List of Hindu texts


Hinduism is an ancient religion, with denominations such as Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, among others. Each tradition has a long list of Hindu texts, with subgenre based on syncretization of ideas from Samkhya, Nyaya, Yoga, Vedanta and other schools of Hindu philosophy. Of these some called Sruti are broadly considered as core scriptures of Hinduism, but beyond the Sruti, the list of scriptures vary by the scholar.
Several lists include only the Vedas, the Principal Upanishads, the Agamas and the Bhagavad Gita as scriptures broadly accepted by Hindus. Goodall adds regional texts such as Bhagavata Purana and Yajnavalkya Smriti to the list. Beyond the Sruti, Hindu texts include Smritis, Shastras, Sutras, Tantras, Puranas, Itihasas, Stotras, Subhashitas and others.
Most of these texts exist in Sanskrit, and Old Tamil, and also later in other Indian subcontinent|Indic languages]. In modern times, most have been translated into other Indian languages and some in Western languages. This list includes major Hindu texts, along with the Hindu scriptures.

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  • Classics of Indian Mathematics: Algebra, with Arithmetic and Mensuration, from the Sanskrit of Brahmagupta and Bhāskara.
  • Chanakyaniti: collection of aphorisms, said to be selected by Chanakya from the various shastras
  • Chatuh Shloki: A Sanskrit hymn by Yamunacharya in praise of Lakshmi.

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  • Itihasas – meaning history. In Hindu religious context this term refers to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana because writer of the story has themselves witnessed the stories of both epics.

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  • Lilavati: book on including maths and algebra written by Indian mathematician Bhāskara II in 1150
  • Lal kitab

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  • Naam Ghosa is a Vaishnavite scripture of verses in praise of Lord Krishna. This book was written by Madhabdev in Assamese in about 1568–1596.
  • Naalayira Divya Prabhandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed before 8th century AD, by the 12 Alvars, and was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during the 9th – 10th centuries. The work is the beginning of the canonization of the 12 Vaishnava poet saints, and these hymns are still sung extensively even today. The works were lost before they were collected and organized in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni.
  • Natyashastra: Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, attributed to ancient Indian theatrologist and musicologist sage Bharata Muni. It consists of 36 chapters with a cumulative total of 6000 poetic verses describing performance arts.

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  • Pādams of Annamacharya __ 14000 songs survives inscribed in copper plates and is one of the greatest masterpieces of Telugu devotional poetry literature. Padma Purana: Sanskrit scripture, One of the 18 major Puranas.Paduka Sahasra: A Sanskrit hymn by Vedanta Desika in praise of the sandals of Rama.
  • Pañcāmirutha Vaṇṇam : Tamil work attributed to Pamban Swamigal.
  • Pāñchaali Sabatham sung by Taayumanavar.
  • Paripūraṇāṉantha Bōtham _ Tamil Hindu work attributed to the works of Pamban Swamigal.
  • Patthu Pirapantham _ A Tamil Hindu work composed by Pamban Swamigal.
  • Purana : Purana meaning "ancient" or "old" is the name of a genre of Indian written literature. Its general themes are history, tradition and religion. It is usually written in the form of stories related by one person to another.
  • Periya Puranam : The Periya Puranam, that is, the great puranam or epic, sometimes called Tiruttontarpuranam, is a Tamil poetic account depicting the legendary lives of the sixty-three Nayanars, the canonical poets of Tamil Shaivism. It was compiled during the 12th century by Sekkizhar. It provides evidence of trade with South Indian. The Periya Puranam is part of the corpus of Shaiva canonical works.
  • Periya Tirumadal : A Vaishnava work by the great Vaishnava saint poet Tirumangai Azhwar.
  • Parasurama Kalpasutra ): Parashurama Kalpasutra is authored by Parasurama, the fifth avatar of Lord Vishnu and a disciple of Guru Dattatreya. It is a sacred text for the Shri Vidya worshippers of Goddess Lalita Devi, who is considered to be a manifestation of the Divine Mother, and the text is therefore used in the worship of Ganesha, Bala Tripurasundari, Raja Shyamala, Varahi as well. This text has its origins in the Dattatreya Samhita and is compiled by Sumedha, a disciple of Guru Dattatreya.

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  • Tantras : The esoteric Hindu traditions of rituals and yoga. Tantra can be summarised as a family of voluntary rituals modeled on those of the Vedas, together with their attendant texts and lineages.
  • Tiruchendur Kandar Kalivenba : A great Tamil devotional work attributed to the 17th century poet saint Kumarakuruparar. It is verily said that; it was Kumarakuruparar's first and foremost work. The lord of Tiruchendur granted the boon of speech to the mute child Kumarakuruparar and blessed him with the virtue of devotion. It is also said that those whom hear to the songs of this work will be dispelled of all their miseries and also will be granted the boon of speech.
  • Tiruchendur Murugan Pillaitamil _ A Tamil Hindu work eulogizing the most adored deity of Tamils ; Murugan. It was composed by Pagalik Koothar .
  • Tiruppaadal Tirattu __ A compendium of 1452 songs in 52 headings, by Taayumanavar.
  • Tirumurai – an important Tamil twelve volumes compendium that consists of Shaivite hymns.
  • Tiruvārūr Nānmanimālai _ A Tamil literary work dealt with the presiding deity of Tiruvārur . It is attributed to the 17th century Tamil Hindu saint poet Kumarakuruparar.
  • Tiruvārūr Ulā _ A Tamil Hindu devotional work attributed to Andhakak Kavi Veera Ragavar .
  • Thiruvasagam – a Tamil Shaivite scripture sung by saint Manikkavacakar.
  • Tiruvundiyar _ One of the 12 Shaiva Siddhanta commentary scriptures of the Tamil tradition attributed to Tiruviyalur Uyyavandha Deva Nayanar.
  • Tirukkālathi Nādarula __ A Tamil Saivate work sung on the presiding deity of Tirukkālathi .
  • Tirukkalitrupadiyar _ Tamil Saivate work attributed to Tirukkadavūr Uyyavanda Deva Nayanar.
  • Tirukovai – a Tamil Shaivite scripture sung by Manikkavacakar.
  • Tirukkutrala Nadar Ula : One of the greatest devotional Tamil literary work of the 17th century attributed to the saint poet Tirikoodappa Rasappa Kavirayar. The Nayaka rulers gifted him fertile lands and had gifted him territory too for compiling this great work.
  • Tiruvāvadudurai Kovai _ A Tamil Shaivite work composed on the deity of Tiruvavaduthurai.
  • Tiruvegambamudayar Tiruvandaadi _ A Tamil Shaivite work attributed to the great poet saint Pattinathar.
  • Tevaram – An important Tamil Shaivite scripture and devotional poetry.
  • Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam – a Tamil Shaivite scripture written by Paranjothi that describes the 64 divine plays of Shiva in Madurai as the spouse of the goddess Meenakshi.
  • Tirukkural – an important Tamil scripture in Tamil Nadu written by Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.
  • Tirumantiram – an important Tamil Shaivite work of religious poetry written by the siddhar-saint Tirumular.
  • Thiruvarutpa – a Tamil Shaivite scripture written by the siddha-saint Ramalinga Swamigal.
  • Tiruppugal – an important Tamil Shaivite scripture written by the siddhar-saint Arunagirinathar.
  • Tirumurugatrupadai __ Ancient Tamil work in praise of Lord Murugan. __ Nakkiranar
  • Tiruvaaimozhi __ Tamil Vaishnavaite work of Nammalwar
  • Tiruviruttam __ Nammalvar
  • Tiruppaavai _ A collection of hymns composed by Aandal in her love and devotion to ...
  • Tirukkuruntantakam __ Composed by the Tamil saint Tirumangai Aalvar.
  • Tiruvempavai __ Composed by the Tamil Shaiva Naayanar (Adiyar ) Mannickavasagar in devotion to lord Shiva...
  • Thiruppā _ Composed by the Tamil saint Paamban Swamigal.
  • Thiruvalaṅkatiraṭṭu _ Tamil Hindu work composed by Paamban Swamigal.
  • Tiruvaalankaadu Tiruppathigam _ Composed by Karaikal Ammaiyar.
  • Tiruvirattai Manimaalai __ Composed by Karaikal Ammaiyar.
  • Thirukazhumala Mummanikkovai _ Attributed to the works of Pattinathaar in Tamil language.
  • Thiruvidai Marudhur Mummanikkovai _ The songs sung by the Tamil Hindu saint Pattinathar.
  • Thiruvegambamudaiyar Thiruvandhaadhi _ The songs sung by the Tamil Hindu saint Pattinathar of divine experiences.
  • Thiruvottriyur Orupa Orupadhu _ Songs sung by the Tamil Hindu saint Pattinathar.

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