Hinduism Books

We are honoured to publish Friedrich Max Müller's translation of the Upanishads as a free EPUB edition. This translation was originally published in 1900 as part of the Sacred Books of the East series, which is now in the public domain. The Upanishads are the heart of Hinduism. These texts are not only the concluding parts of the holy Vedas but also their philosophical culmination. Vedānta... more...

It is with great pleasure and reverence that we present this free EPUB edition of the Bhagavad Gita, translated by the distinguished Kisari Mohan Ganguli. This timeless scripture, which forms chapters 25-42 of the sixth Parva (Bhishma Parva) of the Mahabharata, stands as a cornerstone of spiritual literature, offering profound insights into the nature of duty, righteousness, and the eternal truths of... more...

It is with great pride and reverence that we present the timeless epic, the Mahabharata, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, in this EPUB edition. This monumental work, originally composed in Sanskrit, holds an unparalleled position in the annals of world literature, and Ganguli’s translation is a pivotal contribution that has made this treasure accessible to English-speaking readers around the globe.... more...

Ramayana finds its place within the Itihasa section of the Hindu corpus. Although Itihasa literally implies history, a more appropriate interpretation would be legends. The way we comprehend history today is not the same as how ancient people used to recount past events. They were more inclined towards legends. The tale of Rama was initially composed by Valmiki, though it likely existed within the... more...

We are pleased to present this free digital edition of the Vishnu Purāna, translated into English by the renowned scholar Manmatha Nath Dutt. This classic work forms part of our continuing effort to make the treasures of Hindu sacred literature accessible to readers across the world. The Vishnu Purāna is one of the eighteen Mahāpurānas, the major Purānic texts of Hindu tradition. Among these, it... more...

Manusmriti is the foundational text that navigates the intricate tapestry of ancient Hindu society and jurisprudence. It is categorized under the Vedangas, which encompasses six auxiliary subjects to the Vedas. This text specifically comes under Kalpasutras — one such subject. Kalpasutras have four divisions: Srautasutras, Sulbasutras, Grihyasutras, and Dharmasutras. Srautasutras deal with the... more...

Grihyasutras belong to the Vedangas, comprising six divisions—Shiksha, Chandas, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Kalpa, and Jyotisha. Among these, Kalpa or Kalpasutras are delineated into four subdivisions: Srautasutra, Sulbasutra, Dharmasutra (also known as Dharmasastra), and Grihyasutra. The first two divisions, Srautasutra and Sulbasutra, delve into the intricacies of Srauta yajna—fire sacrifices outlined in... more...

CHAPTER XXXIV EXPANSION OF INDIAN INFLUENCE The subject of this Book is the expansion of Indian influence throughout Eastern Asia and the neighbouring islands. That influence is clear and wide-spread, nay almost universal, and it is with justice that we speak of Further India and the Dutch call their colonies Neerlands Indië. For some early chapters in the story of this expansion the dates and details... more...

CHAPTER I. SALAAM. The Western student is apt to be somewhat confused in his ideas regarding the Yogis and their philosophy and practice. Travelers to India have written great tales about the hordes of fakirs, mendicants and mountebanks who infest the great roads of India and the streets of its cities, and who impudently claim the title "Yogi." The Western student is scarcely to be blamed for... more...

THE HINDU RELIGION. INTRODUCTION. The system of religious belief which is generally called Hinduism is, on many accounts, Hinduism deserving of study.eminently deserving of study. If we desire to trace the history of the ancient religions of the widely extended Aryan or Indo-European race, to which we ourselves belong, we shall find in the earlier writings of the Hindus an exhibition of it decidedly... more...