THE VEDAS

 

There are four Vedas:  Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The Vedas comes from the Hinduism but they have also influenced Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.  Scholars concluded the Rig Veda was composed about 1500 B.C., and codified about 600 B.C. It was probably written down around 300 B.C. The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals.

 

— Rig-Veda
   A complete English translation of the Rig Vedas. Translated by Ralph Griffith [1896]
Book 1 || Book 2 || Book 3 || Book 4 || Book 5 || Book 6 || Book 7 || Book 8 || Book 9 || Book 10

 

— Sama-Veda
   A complete translation of the Sama-Vedas, which includes hymns used by the priests during the Soma sacrifice. Many of them are already part of the Rig Veda. Translated by Ralph Griffith [1895] 

Part 1 :  Preface || Book 1 || Book 2 || Book 3 || Book 4 || Book 5 || Book 6 

Part 2 : Book 1 || Book 2 || Book 3 || Book 4 || Book 5 || Book 6 || Book 7 || Book 8 || Book 9

  

— Black Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita) 

   A complete translation of the Black Yajur Veda.  Translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith [1914].

 

Table of Content  ||  Kanda I  ||  Kanda II  ||  Kanda III  ||  Kanda IV  ||  Kanda V  ||  Kanda VI  ||   Kanda VII

— White Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita) 

 
   A complete translation of the White Yajur Veda translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith [1899]

 

 

— Atharva Veda 

    Contains material from the Rig Veda, with extra incantations and metaphysical texts. Was written down, about 200 B.C. It may have been composed about 1000 B.C.

  

THE UPANISHAS

The Upanishads are a continuation of the Vedic philosophy, and were written between 800 and 400 B.C. They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and meditation, as well as the doctrine of Karma, the cumulative effects of our actions.

The Upanishads (Sacred Books of the East, vols. 1 and 15):

The Upanishads, Part I (SBE 1)

The Upanishads, Part II (SBE 15)

Thirty Minor Upanishads (Dealing with Yogic thought and practice)

From the Upanishads

 

THE PURANAS

The Puranas are post-Vedic texts which typically contain a complete narrative of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of the kings, heroes and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology and geography. There are 17 or 18 canonical Puranas, divided into three categories, each named after a deity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are also many other works termed Purana, known as ‘Upapuranas.’

The Vishnu Purana (A primary text of the Vaishnava branch of Hinduism)

The Garuda Purana (Descriptions of the afterlife and Hindu funeral rites)

The S’rimad Devî Bhâgawatam (Devi (Goddess)

The Devî Gita (The Song of the Goddess)

The Prem Sagur (Retelling of the Krishna cycle)

The Transmigration of the Seven Brahmans

Kundalini: The Mother of the Universe (Lalita Sahasranama)

 

OTHER PRIMARY TEXT

The Puranas are post-Vedic texts which typically contain a complete narrative of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of the kings, heroes and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology and geography. There are 17 or 18 canonical Puranas, divided into three categories, each named after a deity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are also many other works termed Purana, known as ‘Upapuranas.’

The Laws of Manu (Manu was the legendary first man)

The Sacred Laws of the Âryas, Part I (SBE 2)

The Sacred Laws of the Âryas, Part II (SBE 14)

(Hindu law books written by the sages Vasishtha and Baudhâyana)

The Institutes of Vishnu (SBE 7)

The Minor Law Books (SBE 33)

The Satapatha Brahmana

(primary source for Vedic-era mythology, philosophy and magical practices)

Satapatha Brahmana, Part I (SBE12)

Satapatha Brahmana, Part II (SBE26)

Satapatha Brahmana, Part III (SBE41)

Satapatha Brahmana, Part IV (SBE43)

Satapatha Brahmana, Part V (SBE44)

The Grihya Sutras, Part 1 (SBE 29)

The Grihya Sutras, Part 2 (SBE 30)

(Ancient Hindu household rites, including fertility, marriage, purity, initiations, and funerals.)

 

THE EPICS

The Mahabharata and Ramayana are the national epics of India. The Mahabharata, attributed to the sage Vyasa, was written down from 540 to 300 B.C. The Mahabharata tells the legends of the Bharatas, a Vedic Aryan group. The Ramayana, attributed to the poet Valmiki, was written down during the first century A.D., although it is based on oral traditions that go back six or seven centuries earlier. The Ramayana is a moving love story with moral and spiritual themes that has deep appeal in India to this day.

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata

The Mahabharata in Sanskrit

The Ramayana

Rámáyan Of Válmíki

The Ramayana in Sanskrit

Abridged Versions

The Ramayana and Mahabharata (A very readable abridged version of these epics.)

Indian Idylls (More stories from the Mahabharata)

Love and Death (The popular story of Ruru and Priyumvada from the Mahabharata.)

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is a central text of Hinduism, a philosophical dialog between the god Krishna and the warrior Arjuna. The Gita discusses selflessness, duty, devotion, and meditation, integrating many different threads of Hindu philosophy.

The Bhagavadgîtâ (SBE 8)

The Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit

Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita (A modern English translation with commentary)

The Bhagavad Gita (Another modern translation)

The Bhagavad Gita (Classic poetic version)

Vedanta

The Vedântâ-Sûtras (SBE 48)

The Vedântâ-Sûtras Part I (SBE 34)

The Vedântâ-Sûtras Part II (SBE 38)

The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom

Brahma-Knowledge (Short version of the Hindu Vedanta philosophy)

Recent Texts

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Translated by Charles Johnston [1912])

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Another translation)

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Dakshinamurti Stotra

The Sánkhya Aphorisms of Kapila

Kalidasa: Translations of Shakuntala and Other Works

The Little Clay Cart

Verses of Vemana

Black Marigolds

Vikram and the Vampire

Hymns of the Tamil Saivite Saints

Songs of Kabîr

Yoga Vashisht or Heaven Found

Modern Books

Relax with Yoga (Introduction to modern Raja Yoga, with photos of asanas)

Great Systems of Yoga

Old Deccan Days

Ramakrishna, His Life and Sayings

The Gospel of Ramakrishna

Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic

How To Be A Yogi

Twenty-two Goblins

Indian Fairy Tales

Indian Myth and Legend

Karma-Yoga

Hindu Mysticism

Writings of Sister Nivedita (Margaret E. Noble)

– Kali the Mother

– The Web of Indian Life

– Studies from an Eastern Home

Sacred Sexuality