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).

Name Description Alternate Names Date
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. Samhita 1500-500 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 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

Book Subject Area Topic Collection Language Author Date Reign of Reign Age Geographic Region Modern Name of Geographic Region Notes
Rig Veda Hindu hymns about various gods, and references to historic events. Part 1 of the four part Hindu canon. Veda/Samhita Sanskrit No concrete information available, but attributed to several rishis. 1500-500 BCE[1] Saptha Sindhva Indus region (Indus + its five tributaries + Saraswati)
Yajur Veda Hindu sacrificial knowledge. Part 3 of the four part Hindu canon. Veda/Samhita Sanskrit No concrete information available, but attributed to several 'rishis' 1500-500 BCE[1] Saptha Sindhva Indus region (Indus + its five tributaries + Saraswati)
Sama Veda Hindu music and arts. Part 2 of the four part Hindu canon. Veda/Samhita Sanskrit 1500-500 BCE[1]
Atharva Veda Hindu medicine, magic, sorcery. Part 4 of the four part Hindu canon. Veda/Samhita Sanskrit Attributed to rishis "Atharvana" and Angirasa. 1500-500 BCE[1]
Taittiriya Shakha Recension of Yajur Veda Shakha Sanskrit
Shaunaka Shakha Recension of Atharva Veda Shakha Sanskrit
Paippalada Shakha Recension of Atharva Veda Shakha Sanskrit
Satapatha Brahmana Hindu sacrificial knowledge. Commentary on Yajur Veda Brahmana Sanskrit 600 BCE - 500 BCE Supposedly an allegory of the Aryan expansion towards the east.
Aitareya Brahmana Hindu vedic practices. Commentary on Rig Veda Brahmana Sanskrit
Kaushitaki Brahmana Commentary on Rig Veda Sanskrit
Taittiriya Brahmana Hindu sacrificial knowledge. Commentary on Yajur Veda Brahmana Sanskrit
Samavidhana Brahmana Hindu music and arts. Commentary on Sama Veda Brahmana Sanskrit
Arseya Brahmana Hindu music and arts. Commentary on Sama Veda Brahmana Sanskrit
Devatadhyaya Brahmana Hindu music and arts. Commentary on Sama Veda Brahmana Sanskrit
Shakdwipiya Brahmana Hindu music and arts. Commentary on Sama Veda Brahmana Sanskrit
Tandyamaha Brahmana Hindu music and arts. Commentary on Sama Veda Brahmana Sanskrit
Aitareya Aranyaka Sanskrit
Kaushitaki Aranyaka Sanskrit
Taittiriya Upanishad Upanishad Sanskrit
Maitri Upanishad Upanishad Sanskrit
Mimamsa Sanskrit
Theravada Buddhism Buddhist Pali Canon Pali
Yoga Sanskrit
Ramayana Life of Rama, a prince of the Sun dynasty. Sanskrit Valmiki 400 BCE - 400 CE [2] Supposedly an allegory of the Aryan conquest of the pre-Aryan people.
Mahabharata Sanskrit Lord Ganesha while Veda Vyasa narrated it. 400 BCE - 400 CE [2]
Bhagavad Gita Krishna's advice to Arjuna on duty. Sanskrit Veda Vyasa 200 BCE - 200 CE [2] Not a separate work. Part of Mahabharata.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika Sanskrit
Gheranda Samhita Sanskrit
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Sanskrit Patanjali
Vishnu Purana Purana Sanskrit
Persian Wars Greek Herodotus
Arthashastra polity Sanskrit Chanakya (aka Kautilya) Chandragupta Maurya 321 BCE - 301 BCE Magadha Bihar
Milinda Panha Dialogues with King Milinda (Menander) Pali Menander circa 150 BCE Sagala Sialkot in Punjab
Buddhacharita Buddhism Life of Buddha Sanskrit Ashvagosha Kanishka 100 Purushapura Peshawar
Periplus of the Erythrean Sea A naval guide to Indian commerce. Greek 0-100 CE
Manusmriti (aka Manava Dharmaśāstra) Law, code of conduct. Code of conduct as described by Manu. Dharmaśāstra Sanskrit
Puranas Sanskrit
Kamasutra Sex A manual of love. Sanskrit Vātsyāyana 100-200 CE
Charaka Samhita Medicine Medical text. Sanskrit Charaka 100-200 CE
Ashtadyayi Sanskrit language Sanskrit grammar Sanskrit Panini circa 400 BCE
Siddhāntakaumudī Sanskrit language Sanskrit grammar. Rearranges and provides descriptions for Panini's Ashtadyayi. Sanskrit Bhattoji Diksita circa 1700 CE
Mahabhashya Sanskrit language Sanskrit grammar Sanskrit Patanjali circa 200 BCE
Devichandragupta Drama Drama about Chandragupta II (aka Vikramaditya) Sanskrit Vishakhadatta 600 BCE
Aryabhatiya Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Āryabhaṭa 499 CE
Surya Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira circa 400 CE
Romaka Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira 500-500 CE
Paulisa Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira 500-500 CE
Vasishtha Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira 500-500 CE
Paitamaha Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira 500-500 CE
Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Brahmagupta 628 CE
Mahabhaskariya Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhaskara I 600-680 CE Expansion of Aryabhatta's work
Dhavala Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Virasena 800-900 CE Amoghavarsha
Ganit Saar Sangraha Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Mahavira 800-870 CE Rashtrakuta
Nav Shatika Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Sridhara 870-930 CE Bengal
Maha-Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Aryabhata II 920–1000 CE Bengal Commentary on Sridhara's work
Siddhanta Sekhara Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Śrīpati 1019-1066 CE
Ganit Tilaka Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Śrīpati 1019-1066 CE
Dhikotidakarana Mathematics Lunar and solar eclipses Sanskrit Śrīpati 1019-1066 CE
Siddhanta Shiromani Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II 1114–1185 CE
Lilavati Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II 1114–1185 CE
Bijaganita Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II 1114–1185 CE
Gola Addhyaya Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II 1114–1185 CE
Griha Ganitam Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II 1114–1185 CE
Karun Kautoohal Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II 1114–1185 CE
Travels of Faxian Social life Travels in India during the Chandragupta II era Mandarin Faxian Chandragupta II (aka Vikramaditya) 375-415 CE Magadha Bihar
Shakuntala Drama Drama about a girl forgotten by her husband Sanskrit Kalidasa Chandragupta II (aka Vikramaditya) 375-415 CE Magadha Bihar
Meghadūta Drama Story of a cloud carrying a message amongst lovers Sanskrit Kalidasa Chandragupta II (aka Vikramaditya) 375-415 CE Magadha Bihar
Mrichakatika Drama Story of a poor brahman falling in love with a courtesan. Sanskrit Shudraka Chandragupta II (aka Vikramaditya) 375-415 CE Magadha Bihar
Harshacharita Biography Life of King Harsha Vardhana Sanskrit Bāṇabhaṭṭa Harsha Vardhana 606-647 CE Thanesar near Delhi
In the footsteps of Buddha Travel Mandarin Xuanzang 630-644 CE Harsha Vardhana 606-647 CE Thanesar near Delhi
In the footsteps of Buddha Travel Mandarin Xuanzang 630-644 CE Pulakesin II (Pulikesi) 610-642 CE Badami near Krishna river
Samkhya verses Sanskrit Isvara Krishna 200 CE
Soundarya Lahari Sanskrit Sankaracharya
Bhagavata Purana Religion Various mythologic stories Puranas Sanskrit Attributed to Vyasa 1100-1200 CE
Mattavilasa Prahasana Sanskrit Mahendravarman I Mahendravarman I (Pallava) 600-630 CE Kancheepuram Kancheepuram
Medicine Ma'dan ul Shifa Arabic Sikandar Lodi 1489-1517 CE Delhi
Music Lahjat I Sikandar Shahi Arabic Sikandar Lodi 1489-1517 CE Delhi
Persian Kabir 1440-1518 CE
Baburnama Autobiography Babur's life Chagatai Babur Babur Kabul, Delhi
Humayunnama Humayun's life Persian Humayun Delhi
Tulsidas Ramayan Hinduism Translation of Ramayana into Hindi Hindi Tulsidas 1532-1623 CE Akbar 1556-1605 CE Delhi
Guru Granth Sahib Sikhism Holy scripture of Sikhism Sant Bhasha Guru Arjan Dev 1563-1606 CE Jehangir 1605-1627 CE Punjab

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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