Hindu scriptures and holy books are divided mainly into two categories, viz. Shruti and Smriti. Shruti literally means “that what is revealed” and Smriti “that what is remembered”. Hence, Shruti is what ancient Hindu sages heard during deep meditation. It belongs to the Vedic period, while Smriti belongs to the post-Vedic period. Shrutis are more philosophical and ritualistic in nature whilst Smritis are concerned more with moral and civil law.
Shruti literature consists of four Vedas:
1. Rigveda.
2. Yajurveda.
3. Samaveda.
4. Atharvaveda.
Each of these Vedas include Upanishads, Samhitas, Brahmanas, and Aranyakas.
Smriti literature consists of a large number of texts including but not limited to Vedangas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras, Arthashastras, Puranas, Upapuranas, Bhagavadgita, poetic literature, commentaries on various texts, and many other texts.
We are trying to list out here as many Hindu scriptures and holy books as possible. If you know any Hindu books other than these, please feel free to inform us about those scriptures.
Four Vedas:
Atharvaveda
Samveda
Yajurveda
Brahmanas
Aitareya
Gopatha
Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana
Kaushitaki
Panchavimsha Brahmana
Sadvimsha Brahmana
Shatapatha Brahmana
Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa
Vamsa Brahmana
Aranyakas
Aitreya Aranyakas.
Sankhayan Aranyak.
Taittiriya Aranyak.
Maitriyani Aranyak.
Madhyandini Vrihadaranyak.
Talvakar Aranyak.
Jaimini.
Upanishads
Aitareya
Chandogya
Kena
Katha
Taittiriya
Svetasvatara
Maitrayani
Brihadaranyaka
Mandukya
Mundaka
Smritis:
Atri.
Vishnu.
Harita.
Ausanasi.
Angirasa.
Yama.
Āpastamba
Samvartta
Kātyāyana
Brihaspati
Parāśara
Vyāsa
Śaṅkha
Likhita
Dakṣa.
Gautama.
Śātātapa.
Vaśiṣṭha.
Narada Smriti.
Yajnavalkya Smriti.
Vedangas (Sutras):
Shiksha (Phonetics)
Kalpa (Ritual)
Vyakarana (Grammar)
Nirukta (Etymology)
Chhandas (Metrics)
Jyotisha (Astronomy)
Upvedas:
Ayurveda (Medical Science)
Dhanurveda (Military Science)
Gandharvaveda (Musical Knowledge)
Shilpveda (Science of Architecture)
Bhagvadgita
18 Puranas:
Vishnu Purana
Shivpurana
Skandhapurana
Varahpurana
Agni Purana
Bhagvatpurana
Bhavishyapuran
Brahmapuran
Brahmandapuran
Brahmavaivartapuran
Kurmapuran
Lingpuran
Markandeyapuran
Matsyapuran
Naradapuran
Padmapuran
Vamanapuran
Vayupuran
Upa-Puranas:
Sanat-Kumara
Brihan-Naradiya
Siva-Rahasya
Durvasa
Kapila
Vamana
Bhargava
Varuna
Kalika
Samba
Nandi
Surya
Parasara
Vasishtha
Devi-Bhagavata
Ganesha
Mudgala
Hansa
Ramayana
Mahabharata