation|title=A constructive survey of Upanishadic philosophy|first=R. D.|last=Ranade|year=1926|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan}}
• BOOK, Farley P., Richmond, Darius L., Swann, Phillip B., Zarrilli, Indian Theatre: Traditions of Performance,weblink 1993, Motilal Banarsidass, 978-81-208-0981-9,
• {{Citation|title=India : History, Religion, Vision And Contribution To The World|volume=1|first=Alexander P|last=Varghese|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|year=2008|isbn=978-81-269-0903-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7GKwhuea9kC}}

Further reading

• R.C. Zaehner (1992), Hindu Scriptures, Penguin Random House, {{ISBN|978-0-679-41078-2}}
• Dominic Goodall, Hindu Scriptures, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0-520-20778-3}}
• Jessica Frazier (2014), The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu studies, Bloomsbury Academic, {{ISBN|978-1-4725-1151-5}}

External links

Manuscripts collections (incomplete)

• A handlist of Sanskrit and Prakrit Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Manuscripts held by the Wellcome Library, Volume 1, Compiled by Dominik Wujastyk (Includes subjects such as historic Dictionaries, Drama, Erotics, Ethics, Logic, Poetics, Medicine, Philosophy, etc.)
• A handlist of Sanskrit and Prakrit Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Manuscripts held by the Wellcome Library, Volume 2, Compiled by Dominik Wujastyk (Includes subjects such as historic Dictionaries, Drama, Erotics, Ethics, Logic, Poetics, Medicine, Philosophy, etc.; for complete 6 set collection see {{ISBN|0-85484-049-4}})
• Clay Sanskrit Library publishes Sanskrit literature with downloadable materials.
• The Sacred Books of the Hindus Information

{{Commons category|Hindu texts}}Online resources:

• The British Library: Discovering Sacred Texts - Hinduism
• Sacred-Texts: Hinduism
• Sanskrit Documents Collection: Documents in ITX format of Upanishads, Stotras etc.
• GRETIL: Göttingen Register of Electronic Texts in Indian Languages, a cumulative register of the numerous download sites for electronic texts in Indian languages.

{{Hindu deities and texts}}{{Hindudharma}}