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Journal Articles: Hinduism OCRT: Hinduism Buy CD-ROM Buy books about Hinduism
The VedasThere are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The Vedas are the primary texts of Hinduism. They also had a vast influence on Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Traditionally the text of the Vedas was coeval with the universe. Scholars have determined that the Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas, was composed about 1500 B.C., and codified about 600 B.C. It is unknown when it was finally committed to writing, but this probably was at some point after 300 B.C. The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. Along with the Book of the Dead, the Enuma Elish, the I Ching, and the Avesta, they are among the most ancient religious texts still in existence. Besides their spiritual value, they also give a unique view of everyday life in India four thousand years ago. The Vedas are also the most ancient extensive texts in an Indo-European language, and as such are invaluable in the study of comparative linguistics. Rig Veda
The Rig-Veda Hymns to the Maruts, Rudra, Vâyu and Vâta, tr. by F. Max Müller [1891] A masterpiece of linguistics and comparative mythology: translations and deep analysis of the Vedic Hymns to the Storm Gods. Vedic Hymns, Part II (SBE 46) Hymns to Agni, tr. by Hermann Oldenberg [1897] The Vedic Hymns to Agni.
A Vedic Reader for Students (excerpts) Sama Veda
The Sama-Veda Yajur Veda
The Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita) Atharva VedaThe Atharva Veda also contains material from the Rig Veda, but of interest are the numerous incantations and metaphysical texts, which this anthology (part of the Sacred Books of the East series) collects and categorizes. The Atharva Veda was written down much later than the rest of the Vedas, about 200 B.C.; it may have been composed about 1000 B.C. The Hymns of the Atharvavedatranslated by Ralph T.H. Griffith [1895-6] The unabridged Atharva Veda translation by Ralph Griffith. The Atharva-Veda translated by Maurice Bloomfield [1897] (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 42) The Sacred Books of the East translation of the Atharva-veda. Selected hymns from the Atharva-veda. UpanishadsThe Upanishads are a continuation of the Vedic philosophy, and were written between 800 and 400 B.C. They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and mediation, as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a persons' actions.
The Upanishads
(Sacred Books of the East, vols. 1 and 15): Max Müller, translator [1879] The Upanishads, Part II (SBE 15) Max Müller, translator [1884] PuranasThe Puranas are post-Vedic texts which typically contain a complete narrative of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of the kings, heroes and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology and geography. There are 17 or 18 canonical Puranas, divided into three categories, each named after a deity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are also many other works termed Purana, known as 'Upapuranas.'
The Vishnu Purana
The S'rimad Devî Bhâgawatam Other Primary Texts
The Laws of Manu
The Satapatha Brahmana Hermann Oldenberg, tr. [1886] The Grihya Sutras, Part 2 (SBE 30) Hermann Oldenberg, tr. [1892] Ancient Hindu household rites, including fertility, marriage, purity, initiations, and funerals. The EpicsThe Mahabharata and Ramayana are the national epics of India. They are probably the longest poems in any language. The Mahabharata, attributed to the sage Vyasa, was written down from 540 to 300 B.C. The Mahabharata tells the legends of the Bharatas, a Vedic Aryan group. The Ramayana, attributed to the poet Valmiki, was written down during the first century A.D., although it is based on oral traditions that go back six or seven centuries earlier. The Ramayana is a moving love story with moral and spiritual themes that has deep appeal in India to this day. In addition, a key Hindu sacred text, the Bhagavad Gita, is embedded in Book Six of the Mahabharata. MahabharataThe Mahabharatatranslated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli [1883-1896] Digitizing this unabridged translation of the Mahabharata was a joint venture between sacred-texts and Project Gutenberg.
The Mahabharata in Sanskrit The Ramayana
Rámáyan Of Válmíki
The Ramayana in Sanskrit Abridged Versions
The Ramayana and Mahabharata
Indian Idylls
Love and Death Bhagavad GitaThe Bhagavad Gita, usually considered part of the sixth book of the Mahabharata (dating from about 400 or 300 B.C.), is a central text of Hinduism, a philosphical dialog between the god Krishna and the warrior Arjuna. This is one of the most popular and accessible of all Hindu scriptures, required reading for anyone interested in Hinduism. The Gita discusses selflessness, duty, devotion, and meditation, integrating many different threads of Hindu philosophy.
The Bhagavadgîtâ (SBE 8)
The Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit
Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita
The Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita Vedanta
The Vedântâ-Sûtras (SBE 48) Later Texts
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
by Charles Johnston [1912]
The Vimanika Shastra Modern Books
Relax with Yoga Writings of Sister Nivedita (Margaret E. Noble) by Sister Nivedita (Margaret E. Noble) [1900] The Web of Indian Life by Sister Nivedita (Margaret E. Noble) [1904] Studies from an Eastern Home by Sister Nivedita (Margaret E. Noble) [1913] Writings of Rabindranath Tagore Saddhana, The Realisation of Life [1915] The Crescent Moon [1916] Fruit-Gathering [1916] Stray Birds [1916] The Home and the World [1915] Thought Relics [1921] Songs of Kabîr [1915] The Indian Stories of F.W. Bain Also of Interest
Journal articles: Hinduism
LinksAutobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda [1946] [External Site] |
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