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Puranas | Divided into sarga, pratisarga, manvantantar, vamsa (genealogical list of kings) & |
vamsanucharita. 18 main puranas & 18 subsidiary puranas. | |
Vedas | Meaning “knowledge”. Rigveda (hymns), Yajurveda (sacrificial formulae), Atharvaveda |
(magical charms & spell), Samveda. Vedas are called aparusheya (not created by man) & | |
nity | |
Upanishads | About 200 in number. Deal with philosophy. Oldest & most important are Chhandogya & |
Brihadranyaka. Other important are Kathak, Isa, Mundaka, Prasna etc. Do not believe in | |
sacrificial ceremonies. | |
Brahmanas | Talks about vedic hymns, their application, stories of their origin. Each Brahmana is |
associated with one of the four VedasAitareya brahmana is associated with Rig Veda & | |
Satapatha Brahmana with Yajur Veda. | |
Aranyakas | Meaning ‘the forest books’. They discuss philosophical meditation & sacrifice. |
Vedangas | Evolved for proper understanding of the Vedas. Six in all: Siksha (phonetics), Kalpa |
(rituals), Vyakarna, Nirukta (Etymology) Chhanda (metrics) & Jyotisha. | |
Vedanta | Advaita Vedanta of Adi Sankara. |
Ancient Books & Authors
1. | Mudrakshasha (Chandragupta Maurya defeating the Nandas); | Vishakhadatta |
Devichandraguptam | ||
2. | Malavikagnimitram (Pushyamitra Sunga) | Kalidas |
3. | Gudavaho (Yasovarman of Kannauj) | Vakpati |
4. | Vikramanakadevacharita (Chalukya king Vikramaditya) | Bilhana |
5. | Kumarapalacharita | Jayasimha |
6. | Hammirakavya | Nyayachandra |
7. | Dvayashraya Mahakavya; Sapta Sadhana | Hemchandra |
8. | Navashasankacharita | Padmagupta |
9. | Bhojaprabandha | Billal |
10. | Prithvirajcharita | Chandrabardai |
11. | Meghaduta; Raghuvamsa; Kumarasambhava; Vikramorvasiyam | Kalidas |
Abhijnanashakuntalam (Drama); | ||
12. | Mrichakatika | Sudraka |
13. | Uttarama-Charita; Malati Madhava | Bhavbhuti |
14. | Amarakosha | Amarasimha |
15. | SI-YU-KI | Hiuen Tsang |
16. | Brahmasiddhanta; Khandakhadya | Brahmagupta |
17. | Dasakumaracharita | Dandin |
18. | Astanga-Sangraha; Astanga-Hirdaya-Samhita | Vagabhatta |
19. | Panchsiddhantika; Suryasiddhanta; Brihatsamhita | Varahamihira |
20. | Karpuramanjari; Bala Ramayana; Bala Bharata; Kavyamimamsa; | Rajshekhara |
Bhuvana Kosha; Haravilasa | ||
21. | Adinathacharita (Jaina Narrative) | Vardhamana |
22. | Shantinathacharita (Jaina Narrative) | Devachandra |
23. | Parsvanathacharita (Jaina Narrative) | Devabhadra |
24. | Prithviraja Vijay | Jayanka |
25. | Karnasundari | Bilhana |
26. | Saraswati Kanthabharana | Bhoja |
27. | Dasharupa | Dhananjaya |
28. | Harikeli Nataka | Visaladeva |
29. | Prasannaraghava | Jayadeva |
30. | Siddhanta Shiromani [4 parts – Lilavati, Bijaganita, Grahaganita & | Bhaskaracharya |
Gola (on Astronomy)] | ||
31. | Rajmariganka (On Astronomy) | King Bhoja |
32. | Chikitsakalika or Yogamala | Tisata-Vagbhatta’s Son |
33. | Mitakasara | Vijnanaeshvara |
34. | Nitishastra (On Polity) | Mathara |
35. | Nitisara (On Polity) | Kamandaka |
36. | Sushruta Samhita (encyclopedia on surgery) | Sushruta |
37. | Charaka Samhita (Teachings of Atreya) | Charaka |
38. | Buddhacharita, Vajrasuchi, Suandarananda | Asvaghosha |
39. | Mahabhasya | Patanjali |
40. | Harshacharita, Kadambari | Banabhatta |
41. | Ravan Vadha | Bhattin |
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Indian Religious Books are a vast and complex subject, with a rich history and tradition. The Vedas are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism, and they form the basis of Hindu philosophy and practice. The Upanishads are philosophical texts that explore the nature of reality and the human soul. The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna, and it is one of the most important texts in Hinduism. The Ramayana is an epic poem that tells the story of Rama, a prince who is exiled from his kingdom and must fight to regain his throne. The Mahabharata is another epic poem, and it is the longest epic poem in the world. The Puranas are a collection of stories and myths that tell the history of the universe and the gods. The Tantras are a group of texts that deal with Hindu Tantra, a system of religious practice that emphasizes the use of ritual and symbolism. The Agamas are a group of texts that deal with Hindu Agama, a system of religious practice that emphasizes the use of meditation and Yoga/”>Yoga. The Smritis are a group of texts that deal with Hindu law and custom. The Dharmashastras are a group of texts that deal with Hindu law. The Arthashastra is a text that deals with Hindu economics and politics. The Yoga Sutras are a text that deals with Hindu yoga. The Nyaya Sutras are a text that deals with Hindu logic. The Vaisheshika Sutras are a text that deals with Hindu metaphysics. The Mimamsa Sutras are a text that deals with Hindu ritual. The Vedanta Sutras are a text that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Brahma Sutras are a text that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Sankhya Karika is a text that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Yoga Vasistha is a text that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Chandogya Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Aitareya Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Kaushitaki Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Kena Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Isa Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Katha Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Svetasvatara Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Prasna Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Mundaka Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Mandukya Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Maitri Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Atma Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Hamsa Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Amrita Bindu Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Yoga Kundalini Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Jnana Bhairava Upanishad is an Upanishad that deals with Hindu philosophy. The Shiva Samhita is a text that deals with Hindu Tantra. The Vishnu Sahasranama is a text that deals with Hindu devotion. The Lakshmi Sahasranama is a text that deals with Hindu devotion. The Durga Saptashati is a text that deals with Hindu devotion. The Hanuman Chalisa is a text that deals with Hindu devotion. The Gayatri Mantra is a mantra that is used in Hindu prayer. The Om Namah Shivaya is a mantra that is used in Hindu prayer. The Shri Ram Mantra is a mantra that is used in Hindu prayer. The Shri Krishna Mantra is a mantra that is used in Hindu prayer. The Durga Mantra is a mantra that is used in Hindu prayer. The Hanuman Mantra is a mantra that is used in Hindu prayer.
These are just a few of the many Indian religious books that are available. Each book has its own unique perspective on Hindu philosophy and practice. Reading these books can help you to learn more about Hinduism and to deepen your own understanding of this rich and complex religion.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about Indian religious books:
What are the four Vedas?
The four Vedas are the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. They are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism and are considered to be the foundation of Hindu religion and culture.What are the Upanishads?
The Upanishads are a collection of philosophical texts that are part of the Vedas. They are considered to be the source of Hindu philosophy and contain the teachings of the great sages of India.What is the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture that is part of the Mahabharata. It is a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna, who is an incarnation of the god Vishnu. The Gita is considered to be one of the most important Hindu scriptures and contains the teachings of Krishna on a variety of topics, including karma, dharma, and moksha.What is the Ramayana?
The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic poem that tells the story of Rama, a prince who is exiled from his kingdom and must fight to reclaim his throne. The Ramayana is one of the most popular Hindu scriptures and is considered to be a model of Hindu life and values.What is the Mahabharata?
The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic poem that tells the story of the Kurukshetra War. The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world and is considered to be one of the most important Hindu scriptures. It contains a wealth of information on Hindu religion, philosophy, and culture.What is the Puranas?
The Puranas are a collection of Hindu scriptures that are considered to be a supplement to the Vedas. They contain stories about the gods and goddesses, as well as information on Hindu cosmology, history, and philosophy.What is the Tantras?
The Tantras are a collection of Hindu scriptures that are considered to be a more advanced form of Hinduism. They contain teachings on yoga, meditation, and ritual that are designed to help the practitioner achieve liberation.What is the Agamas?
The Agamas are a collection of Hindu scriptures that are considered to be a more devotional form of Hinduism. They contain teachings on the worship of the gods and goddesses, as well as information on Hindu ritual and architecture.What is the Smritis?
The Smritis are a collection of Hindu scriptures that are considered to be a more practical form of Hinduism. They contain teachings on Hindu law, ethics, and social customs.What is the Dharmashastras?
The Dharmashastras are a collection of Hindu scriptures that are considered to be a more legalistic form of Hinduism. They contain teachings on Hindu law, as well as information on Hindu social customs and rituals.
These are just a few of the many Indian religious books that are available. If you are interested in Learning more about Hinduism, I encourage you to explore these texts and discover the rich and complex world of Hindu religion.
Question 1
Which of the following is not a Hindu religious text?
(A) The Vedas
(B) The Upanishads
(C) The Mahabharata
(D) The Bible
Answer
(D) The Bible is a religious text of Christianity, not Hinduism.
Question 2
Which of the following is not a Buddhist religious text?
(A) The Dhammapada
(B) The Sutta Pitaka
(C) The Vinaya Pitaka
(D) The Quran
Answer
(D) The Quran is a religious text of Islam, not Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism.
Question 3
Which of the following is not a Jain religious text?
(A) The Agamas
(B) The Sutras
(C) The Nigamas
(D) The Bible
Answer
(D) The Bible is a religious text of Christianity, not Jainism.
Question 4
Which of the following is not a Sikh religious text?
(A) The Adi Granth
(B) The Guru Granth Sahib
(C) The Dasam Granth
(D) The Quran
Answer
(D) The Quran is a religious text of Islam, not Sikhism.
Question 5
Which of the following is not a Hindu deity?
(A) Vishnu
(B) Shiva
(C) Brahma
(D) Jesus
Answer
(D) Jesus is a deity of Christianity, not Hinduism.
Question 6
Which of the following is not a Buddhist deity?
(A) Buddha
(B) Bodhisattva
(C) Dharma
(D) Allah
Answer
(D) Allah is a deity of Islam, not Buddhism.
Question 7
Which of the following is not a Jain deity?
(A) Tirthankara
(B) Arhat
(C) Siddha
(D) God
Answer
(D) God is a deity of many religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. However, it is not a specific deity of Jainism.
Question 8
Which of the following is not a Sikh deity?
(A) Guru Nanak Dev Ji
(B) Guru Gobind Singh Ji
(C) Guru Amar Das Ji
(D) Jesus
Answer
(D) Jesus is a deity of Christianity, not Sikhism.
Question 9
Which of the following is not a Hindu festival?
(A) Diwali
(B) Holi
(C) Dussehra
(D) Christmas
Answer
(D) Christmas is a festival of Christianity, not Hinduism.
Question 10
Which of the following is not a Buddhist festival?
(A) Vesak
(B) Magha Puja
(C) Asalha Puja
(D) Eid al-Fitr
Answer
(D) Eid al-Fitr is a festival of Islam, not Buddhism.
Question 11
Which of the following is not a Jain festival?
(A) Mahavir Jayanti
(B) Paryushana
(C) Akshaya Tritiya
(D) Easter
Answer
(D) Easter is a festival of Christianity, not Jainism.
Question 12
Which of the following is not a Sikh festival?
(A) Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday
(B) Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday
(C) Baisakhi
(D) Ramadan
Answer
(D) Ramadan is a festival of Islam, not Sikhism.