Indian Scriptures

The ancient Indian scriptures have been the timeless and unequaled heritage of the world. The Indian philosophy has been enriched by the Indian scriptures. The Vedas and the Upanishads are at the crest of the Indian scriptures. The Rig Veda is the most ancient literary work ever known.

The Vedas and the Upanishads have been the sources of sublime knowledge for the mankind.

Major Indian Scriptures consist of the following.

• The four Vedas

The four Vedas are as under.

1. Rig Veda
2. Yajur Veda
3. Sama Veda
4. Athar Ved

• 108 Upanishads

These 108 Upanishads are categorized as under.

10 Principal Upanishads

1. Aitareya
2. Katha
3. aittiriyaka
4. Isavasya
5. Brihadaranyaka
6. Kena
7. Khandogya
8. Prasna
9. Mandukya
10. Mundaka

24 Samanya Vedanta Upanishads

1. Atmabodha
2. Kaushitaki
3. Mudgala
4. Akshi
5. Ekakshara
6. Garbha
7. Pranagnihotra
8. Svetasvatara
9. Sariraka
10. Sukarahasya
11. Skanda
12. Sarvasara
13. Adhyatma
14. Niralamba
15. Paingala
16. Mantrika
17. Muktika
18. Subala
19. Mahat
20. Maitrayani
21. Vajrasuci
22. Savitri
23. Atma
24. Surya

17 Samnyasa Upanishads

1. Nirvana
2. Avadhuta
3. Katharudra
4. Brahma
5. Jabala
6. Turiyatita
7. Paramahamsa
8. Bhikshuka
9. Yajnavalkya
10. Satyayani
11. Aruneya
12. Kundika
13. Maitreyi
14. Samnyasa
15. Narada Parivrajaka
16. Parabrahma
17. Paramahamsa Parivrajaka

20 Yoga Upanishads

1. Nadabindu
2. Amrtanada
3. Amrtabindu
4. Kshurika
5. Tejobindu
6. Dhyanabindu
7. Brahmavidya
8. Yogakundalini
9. Yogatattva
10. Yogasikha
11. Varaha
12. Advayataraka
13. Trisikhi Brahmana
14. Mandala Brahmana
15. HamSa
16. Jabaladarsana
17. Yogacudamani
18. Pasupata Brahma
19. Mahavakya
20. Sandilya

14 Vaishnava Upanishads

1. Kalisantarana
2. Narayana
3. Tarasara
4. Avyakta
5. Vasudeva
6. Krshna
7. Garuda
8. Gopalatapani
9. Tripadvibhuti Mahanarayana
10. Dattatreya
11. Nrsimhatapani
12. Ramatapani
13. Ramarahasya
14. Hayagriva

14 Saiva Upanishads

1. Akshamala
2. Kalagnirudra
3. Kaivalya
4. Dakshinamurti
5. Pancabrahma
6. Rudrahrdaya
7. Jabali
8. Rudrakshajabala
9. Atharvasikha
10. Atharvasira
11. Ganapati
12. Brhajjabala
13. Bhasmajabala
14. Sarabha

9 Sakta Upanishads

1. Tripura
2. Bahvrca
3. Saubhagya Lakshmi
4. Sarasvatirahasya
5. Annapurna
6. Tripuratapani
7. Devi
8. Bhavana
9. Sita

• The Puranas

There are 18 purans as listed below.

1. BRHMA
2. PADMA
3. VISHNU
4. SKAND
5. SHIV
6. VAMAN
7. MARKANDEY
8. VARAH
9. BRHMAVAIVARTTA
10. AGNI
11. BHAVISHYA
12. KURMA
13. MATSYA
14. GARUD
15. BRAHMAND
16. BHAGWAT
17. LINGA
18. NARAD
    

• Shrimada Bhagadata

• The Bhagavad Gita - Lord Krishna's famous discourse to Arjuna.

• Anu Gita - Lord Krishna's final message to Arjuna

• The Uddhava Gita - Lord Krishna's Last discourse to his disciple Uddhava.

• Devi Gita

• Asthavakra Gita

• Avadhoota Gita by Dattatreya

• Siddha Gita from Yoga Vasistha

• Vidya Gita from Tripura Rahasya

• Yama Gita

• Ramayana (Ramacharita Manas of Tulasidas and Ramayan of Valmiki Rishi)

The Ramayana is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Mahabharata.

Father Kamil Bulke, author of `Ramakatha,' who has identified over 300 variants of Ramayana all over the world.

There is "Ramayan" television series, which is a highly successful Indian television series created, written, and directed by Ramanand Sagar, an Indian film director.

• The Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana.

Mahabharata of Vedavyaasa is the largest epic of the world; it has about 100,000 verses.


In the late 1980s, the Mahabharat TV series, directed by Ravi Chopra, was televised and shown on India's national television (Doordarshan).

• Manu Sutras

• Brahma Sutras of Vedavyasa

• Durga Saptashati or Devi Mahatmyam

• Narada Bhakti Sutras

• Literature of Adi Sankara

1. Commentary on Brahmasuutra.
2. Commentary on Bhagvad Geeta.
3. Commentary on the Upanishads like iisha, aitareya, katha, kena, chaandogya, taittiriiya, prashna, brihadaaraNyaka, maaNDuukya and muNDaka.
4. Commentary on Vishhnusahasranaama
5. Commentary on sanat.h sujaatiiya
6. Commentary on lalitaatrishati
7. upadeshasaahasrii (Thousand teachings, basis of Upanishads)
8. Viveka-chuudaamani (crest jewel of discrimination, available)
9. Aatma-bodha (awakening of atman)
10. aparokshaanubhuuti (not invisible realization)
11. shata-shlokii (a hundred slokas)
12. Commentary on yoga sutras, upa-commentary to Vyasa's commentary on yoga sutras.
13. Commentary on aapstambha suutra.
14. sarva-darshana-siddhaanta-sa.ngraha (attribution is doubtful) (collection of the essence of all schools)
15. Many Verses

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