List of Hindu scriptures

Several lists of Hindu scriptures have appeared, and scholars hesitate in defining the term "Hindu scripture" given the diverse nature of Hinduism.[1]

Several lists include only the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita as scriptures broadly accepted by Hindus.[1][2] Some lists add some regional texts as the Tantric Agamas, Bhagavata Purana , Yajnavalkya Smriti and Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.[1]

Most of these texts exist in Sanskrit, several others have been composed in regional languages such as Tamil.[3][4] In modern times, most have been translated into other Indian languages and some in Western languages. In ancient times, the scriptures were transmitted orally, from one generation to next, in verse form to aid memorization, for many centuries before they were written down.[5][6]

This list includes all major religious Hindu texts, including the Hindu scriptures, as well.

Contents 

A

B

C

D

G

H

I

K

M

N

The Nalayira Divya Prabandham (Tamil: நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தம்) is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses (Naalayira in Tamil means 'four thousand') composed before 8th century AD,[1] 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.

P

R

S

T

U

V

Y

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dominic Goodall (1996), Hindu Scriptures, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520207783, page ix-xi
  2. ↑ RC Zaehner (1992), Hindu Scriptures, Penguin Random House, ISBN 978-0679410782, pages 1-11 and Preface
  3. ↑ "Indian languages and the classical status".
  4. ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28755509
  5. ↑ Sargeant, Winthrop, Introduction to The Bhagavad Gita at 3 (New York, 1984) ISBN 0-87395-831-4
  6. ↑ Swami Nikhilananda, The Upanishads: A New Translation Vol. I, at 3 (5th Ed. 1990) ISBN 0-911206-15-9
  7. ↑ Swarupananda, Swami (1909). "Foreword". Bhagavad Gita. Advaita Ashrama. pp. i–ii.
  8. ↑ Patrick Olivelle (2014), The Early Upanisads, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0195352429, page 3; Quote: "Even though theoretically the whole of vedic corpus is accepted as revealed truth [shruti], in reality it is the Upanishads that have continued to influence the life and thought of the various religious traditions that we have come to call Hindu. Upanishads are the scriptures par excellence of Hinduism".
  9. ↑ Wendy Doniger (1990), Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism, 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 978-0226618470, pages 2-3; Quote: "The Upanishads supply the basis of later Hindu philosophy; they alone of the Vedic corpus are widely known and quoted by most well-educated Hindus, and their central ideas have also become a part of the spiritual arsenal of rank-and-file Hindus."
  10. ↑ Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol III. 118–120; Vol. I. 6–7.
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