Texts

palm leaf book of the devi mahatmayam

Text study is an important component of spiritual inquiry. This list, which is by no means complete, was compiled in answer to the question of “What can I read to help me to understand Hinduism?” Starred books offer an introduction. Others delve into the philosophy on a deeper level either in theory or in practice.

Books

  • A Hindu Primer: Yaksha Prashna by A. V. Srinivasan. Periplus Line LLC 1984
  • The Bhagavadgita by P. Lal. Orient Paperbacks 1983
  • The Bhagavad Gita by Juan Mascaro. Penguin Books 1962
  • The Bhagavadgita by S. Radhakrinshnan. HarperCollins India 2001
  • Eight Upanishads by Swami Gambhirandanda. Vedanta Press and Bookshop 1957
  • *Hinduism for Dummies by A. V. Srinivasan. Wiley Publications 2011
  • How to Conduct Puja series by A. V. Srinivasan. Periplus Line LLC 1999-2009
  • Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik. Penguin UK 2010
  • The Mahabharata of Vyasa by P. Lal. Vikas 1980
  • The Philosophy of the Upaniṣads by S. Radhakrishnan with a foreword by Rabindranath Tagore and an introduction by Edmond Holmes.
  • The Principle Upanishads by S. Radhakrishnan. George Allen & Unwin Ltd 1953
  • The Ramayana of Valmiki by P. Lal. Vikas 1981
  • Real Questions about Hinduism by Hindu American Foundation. Available at: https://www.hinduamerican.org/hinduism-short-answers-real-questions
  • *What is Hinduism? by the editors of Hinduism Today. Himalayan Academy Publications 2007. Also available electronically at
  • https://www.himalayanacademy.com/view/what-is-hinduism

Magazines and Websites