A reading guide
Hindu scriptures
This list brings together Hindu scriptures and Indian classics for readers new to sacred teachings, philosophy, tales and poetry. Start with The Song Celestial; Or, Bhagavad-Gîtâ, where a warrior's hesitation opens a conversation about duty, action and the self.
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Where to start
Start hereThe Song Celestial; Or, Bhagavad-GîtâEdwin ArnoldBegin with Arjuna's hesitation before fighting relatives and teachers, a concrete human conflict that leads into Krishna's teachings.
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Another way inThe UpanishadsSwami ParamanandaChoose short teachings and conversations that turn from outward possessions toward questions about the self, death and reality.
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The books
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Scriptures and philosophy
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | · | The Song Celestial; Or, Bhagavad-GîtâEdwin Arnold A warrior's hesitation before battle leads to Krishna's teachings on duty, action, devotion and the enduring self. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | · | The UpanishadsSwami Paramananda Short teachings and conversations explore the self, death and the reality beneath a changing world. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | · | The Yoga Sutras of PatanjaliPatañjali Brief teachings describe mental stillness and practices intended to overcome confusion between the self and passing thoughts. | Non-fiction | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 1901 | A Study of the Bhâgavata Purâna; or, Esoteric HinduismPürnendu Narayana Sinha This study explores spiritual meanings within sacred stories centred on devotion to Vishnu and especially Krishna. | Non-fiction | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | About 1380 | The Sarva-Darsana-Samgraha: Review of the Different Systems of Hindu PhilosophyMadhava Acharya A survey of sixteen philosophical schools compares competing views of knowledge, reality and liberation across Indian traditions. | Non-fiction | Free to startRead free |
Epics, tales and poetry
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | · | Poems | Free to startRead free | |
| 2 | · | The Rámáyan of Válmíki, Translated into English VerseValmiki A prince's forest exile becomes a search for his wife after her abduction by a demon king. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | · | A Prose English Translation of HarivamshaManmatha Nath Dutt Creation stories and royal lineages lead into Krishna's birth, childhood among cowherds and later life. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 1912 | GitanjaliRabindranath Tagore Short prose poems address God through longing, joy and doubt, seeking a relationship with an unseen divine presence. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | · | Translations of Shakuntala and Other WorksKālidāsa Plays and poems explore love and separation, including a king whose memory of his beloved is threatened by a curse. | Play | Free to startRead free |
| 6 | · | The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa: Virata ParvaVyasa The Pandava brothers and Draupadi enter a royal court in disguise, risking renewed exile if recognised. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 7 | 1870 | Vikram and the Vampire: Classic Hindu Tales of Adventure, Magic, and RomanceRichard Francis Burton A spirit inhabiting a corpse tells King Vikram stories that test his judgment through riddles and moral dilemmas. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
| 8 | 1892 | Indian Fairy TalesJoseph Jacobs (compiler) Animals, rulers and ordinary people encounter danger and magic in tales shaped by cleverness, greed and kindness. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
Questions
What are the main Hindu scriptures?
The main Hindu scriptures include the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Puranas. For a first approach, begin with the Gita's conversation about duty and action, then explore the Upanishads' questions about the self and reality. The Bhagavata Purana centres on devotion to Vishnu, especially Krishna.
What is the Bhagavad Gita about?
The Bhagavad Gita presents Krishna's teachings to Arjuna about duty, action, devotion and the self. Arjuna hesitates before a battle in which he faces his own relatives and teachers. His predicament gives the conversation a concrete starting point: how to act when responsibilities and personal attachments pull in different directions.
Where should I start with the Upanishads?
Start with The Upanishads for its short teachings and conversations about the self, death and reality. Follow the contrast between outward possessions and knowledge of what a person truly is. That gives a concrete thread to follow through its exploration of the reality underlying the changing world.
What are the two great Hindu epics?
The two great Hindu epics are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Maha-bharata follows a royal family's rivalry as it grows into war and tests competing duties. The Rámáyan of Válmíki, Translated into English Verse follows Rama into exile and the search for his abducted wife, Sita.
What are the Yoga Sutras?
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali presents short teachings on yoga as a path to mental stillness and freedom from suffering. It treats confusion between the self and passing thoughts as a central problem. Its practices aim to overcome that confusion by stilling mental activity.
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