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[citation needed]
Upanishads Philosophy in response to Vedas and Brahmanas. 800-600 BCE[citation needed]
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
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] Sapta 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] Sapta 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[citation needed]
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]
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[citation needed] Magadha Bihar
Milinda Panha Dialogues with King Milinda (Menander) Pali Menander circa 150 BCE[citation needed] Sagala Sialkot in Punjab
Buddhacharita Buddhism Life of Shakyamuni Buddha Sanskrit Ashvagosha Kanishka 100[citation needed] Purushapura Peshawar
Periplus of the Erythrean Sea A naval guide to Indian commerce. Greek 0-100 CE[citation needed]
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
Charaka Samhita Medicine Medical text. Sanskrit Charaka
Ashtadyayi Sanskrit language Sanskrit grammar Sanskrit Panini
Siddhāntakaumudī Sanskrit language Sanskrit grammar. Rearranges and provides descriptions for Panini's Ashtadyayi. Sanskrit Bhattoji Diksita
Mahabhashya Sanskrit language Sanskrit grammar Sanskrit Patanjali
Devichandraguptam Drama Drama about Chandragupta II Sanskrit Vishakhadatta
Aryabhatiya Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Āryabhaṭa
Surya Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira
Romaka Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira
Paulisa Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira
Vasishtha Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira
Paitamaha Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Panchasiddhantika Sanskrit Varahamihira
Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Brahmagupta
Mahabhaskariya Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhaskara I Expansion of Aryabhatta's work
Dhavala Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Virasena Amoghavarsha
Ganit Saar Sangraha Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Mahavira Rashtrakuta
Nav Shatika Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Sridhara Bengal
Maha-Siddhanta Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Aryabhata II Bengal Commentary on Sridhara's work
Siddhanta Sekhara Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Śrīpati
Ganit Tilaka Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Śrīpati
Dhikotidakarana Mathematics Lunar and solar eclipses Sanskrit Śrīpati
Siddhanta Shiromani Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II
Lilavati Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II
Bijaganita Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II
Gola Addhyaya Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II
Griha Ganitam Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II
Karun Kautoohal Mathematics Mathematics Sanskrit Bhāskara II
Travels of Faxian Social life Travels in India during the Chandragupta II era Mandarin Faxian Chandragupta II 375-415 CE[citation needed] Magadha Bihar
Shakuntala Drama Drama about a girl forgotten by her husband Sanskrit Kalidasa Chandragupta II 375-415 CE[citation needed] Magadha Bihar
Meghadūta Drama Story of a cloud carrying a message amongst lovers Sanskrit Kalidasa Chandragupta II 375-415 CE[citation needed] Magadha Bihar
Mrichakatika Drama Story of a poor brahman falling in love with a courtesan. Sanskrit Shudraka Chandragupta II 375-415 CE[citation needed] Magadha Bihar
Harshacharita Biography Life of King Harsha Vardhana Sanskrit Bāṇabhaṭṭa Harsha Vardhana 606-647 CE[citation needed] Thanesar near Delhi
In the footsteps of Buddha Travel Mandarin Xuanzang Harsha Vardhana 606-647 CE[citation needed] Thanesar near Delhi
In the footsteps of Buddha Travel Mandarin Xuanzang Pulakesin II (Pulikesi) 610-642 CE[citation needed] Badami near Krishna river
Samkhya verses Sanskrit Isvara Krishna
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[citation needed] Kancheepuram Kancheepuram
Medicine Ma'dan ul Shifa Arabic Sikandar Lodi 1489-1517 CE[citation needed] Delhi
Music Lahjat I Sikandar Shahi Arabic Sikandar Lodi 1489-1517 CE[citation needed] Delhi
Persian Kabir
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 Akbar 1556-1605 CE[citation needed] Delhi
Guru Granth Sahib Sikhism Holy scripture of Sikhism Sant Bhasha Guru Arjan Dev Jehangir 1605-1627 CE[citation needed] Punjab

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Flood, Gavin (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. p. 37. ISBN 0521438780.
  2. ^ a b c Molloy, Michael (2008). Experiencing the World's Religions. p. 87. ISBN 9780073535647.
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