List of historic Indian texts


This article attempts to capture in one place the names of books and other works written in ancient India. For the purpose of this list, we consider all books written in the Indian subcontinent up to and including the Mughal era as being 'ancient books'.

Collections

Each collection represents a set of books that are collectively known by the collection's name. In the list of books, each book also refers to the collection it belongs to.
NameDescriptionAlternate NamesDate
VedasSacred hymns on 5 supreme gods led by Surya, 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. Each Veda has four subdivisions – the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas, and the Upanishads.Samhita1500-800 BCE
ShakhasVedic 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.
BrahmanasCommentary and elaboration on vedas and description of religious procedures.900-500 BCE
UpanishadsPhilosophy in response to Vedas and Brahmanas. There are 108 Upnishads, among which 13 are considered the principal ones.800-400 BCE
VedantaLater commentary on the Vedas, Brahmanas and Upanishads.
ItihasaRamayana and Mahabharata are known as the itihasas.present form c.800 BCE for Mahabharata and c.300 BCE for Ramayana
Pāli CanonEssential collections of teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, as written by his followers, three centuries later.Tripiṭaka
PuranasHistoric texts - written by court-appointed historians. Usually contrasted with historical descriptions in vedas, brahmanas, etc., that are written by priests.c.700 BCE
200 CE to 1000 CE
DharmaśāstraCollection and description of laws.300 BCE - 300 CE
Sangam literatureCollection of texts on ethics, polity, love, and ancient Indian lifestyle, especially in the southern part of the peninsular India.300 BCE - 300 CE

Books

Key

Subject Area - subject area of the book Topic - topic Collection - belongs to a collection listed in the table aboveDate - date book was written/composedGeographic Region - as it was known at the time of writing, and the modern name, if known


BookSubject AreaTopicCollectionLanguageAuthorDateGeographic Region
Rig VedaHindu hymns about various gods, scientific revelations and references to historic events.Part 1 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskritNo concrete information available, but attributed to several rishis.1500-1200 BCESapta Sindhva
Yajur VedaHindu sacrificial knowledge.Part 3 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskritNo concrete information available, but attributed to several 'rishis'1500-500 BCESapta Sindhva
Sama VedaHindu music and arts.Part 2 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskrit1500-500 BCE
Atharva VedaHindu medicine, magic, sorcery.Part 4 of the four part Hindu canon.Veda/SamhitaSanskritAttributed to rishis "Atharvana" and Angirasa.1500-500 BCE
Taittiriya ShakhaRecension of Yajur VedaShakhaSanskrit
Sushruta SamhitaMedicine and SurgerySanskritSuśruta
Shaunaka ShakhaRecension of Atharva VedaShakhaSanskrit
Paippalada ShakhaRecension of Atharva VedaShakhaSanskrit
Shulba SutrasHinduismGeometry related to fire altar construction in Hinduism, including pythagorean theorem and square rootŚrautaSanskrit200 CE
Satapatha BrahmanaHindu sacrificial knowledge.Commentary on Yajur VedaBrahmanaSanskrit500 CE - 1200 CE
Aitareya BrahmanaHindu vedic practices.Commentary on Rig VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Kaushitaki BrahmanaCommentary on Rig VedaSanskrit
Taittiriya BrahmanaHindu sacrificial knowledge.Commentary on Yajur VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Samavidhana BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Arseya BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Devatadhyaya BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Shakdwipiya BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Tandyamaha BrahmanaHindu music and arts.Commentary on Sama VedaBrahmanaSanskrit
Aitareya AranyakaSanskrit
Kaushitaki AranyakaSanskrit
Taittiriya UpanishadUpanishadSanskrit
Maitri UpanishadUpanishadSanskrit
MimamsaSanskrit
Theravada BuddhismBuddhist Pali CanonPali
YogaSanskrit
AṣṭādhyāyīSanskrit GrammarVyākaraṇaSanskritPāṇini4th Century - 6th Century C.EPurushapura
RamayanaLife of Rama, a prince of the Sun dynasty.SanskritValmiki
MahabharataStory of Arjuna, of royal line of Kuru KingdomSanskritLord Ganesha while Veda Vyasa narrated it.400 BCE - 400 CE
Purva Mimamsa SutrasSanskritRishi Jaimini300 BCE - 200 BCE
Bhagavad GitaKrishna's advice to Arjuna on duty.Not a separate work. Part of Mahabharata.SanskritVeda Vyasa200 BCE - 200 CE
PanchatantraCompilation of moral storiesSanskritVishnusharma200 B.C.E
Hatha Yoga PradipikaSanskrit
Gheranda SamhitaSanskrit
Yoga Sutras of PatanjaliSanskritPatanjali
Vishnu PuranaPuranaSanskrit
Persian WarsGreekHerodotus
ArthashastrapolitySanskritChanakya Reign of Chandragupta Maurya Magadha
Milinda PanhaDialogues with King Milinda PaliReign of Menander Sagala Purushapura
ShatkhandagamaJainismPrakritDharasena1st century BCEMudabidri
Periplus of the Erythrean SeaA naval guide to Indian commerce.Greek0-100 CE
Manusmriti Law, code of conduct.Code of conduct as described by Manu.DharmaśāstraSanskrit
Gaha SattasaiAnthology of PoemsPrakritHāla20 - 24 CE Amaravati
PuranasSanskrit
KamasutrapleasureA manual of love.SanskritVātsyāyana
Charaka SamhitaMedicineMedical text.SanskritCharaka
SiddhāntakaumudīSanskrit languageSanskrit grammar. Rearranges and provides descriptions for Panini's Ashtadyayi.SanskritBhattoji Diksita
MahabhashyaSanskrit languageSanskrit grammarSanskritPatanjali
DevichandraguptamDramaDrama about Chandragupta IISanskritVishakhadatta
AryabhatiyaMathematicsMathematicsSanskritĀryabhaṭa
BrāhmasphuṭasiddhāntaMathematicsMathematicsSanskritBrahmagupta
MahabhaskariyaMathematicsMathematicsSanskritBhaskara I
Nav ShatikaMathematicsMathematicsSanskritSridharaBengal
Maha-SiddhantaMathematicsMathematicsSanskritAryabhata IIBengal
Travels of FaxianSocial lifeTravels in India during the Chandragupta II eraClassical ChineseFaxianReign of Chandragupta II Magadha
ShakuntalaDramaDrama about a girl forgotten by her husbandSanskritKalidasaReign of Chandragupta II Magadha
MeghadūtaDramaStory of a cloud carrying a message amongst loversSanskritKalidasaReign of Chandragupta II Magadha
MrichakatikaDramaStory of a poor Brahman falling in love with a courtesan.SanskritShudrakaReign of Chandragupta II Magadha
Surya SiddhantaMathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira575 C.EMadhya Pradesh
Romaka SiddhantaMathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira575 C.EMadhya Pradesh
Paulisa SiddhantaMathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira575 C.EMadhya Pradesh
Vasishtha SiddhantaMathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira575 C.EMadhya Pradesh
Paitamaha SiddhantaMathematicsMathematicsPanchasiddhantikaSanskritVarahamihira575 C.EMadhya Pradesh
HarshacharitaBiographyLife of King Harsha VardhanaSanskritBāṇabhaṭṭaReign of Harsha Vardhana Thanesar
In the footsteps of BuddhaTravelClassical ChineseXuanzangReign of Harsha Vardhana Thanesar
In the footsteps of BuddhaTravelClassical ChineseXuanzangReign of Pulakesin II Badami
Samkhya versesSanskritIsvara Krishna
Soundarya LahariSanskritSankaracharya
Mattavilasa PrahasanaSanskritMahendravarman IReign of Mahendravarman I Kancheepuram
GrahacāraṇibandhanaParahita system of astronomical computationsSanskritHaridatta683 CEKerala
SlokavrittikaReflectionCommentary on Shabara's Commentary on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras Part 1SanskritKumarila BhattaEarly 8th century
TantravrttikaReflectionCommentary on Shabara's Commentary on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras Part 2SanskritKumarila BhattaEarly 8th century
TuptikaReflectionCommentary on Shabara's Commentary on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras Part 3SanskritKumarila BhattaEarly 8th century
KataokaReflectionCommentary on Shabara's Commentary on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras Part 4SanskritKumarila BhattaEarly 8th century
Prabhakara MimamsaReflectionSanskritPrabhakara Bhatta6th Century
Gaudapada KarikaHindu ReligionCommentary on 'Māṇḍukya Kārikā'SanskritGaudapada6th Century
KāvyādarśaPoeticSanskritDandin7th - 8th CenturyKarnataka
DaśakumāracaritaProseSanskritDandin7th - 8th CenturyKarnataka
AvantisundarīProseStory of the beautiful lady of AvantiSanskritDandin7th - 8th CenturyKarnataka
VivekacūḍāmaṇiHindu ReligionAdvaita VedantaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
UpadeśasāhasriHindu ReligionThousand teachingsSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
ŚataślokiHindu ReligionUpanishadsSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
DaśaślokiHindu ReligionWho am I?SanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
EkaślokiHindu ReligionEssence of VedantaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
PañcīkaraṇaHindu ReligionPrimordial ElementsSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Ātma bodhaHindu ReligionAwareness of AtmanSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
AparokṣānubhūtiHindu ReligionEssential truthSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Sādhana PañcakaṃHindu ReligionVedantic SadhanaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Nirvāṇa ṢaṭkamHindu ReligionThe State of NirvanaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Manīśa PañcakaṃHindu ReligionEssence of Advaita VedantaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Yati PañcakaṃHindu ReligionGreatness of the liberated personSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Vākyasudha Hindu ReligionSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Tattva bodhaHindu ReligionAwakening to the RealitySanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Vākya vṛttiHindu ReligionDirect perception of the BrahmanSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Siddhānta Tattva VinduHindu ReligionThe Song of SelfSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Nirguṇa Mānasa PūjaHindu ReligionWorship of the formless in ones mindSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Prasnottara Ratna MalikaHindu ReligionQ&A on Spiritual and Temporal LivingSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
prabodhasudhakaraHindu ReligionOneness of Saguna Bhakti and Nirguna BhaktiSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Naishkarmya SiddhiHindu PhilosophyTreatise on Advaita VedantaSanskritSureśvaraApprox. 8th CenturyKerala
svatma prakasikaHindu ReligionSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
BrahmasūtraHindu ReligionCommentary on BrahmasutraSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Aitareya Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on RigvedaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on Sukla YajurvedaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Īśa Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on Isa UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Taittirīya Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on Taittriya UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on Svetasvatara UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Kaṭha Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on Katha UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Kena Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on Kena UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Chāndogya Upaniṣad Hindu ReligionCommentary on Chandogya UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Māṇḍūkya UpaniṣadHindu ReligionCommentary on Mandukya UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Muṇḍaka UpaniṣadHindu ReligionCommentary on Mandukya UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Praśna UpaniṣadHindu ReligionCommentary on Prasna UpanishadSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Bhagavadgīta Hindu ReligionCommentary on BhagavadgitaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Vishnu SahasranamaHindu ReligionCommentary on Vishnu SahasranamaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
SānatsujātiyaHindu ReligionCommentary on SanatsujatiyaSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Gāyatri MantraṃHindu ReligionCommentary on Gayathri MantramSanskritAdi ShankaraEarly 8th CenturyKerala
Nyayavinishchaya vivaranaLogic and ReasoningSanskritAkalanka Deva8th CenturyTamil Nadu
Tattvartha SutraJain ReligionPhilosophySanskritAkalanka Deva8th CenturyTamil Nadu
ṚjuvimalāpañcikāReflectionSanskritŚālikanātha800 C.E
DīpaśikhāpañcikāReflectionSanskritŚālikanātha800 C.E
NityashodashikarnavaSanskrit
Tantraraja TantraSelf RealisationSriyantraSanskrit
GovindakritiAstronomy and MathematicsPlace value system and Sine tableSanskritGovindasvami800 - 860 CEKodungallur
Gaṇitasārasan̄grahaMathematicsAlgebra formulasKannadaMahavira850 C.EKarnataka
KavirajamargaKannada LanguageGrammar & Poetics of Kannada LanguageKannadaAmoghavarsha I850 C.EKarnataka
Prashnottara RatnamalikaHindu ReligionSanskritAmoghavarsha I850 C.EKarnataka
Laghu Bhaskariya VivaranaAstronomy and MathematicsCommentary on Lagu Bhaskara by Bhaskara I, established an Astronomical observatorySanskritŚaṅkaranārāyaṇa869 CEKodungallur
Karpuramanjari
Kavyamimamsa
Bālabhārata
Bālarāmāyaṇa
Viddhaśālabhañjikā		Play
Children's Ramayana and Mahabharata

PrakritRajashekhara880 CE
Trisatika
Pāṭīgaṇita		MathematicsSeparated algebra from arithmetic
Formula for quadratic equations		SanskritŚrīdharācārya870 - 930 CEHugli Commentaries on UpanishadsSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
Chandogya Upanishad BhashyaCommentaries on UpanishadsSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
RigbhashyamCommentaries on RigvedaSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
Mahabharata Tatparya NirnayaCommentaries on RigvedaSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
Krishnamruta MaharnavaSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
Sadachara SmrutiSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
Tantra Sara SangrahaSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
Yati Pranava KalpaSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
Jayanti NirnayaSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
NyasapaddhatiSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.EKarnataka
TithinirnayaSanskritMadhvacharya1238-1317 C.E
Tarka BhasaLogic and ReasoningExposition of ReasoningSanskritKesava Mitra1275 C.E
RatirahasyaSexSanskrit
KarmapradipikaMathematicsCommentary on Bhaskara II's LilavatiNarayana Pandita1356 C.EKarnataka
Ganita KaumudiMathematicsNarayana Pandita1356 C.EKarnataka
Bijaganita VatamsaMathematicsAlgebra - Second order indeterminate equationsNarayana Pandita1356 C.EKarnataka
Golavada
Madhyamanayanaprakara
Mahajyanayanaprakara
Lagnaprakarana
VenvarohaSphutacandrapti
Aganita-grahacara ''Chandravakyani 		Mathematicsinfinite series, calculus, trigonometry, geometry, and algebra.
Madhava-Leibniz Series		Madhava of Sangamagrama1350 CEAloor, Irinjalakuda in Thrissur
BhatadipikaAstronomyCommentary on Āryabhaṭīya of Āryabhaṭa IParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
KarmadipikaAstronomyCommentary on Mahabhaskariya of Bhaskara IParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
ParamesvariAstronomyCommentary on Laghubhaskariya of Bhaskara IParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
SidhantadipikaAstronomyCommentary on Mahabhaskariyabhashya of GovindasvāmiParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
VivaranaAstronomyCommentary on Surya Siddhanta and LilāvatiParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
DrgganitaAstronomyDescription of the Drig systemParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
GoladipikaAstronomySpherical geometry and astronomyParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
GrahanamandanaAstronomyComputation of eclipsesParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
GrahanavyakhyadipikaAstronomyrationale of the theory of eclipsesParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
VakyakaranaAstronomyMethods for the derivation of several astronomical tablesParameshvara1430 CEAlathiyur
MedicineMa'dan ul ShifaArabicReign of Sikandar Lodi Delhi
MusicLahjat I Sikandar ShahiArabicReign of Sikandar Lodi Delhi
PersianKabir
BaburnamaAutobiographyBabur's lifeChagataiBaburMughal Empire
HumayunnamaBiographyHumayun's lifePersianGulbadan BegumMughal Empire
Nimatnama-i-Nasiruddin-ShahiCookingCookingPersianReign of Ghiyath Shah
TantrasangrahaAstronomySanskritNilakantha Somayaji1501 CETirur
AkbarnamaChronicleofficial chronicle of the reign of AkbarPersianAbu'l-Fazl ibn MubarakReign of Akbar
Yuktibhāṣā
Drkkarana		Mathematics and AstronomyInfinite series, Power series, Trigonometric series, Sine, Cosine, Tangent series, Taylor seriesMalayalamJyeshtadeva1550 CEAlathiyur
Ganita-yukti-bhasaMathematics and AstronomyMalayalamJyeshtadeva1550 CE
Yukti-dipika
Laghu-vivrti
Kriya-kramakari		Commentary on TantrasamgrahaShankara Variyar1540 CEOttapalam
PraveśakaSanskrit grammarSanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CEKerala
KaraṇottamaAstronomyMean and Longitudes of planetsSanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CEKerala
UparāgakriyākramaAstronomyLunar and solar eclipsesSanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CEKerala
SphuṭanirṇayaAstronomySanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CEKerala
ChāyāṣṭakaAstronomySanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CEKerala
UparāgaviṃśatiAstronomyManual on the computation of eclipsesSanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CEKerala
RāśigolasphuṭānītiAstronomyReduction of the moon's true longitude in its own orbit tSanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CEKerala
VeṇvārohavyākhyāCommentary on the Veṇvāroha of MādhavaSanskritAchyutha Pisharadi1580 CE
Tulsidas Ramayan HinduismTranslation of Ramayana into AwadhiAwadhiTulsidas
Baharistan-i-GhaibiHistorychronicle on the history of Bengal, Cooch Behar, Assam and BiharJatakalankaraAstrology1613 CE
NirṇayāmṛtaReligiousSanskritAllāḍanātha14th-16th centuryYamuna valley
DayabhagatippaniLegalSanskritSrinath Acharyachudamani16th Century
DayabhagatikaLegalSanskritRaghunandan Bhattacharya16th CenturyBengal
PraśastapādabhāṣyaLaugākṣi Bhāskara17th Century
TarkasangrahaLogic and ReasoningAnnam Bhatta17th Century
TarkakaumudiLogic and ReasoningLaugākṣi Bhāskara17th Century
ArthasangrahahLaugākṣi Bhāskara17th Century
Chahar GulshanHistoryHistory of IndiaPersianRai Chatar Man Kayath1759 CE
Sadratnamala''Astronomy and MathematicsTraditional Vedic MathematicsSanskritSankara Varman1819 CEMalabar