Hinduism Books

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...

Yoga is one of the six classical schools of Hindu philosophy, collectively known as the Ṣaḍ-Darśanas. Like all other orthodox schools, Yoga upholds the authority of the Vedas. It is closely allied with Sāṅkhya philosophy and may, in many ways, be regarded as its practical counterpart. While Sāṅkhya presents a systematic metaphysical framework through theoretical exposition, Yoga guides the... more...

Sankhya is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy that accept the authority of the Vedas (Sruti). The other schools are Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Vedanta, and Mimamsa. Sankhya is closely related to the Yoga school. The founder of the Sankhya school was Sage Kapila. Three canonical texts of this school are available today: Isvarakrishna's Sankhya Karika, Tattva Samasa, and the Sankhya Sutra of... more...

Śrī Śrī Caṇḍī is a revered text among Śāktas, who follow Śaktism — a branch of Hinduism. It is read during the worship of Goddess Durgā and is especially popular in Eastern India, particularly in Bengal — a Śākta stronghold. Śrī Śrī Caṇḍī, also known as Devī Māhātmya or Durgā Saptaśatī, is an excerpt from the Mārkanḍeya Purāṇa, which is one of the 18... 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...

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...

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...

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...