Library
Texts library
A catalogue of the classical texts behind the Vedic sciences: what each one covers, how it is arranged, and the editions and translations to read it in.
Bṛhat Pārāśara Horāśāstra
बृहत्पाराशरहोराशास्त्र
The most widely used manual of horoscopy in modern India, framed as a dialogue between Parashara and his pupil Maitreya. It covers signs, grahas, houses, divisional charts, yogas, the Vimshottari and other dasha systems, and remedial chapters. Scholars such as David Pingree have noted that the text in circulation differs considerably from the older Parashara quoted by early commentators, so we read it as a living compilation.
- Author
- Attributed to the sage Parashara
- Period
- Compiled form of uncertain date; the printed text is generally regarded as late medieval (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Hora
Bṛhajjātaka
बृहज्जातक
Varahamihira's compact and demanding treatise on nativity, condensing earlier Greek-influenced and Indian horoscopy into terse verses. It defines the signs, grahas and their strengths, and treats yogas, longevity and the effects of placements. Its commentary by Bhattotpala (10th century) became a standard companion.
- Author
- Varahamihira
- Period
- 6th century CE
- Tradition
- Hora
Phaladīpikā
फलदीपिका
A practical manual of results, the 'lamp of effects', organised by grahas, houses and yogas. It is valued for its clear definitions of planetary strength and its chapters on dashas and transits. Its style is more accessible than Varahamihira's and it remains popular with teachers.
- Author
- Mantreshvara
- Period
- Medieval South India; dates proposed range from the 13th to the 16th century (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Hora
Sārāvalī
सारावली
A large compendium of horoscopy that expands on Varahamihira and earlier Yavana material, giving many detailed descriptions of results for placements and combinations. Kalyanavarma states that he drew on several older works. It is often consulted for the breadth of its combinations.
- Author
- Kalyanavarma
- Period
- Around the 9th–10th century CE (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Hora
Jātakapārijāta
जातकपारिजात
A systematic later compilation that gathers rules from earlier authorities on signs, grahas, houses, yogas and dashas. Its chapter on yogas and its treatment of house lords are frequently cited. It shows how the tradition consolidated in the late medieval period.
- Author
- Vaidyanatha Dikshita
- Period
- Around the 15th century CE (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Hora
Jaimini Sūtra (Upadeśa Sūtra)
जैमिनिसूत्र
A terse collection of sutras presenting a distinct system of horoscopy, with sign-based aspects, chara karakas (variable significators) and sign-based dashas such as Chara Dasha. The sutras use a letter-to-number code (katapayadi) that makes commentaries essential. Different commentarial lineages read them quite differently.
- Author
- Attributed to Jaimini
- Period
- Date uncertain (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Hora
Bṛhatsaṃhitā
बृहत्संहिता
An encyclopaedia of the samhita branch, covering planetary motions and their omens, weather, earthquakes, agriculture, gems, architecture, iconography, the selection of sites and the qualities of animals and people. It is a major source for the cultural history of early India as well as for Jyotisha.
- Author
- Varahamihira
- Period
- 6th century CE
- Tradition
- Samhita
Sūryasiddhānta
सूर्यसिद्धान्त
The best-known Indian treatise on mathematical astronomy, giving the long time cycles, mean and true planetary motions, eclipses, conjunctions, instruments and cosmography. Many traditional panchangas long computed from its parameters. The surviving text is not identical to the version known to Varahamihira.
- Author
- Anonymous; presented as revealed by the Sun
- Period
- An early version was summarised by Varahamihira (6th century); the extant text reflects later revision (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Siddhanta
Āryabhaṭīya
आर्यभटीय
A short and dense work in four parts covering an alphabetic number code, mathematics, time-reckoning and spherical astronomy. It proposes the daily rotation of the earth and gives a sine table and methods for planetary computation. It shaped the Aryabhata school, which later flourished in Kerala.
- Author
- Aryabhata
- Period
- 499 CE (the author states his age in relation to that year)
- Tradition
- Siddhanta
Siddhāntaśiromaṇi
सिद्धान्तशिरोमणि
Bhaskara's comprehensive treatise in four parts: Lilavati (arithmetic), Bijaganita (algebra), Grahaganita (planetary mathematics) and Goladhyaya (the sphere). Bhaskara wrote his own commentary, the Vasanabhashya, explaining the reasoning. It was among the most studied astronomical works in later centuries.
- Author
- Bhaskara II (Bhaskaracharya)
- Period
- 1150 CE
- Tradition
- Siddhanta
Līlāvatī
लीलावती
The arithmetic section of the Siddhanta Shiromani, which circulated as a textbook in its own right for centuries. It covers operations, fractions, rules involving zero, series, plane geometry, mensuration and combinatorics, often posed as problems addressed to a girl named Lilavati. It was translated into Persian at the Mughal court.
- Author
- Bhaskara II
- Period
- 1150 CE
- Tradition
- Ganita
Muhūrtacintāmaṇi
मुहूर्तचिन्तामणि
The standard manual for choosing times for undertakings, from naming and initiation to building and travel. It sets out the qualities of tithis, nakshatras, varas, yogas and karanas, and the conditions that make a moment suitable or unsuitable. Its commentary Piyushadhara by Govinda is usually read with it.
- Author
- Rama Daivajna
- Period
- 1600 CE
- Tradition
- Samhita
Carakasaṃhitā
चरकसंहिता
The foundational compendium of Ayurvedic internal medicine, setting out theory of the body, diagnosis, the qualities of substances, ethics of the physician and methods of reasoning. It is also an important source for early Indian logic and debate. We present it as a historical text, not as health guidance.
- Author
- Charaka, redacting Agnivesha's work; completed by Dridhabala
- Period
- Core layers around the turn of the Common Era; later additions (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Ayurveda
Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya
अष्टाङ्गहृदय
A verse synthesis of the earlier medical compendia, organised around the eight branches of Ayurveda. Its clarity made it the most widely taught Ayurvedic text in several regions, notably Kerala, and it was translated into Tibetan. We present it as a historical text, not as health guidance.
- Author
- Vagbhata
- Period
- Around the 7th century CE (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Ayurveda
Yogasūtra
योगसूत्र
A compact set of sutras defining yoga as the stilling of the movements of the mind and setting out the eight limbs (ashtanga) of practice. It draws on Sankhya metaphysics. The commentary attributed to Vyasa is read as inseparable from the sutras in the tradition.
- Author
- Patanjali
- Period
- Commonly placed in the early centuries CE (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Yoga
Mayamata
मयमत
A South Indian treatise on architecture and iconography covering site selection, soil testing, orientation by gnomon, the square site-grid (vastupurusha mandala), village and town plans, temples, houses and images. It is one of the most systematic surviving Vastu texts.
- Author
- Attributed to Maya
- Period
- Roughly 9th–12th century CE, South India (dating debated)
- Tradition
- Vastu