Hinduism Portal
Hinduism is formed of multiple traditions and does not have a founder. Originally, Hindu was a secular term which was used to describe all inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent (or Hindustan) irrespective of their religious affiliation. An important part of Hinduism is the "Vedic religion". It is also called the oldest living religion. A large body of texts is classified as Hindu which includes discussions on theology, philosophy and mythology, and information on the practice of dharma (religious living).
Glossary:
| A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - ZOverview of all Hinduism books:
added 2012-10-01
Volume I comprises Buddhist and Jaina Philosophy and the six systems of Hindu thought, viz.., Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Mimamsa and Vedanta.
This is the first of five volumes, that were originally published between 1922 ...
added 2012-10-23
Volume 2 completes studies in the Sankara School of Vedanta. It also contains the philosophy of the Yogavasistha, the Bhagavadgita and speculations in the medical schools.
This is the second of five volumes, that were original...
added 2013-01-17
Vol. III contains an elaborate account of the principal dualistic and pluralistic systems such as the philosophy of the Pancaratra. Bhaskara, Yamuna, Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Vijnanabhiksu and philosophical speculations of some of the ...
added 2014-02-26
Vol. IV deals with the Bhagavata Purana, Madhva and his School, Vallabha, Caitanya, Jiva Gosvami and Baladeva Vidyabhusana.
This is the fourth of five volumes, that were originally published between 1922 and 1955. In these vol...
added 2014-09-14
Vol. V contains an examination of the literature of southern Saivism, Vira-Saivism, the philosophy of Srikantha, the Saiva philosophy in the Puranas, and Saiva philosophy in some important texts.
This is the fifth and final of ...
added 2014-09-04
The Dharmasutra of Āpastamba forms a part of the larger Kalpasūtra of Āpastamba. It contains thirty praśnas, which literally means ‘questions’ or books. The subjects of this Dharmasūtra are well organized and preserved in...
added 2014-09-05
These Sūtras give some general information about the performance of sacrifices, and may prove useful to the students both of the Śrauta and the Gṛhya sacrifices. Paribhāshā is defined as a general rule or definition applicab...
added 2014-09-05
The short treatise of Āpastamba on the Gṛhya ritual forms one Praśna of the great corpus of the Āpastambīya-Kalpa-sūtra and stands, among the Gṛhya texts, in closest connection with the Hiraṇyakeśi-Gṛhya-sūtra.
added 2014-07-31
The Ashtavakra Gita (अष्टावक्रगीता; aṣṭāvakragītā) or the 'Song of Ashtavakra' is a classical Advaita Vedanta scripture.
Ashtavakra Gita (or 'Ashtavakra Samhita') is a dialogue between Ashtavakr...
added 2014-09-05
Most of the questions referring to the Gṛhya-sūtra of Āśvalāyana will be treated of more conveniently in connection with the different subjects which we shall have to discuss in our General Introduction to the Gṛhya-sūtras.
added 2014-09-04
The praśnas of the Dharmasūtra of Baudhāyana consist of the Srautasutra and other ritual treatises, the Sulvasutra which deals with vedic geometry, and the Grhyasutra which deals with domestic rituals.
The Dharmasūtra of Ba...
added 2014-07-31
English translation of the Gita-mahatmya. This book represents a conversation between Shiva and his consort Srimati Parvati. It is Lord Shiva’s glorification of the Bhagavad-gita.
Alternative spellings of this book include:
...
added 2010-09-08
God has a million Names. Select any Name of His, any Name that appeals to you, select any Form of His; every day when you awaken to the call of the brightening east, recite the Name, meditate on the Form; have the Name and Form as...
added 2014-03-08
The Brahma sūtras (or, Vedānta Sūtras), are one of the three canonical texts of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy.
The Brahma sūtra is an early exposition of the Vedanta-interpretation of the Upanishads. It is an atte...
added 2013-05-08
The Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛta by Sanātana Gosvāmī is a consummate rendering in Sanskrit verse of Vaiṣṇava devotional spirituality as inspired by Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya, or simply Caitanya (1486–1533).
This edition contai...
added 2013-07-14
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is revered by devotees as an incarnation of Krishna and Radharani as avatars of the Parmatma, or Supreme Godhead. He was born in an Oriya Hindu family. According to beliefs of orthodox followers Caitanya Mahap...
added 2013-05-16
The English translation of the Devi Bhagavata Purana. This Sanskrit work describes the Devi (Divine), the Goddess, as the foundation of the world and as identical with Brahman, the Supreme Being.
The Devi Bhagavata Purana is on...
added 2017-07-16
This volume of Chola Temples covers Parantaka I to Rajaraja I in the timeframe A.D. 907-985.
The Cholas of Southern India left a remarkable stamp in the history of Indian architecture and sculpture. Besides that, the Chola dyn...
added 2014-09-04
The topics in this Dharmasūtra are devoted to the student, the order of a person's life (āśramas), the householder, occupations of the four classes, the king, impurity, ancestral offerings, women and marriage, property, inherit...
added 2014-09-05
The Sūtra of Gobhila presupposes, beside the Saṃhitā of the Sāma-veda, another collection of Mantras which evidently was composed expressly with the purpose of being used at Gṛhya ceremonies.
added 2013-02-05
Possibly the oldest extant text about Hatha Yoga, The Hatha Yoga Pradipika was written about the 15th century CE, by Swami Swatmarama, a disciple of Swami Goraknath.
added 2014-09-05
Hiraṇyakeśin was the founder of a ritual and scholastic tradition belonging to the Taittirīya branch of the Black Yajur Veda.
added 2015-02-28
The Isha Upanishad is a key scripture of the Vedanta sub-schools, and an influential Śruti to diverse schools of Hinduism. The text discusses the Atman (Soul, Self) theory of Hinduism, and is referenced by both Dvaita (dualism) a...
added 2015-02-07
The Kaivalya Upanishad is an advanced philosophy and is in reply to the plea of Ashvalayana, already advanced in both years and practice. Ashvalayana askes for the full understanding and realisation of the truth of his non-dual id...
added 2015-02-28
The first chapter contains the story of Naciketas and Yama; the second chapter teaches the path to liberation; the third chapter relates to Jivatma and the Paramatma; the fourth to sixth chapters contain the conclusion and verses ...
added 2013-09-10
This is the English translation of the Kathasaritsagara written by Somadeva around 1070. The principle story line revolves around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the Vidhyādharas (‘celestial being...
added 2015-02-26
The very title of this Upanishad is philosophically significant. Kena in Sanskrit implies a question, and means by ‘by whom?’ Philosophy matures only when it becomes a critical estimate of experience and all its assumptions; o...
added 2014-09-05
The Khādira-Gṛhya has evidently been composed with the intention of abridging Gobhila's very detailed and somewhat lengthy treatise on the domestic rites
The Gṛhya-sūtra ascribed to Khādirācārya belongs to the Drāhyā...
added 2015-01-09
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of India. Besides its epic narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes, the Mahabharata contains philosophical and devotional materia...
added 2016-07-02
This is the English translation of the Manusmriti, which is a collection of Sanskrit verses dealing with ‘Dharma’, a collective name for human purpose, their duties and the law. Various topics will be dealt with, but this volu...
added 2017-07-23
This volume of Chola Temples covers Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I in the timeframe A.D. 985-1070.
The Cholas of Southern India left a remarkable stamp in the history of Indian architecture and sculpture. Besides that, the Chola d...
added 2010-09-08
added 2014-08-02
added 2013-02-01
The Nectar of Devotion is a summary study of Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, which was written in Sanskrit by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda. He was the chief of the six Gosvāmīs, who were the direct disciples of Lord Caitanya M...
added 2013-05-26
While going through the Complete Works of Swami Rama, “In Woods of God Realization” one is struck with the vast number of simple stories, so profusely used by Swami Rama to illustrate the highest teaching of Vedanta. The most ...
added 2014-09-05
THE Gṛhya-sūtra of Pāraskara, which belongs to the White Yajur-veda and forms an appendix to Kātyāyana's Śrauta-sūtra, has been edited, with a German translation.
added 2013-07-07
The Advaita tradition traces its inspiration to God Himself — as Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa or as Sadā-Śiva. The supreme Lord revealed the wisdom of Advaita to Brahma, the Creator, who in turn imparted it to Vasiṣṭha.
added 2014-09-04
The Gṛhya-sūtra ascribed to Śāṅkhāyana, which has been edited and translated into German in the XVth volume of the "Indische Studien", is based on the first of the four Vedas, the Rig-veda in the Bāshkala recens...
added 2017-06-25
A collection of papers and essays addressing the Śakti aspect of the Śākta school of Hindu philosophy by John Woodroffe, also known as Arthur Avalon.
added 2013-05-07
Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu is an ontological analysis of the pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa presented in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in terms of the internal structure and stages of development of uttama-bhakti, pure devotional serv...
added 2014-08-14
Gaudiya Kantahara was published by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to train devotees in the philosophy of Krishna-consciousness and to be able to quote the authoritative parts of the Vedas. A collection of over a thousand verses, ...
added 2014-08-14
The book contains the essence on how devotees develop love of Krishna, and how they bring Krishna under control through their love.
added 2013-05-26
The Isha Upanishad (īśa upaniṣad or īśopaniṣad) is one of the shortest of the Upanishads. It describes the nature of the supreme being (Ish).
Copyright: bvml.org; Please visit source for more information. Permission wa...
added 2014-08-13
Sri Krishna Vijaya is the description of Lord Krishna's pastimes when He appeared on earth more than five thousand years ago.
Compiled by the famous Vaishnava Poet Gunaraja Khan (also known as Maladhar Vasu).
added 2014-08-02
Sanatkumara in Sanskrit means "eternal youth".
Sage Sanatkumara was one of the Four Kumaras, the four Manasputras (mind-born-sons) or spiritual sons of Brahma. He is also the author of the Sanatkumara Samhita, which i...
added 2013-05-08
A Hundred Verses Glorifying Śrī Syamananda.
added 2015-10-23
The Sushruta Samhita is the most representative work of the Hindu system of medicine. It embraces all that can possibly appertain to the science of medicine.
Susruta-samhita is recognized as the first authoritative book on Ayurv...
added 2015-11-12
The Sushruta Samhita is the most representative work of the Hindu system of medicine. It embraces all that can possibly appertain to the science of medicine.
Susruta-samhita is recognized as the first authoritative book on Ayurv...
added 2015-12-07
The Sushruta Samhita is the most representative work of the Hindu system of medicine. It embraces all that can possibly appertain to the science of medicine.
Susruta-samhita is recognized as the first authoritative book on Ayurv...
added 2015-12-12
The Sushruta Samhita is the most representative work of the Hindu system of medicine. It embraces all that can possibly appertain to the science of medicine.
Susruta-samhita is recognized as the first authoritative book on Ayurv...
added 2015-12-13
The Sushruta Samhita is the most representative work of the Hindu system of medicine. It embraces all that can possibly appertain to the science of medicine.
Susruta-samhita is recognized as the first authoritative book on Ayurv...
added 2015-12-19
The Sushruta Samhita is the most representative work of the Hindu system of medicine. It embraces all that can possibly appertain to the science of medicine.
Susruta-samhita is recognized as the first authoritative book on Ayurv...
added 2016-01-26
Volume 8, The Sacred Books of the East. This part Contains the english translation of the Anugita (a portion of the Ashvamedhika Parva from the Mahabharata).
added 2014-08-01
Volume 8, The Sacred Books of the East. This part Contains the english translation of the Bhagavad-gita.
added 2014-08-31
The Hitopadesa is a work of high antiquity, and extended popularity. The prose is doubtless as old as our own era; but the intercalated verses and proverbs compose a selection from writings of an age extremely remote.
added 2013-05-25
The Brahma Purana (Brahma Purāņa) is one of the major eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts. It is divided into two parts:
1) the Purvabhaga and
2) the Uttarabhaga.
The first part narrates the story be...
added 2015-02-23
This Upanishad is widely known for its philosophical statements and is ascribed to Yajnavalkya. It looks at reality as being indescribable and its nature to be infinite and consciousness-bliss. Ethics revolve around the five Yajna...
added 2014-09-04
The Ganesha Purana is a Hindu religious text dedicated to the Hindu deity Ganesha (Gaṇeśa). It is an upapurāṇa that includes many stories and ritualistic elements relating to Ganesha.
Ganesha Purana – Translated by Prof...
added 2013-05-26
The Garuda Purana (Garuḍa purāṇa) is a smriti Purana (smṛti, Hindu customary law). Its first part contains a dialog between Vishnu and Garuda, the King of Birds. The second half contains details of life after death, funeral...
added 2013-07-18
This is a translation of an abridged version of the Garuda Purana. The Garuda Purana is one of the Vishnu Puranas. It is in the form of a dialog between Vishnu and Garuda, the King of Birds. The second section of this Purana (give...
added 2015-04-16
The English translation of the Garuda Purana: contents include a creation theory, description of vratas (religious observances), sacred holidays, sacred places dedicated to the sun, but also prayers from the Tantrika ritual, addre...
added 2014-08-31
The Harsha-charita of Banabhatta, trans. by E. B. Cowell and F. W Thomas, 1897
added 2016-02-21
The Ishavasya Upanishad (or simply Isha) is one of the shortest of its kind, and basically represents a brief philosophical poem discussing the soul/self (Atman). This edition contains the Kanva recension, consisting of 18 verses....
added 2016-02-20
The Ishavasya Upanishad (or simply Isha) is one of the shortest of its kind, and basically represents a brief philosophical poem discussing the soul/self (Atman). This edition contains the Kanva recension, consisting of 18 verses....
added 2016-02-23
The Katha Upanishad is a collection of philosophical poems representing a conversation between the sage Naciketas and Yama (god of death). They discuss the nature of Atman, Brahman and Moksha (liberation). The book is made up of s...
added 2016-02-21
The Kena Upanishad is a collection of philosophical poems discussing the attributes of Brahman: the unchanging, infinite universal spirit. Brahman is further proposed as the cause for all the forces of nature, symbolized as Gods. ...
added 2010-12-27
The Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. In it are records of the adventures of mythological beings, wars among the gods and stories of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas ...
added 2014-09-05
The Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. In it are records of the adventures of mythological beings, wars among the gods and stories of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas ...
added 2012-02-29
The Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. In it are records of the adventures of mythological beings, wars among the gods and stories of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas ...
added 2012-12-14
The Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. In it are records of the adventures of mythological beings, wars among the gods and stories of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas ...
added 2015-02-24
The Mandukya Upanishad is a short, just twelve verses, description of the material manifestation and the eventual return to unmanifest form of the Universe.
The Mandukya Karika by Gaudapada is a commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad. The school of philosophy this book attempts to expose is ‘Advaita Vedanta’, a non-dualistic path to spiritual realization of the self.
Many of the ...
added 2014-09-13
This is the English translation of the Markandeya Purana, one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. The Puranas (purāṇa) are a genre of Hindu religious texts. Its leading feature is narrative; and it presents an uninterrupted succession...
added 2016-01-16
The Abhinaya-darpana by Nandikeshvara is an encyclopedic manual of the art of gesticulation. It belongs to a wide range of literature known as Natya-shastra: the art of dramatic performance, theatrics, dance and music.
The Abh...
added 2016-02-21
The Mundaka Upanishad is a collection of philosophical poems used to teach meditation and spiritual knowledge regarding the true nature of Brahma and the Self (Atman). It is composed of the three main parts (mundakas):
1) The f...
added 2013-05-25
The Narada Purana (Nārada Purāṇa) is one of the major eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts. It deals with the places of pilgrimages and features a dialogue between the sage Narada, and Sanatkumara.
During...
added 2017-01-16
The English translation of the Natyashastra, a Sanskrit work on drama, performing arts, theater, dance, music and various other topics. The word natyashastra also refers to a global category of literature encompassing this ancient...
added 2014-08-02
Om auspiciousness. Salutation to the auspicious Ganes'a.
Salutation to the venerable Vasudeva Om.
added 2013-10-02
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2014-03-18
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2014-05-22
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2014-08-31
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2015-01-27
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2016-01-03
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2016-01-10
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2016-01-11
The Kathā Sarit Sāgara is the earliest extant short story collection, written by Somadeva around 1070. It's a fine collection of stories, presented in a fine translation, fascinating both simply as a good read and as an artifact...
added 2016-02-25
The Prashna Upanishad is a series philosophical poems presented as questions (prashna) inquired by various Hindu sages (Rishi) and answered by Sage Pippalada. The questions discuss knowledge about Brahman, the relation of the indi...
added 2016-01-26
Volume 8, The Sacred Books of the East. This part Contains the english translation of the Sanatsujatiya (a portion of the Udyoga Parva from the Mahabharata).
added 2014-05-29
The Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha is a compendium of different philosophical schools of Hindu thought and Pañcadaśī, an important text in the Advaita Vedanta tradition.
added 2013-07-18
This is part I of the Sacred Books of the East Satapatha Brahamana translation, containing Books I and II. This portion is notable for the description of the story of the flood of Manu.
added 2013-07-18
This is part II of the Sacred Books of the East Satapatha Brahamana translation, containing Books III and IV. This volume is concerned with the construction of the ceremonial space used in the Soma sacrifice. Every act, word and i...
added 2013-07-18
This is part III of the Sacred Books of the East Satapatha Brahamana translation, containing Books V, VI and VII. This portion is notable for the description of the extended Vedic creation myth. This includes a mention of a 'cosmi...
added 2013-07-18
This is part IV of the Sacred Books of the East Satapatha Brahamana translation, containing Books VIII, IX and X.
added 2013-07-18
This is part V of the Sacred Books of the East Satapatha Brahamana translation, the final part, containing Books XI, XII, XIII, and XIV.
added 2014-08-29
The following story of the appearance of Lord Nrisimhadeva is from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 7, Chapters 2-10.
At the performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice by Maharaja Yudhisthira, the celestial sage Narada Muni appeared to giv...
added 2014-07-20
The Taittiriya Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads, part of the Yajur Veda. It says that the highest goal is to know the Brahman, for that is truth. It is divided into three sections, 1) the Siksha Valli,...
added 2013-05-25
The Vishnu Purana (Viṣṇu Purāṇa) is a religious Hindu text and one of the (most important) eighteen Mahapuranas. It is also known as Puranaratna ("gem of Puranas").
Presented as a dialogue between Parashara and...
added 2014-08-29
The English translation of the Vishnu Purana. This is a primary sacred text of the Vaishnava branch of Hinduism. It is one of the eighteen greater Puranas, a branch of sacred Vedic literature which was first committed to writing d...
added 2014-03-03
Tirukkuṟaḷ is a classic of couplets or Kurals (1330 rhyming Tamil couplets) or aphorisms. It was authored by Thiruvalluvar, a poet who is said to have lived anytime between 2nd century BCE and 5th century CE. Most believe he w...
added 2014-03-03
Thiruvasagam is a volume of Tamil hymns composed by the ninth century Shaivite bhakti poet Manikkavacakar. It contains 51 compositions and constitutes the eighth volume of the Tirumurai, the sacred anthology of Tamil Shaiva Siddha...
added 2014-09-04
The Dharmasūtra of Vasiṣṭha forms an independent treatise and has no relationship with the Kalpasutra. The chapters of this text are divided in a way that resemble the practice of later Smritis. This Dharmasūtra has a unique...
added 2013-07-21
The Brahma sūtras (aka. Vedānta Sūtras) are one of the three canonical texts of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy.
The Brahma sūtra is the exposition of the philosophy of the Upanishads. It is an attempt to systemati...
added 2013-07-21
The Brahma sūtras (aka. Vedānta Sūtras) are one of the three canonical texts of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy.
The Brahma sūtra is the exposition of the philosophy of the Upanishads. It is an attempt to systemati...
added 2016-02-21
The Vivekachudamani is a collection of poetical couplets authored by Shankara around the eighth century. The philosophical school this compilation attempts to expose is called ‘Advaita Vedanta’, or non-dualism, one of the clas...
added 2014-08-24
The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali are 196 Indian sūtras (aphorisms) that constitute the foundational text of Ashtanga Yoga, also called Raja Yoga.
The commentaries are based upon the ancient commentaries written by Vyasa and Bhoj...
added 2014-12-14
Yoga Vasistha (Sanskrit: योग-वासिष्ठ) is a Hindu spiritual text written by sage Valmiki. It is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha...
added 2014-12-21
Yoga Vasistha (Sanskrit: योग-वासिष्ठ) is a Hindu spiritual text written by sage Valmiki. It is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha...
added 2014-12-21
Yoga Vasistha (Sanskrit: योग-वासिष्ठ) is a Hindu spiritual text written by sage Valmiki. It is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha...
added 2015-01-02
Yoga Vasistha (Sanskrit: योग-वासिष्ठ) is a Hindu spiritual text written by sage Valmiki. It is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha...
added 2015-01-18
Yoga Vasistha (Sanskrit: योग-वासिष्ठ) is a Hindu spiritual text written by sage Valmiki. It is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha...