Exploring Hinduism

Other Religious Sources

Thank you for your interest in learning about Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre has compiled succinct write-up of the basic tenets and major scriptures of Dharma.

You may also consider referring to the following book sources for more information.

Subject	Source	Notes
Basic Tenets	Encyclopaedia of Hinduism by Sunil Sehgal (1999)	A five-volume English encyclopaedia to the terms and basic ideas in Sanatan Dharma
Basic Tenets	Perspectives of reality: an introduction to the philosophy of Hinduism by Jeaneane D. Fowler (2002)	Includes some explanation on how Sanatan Dharma is not polytheistic
Vedas	The Wisdom of the Vedas by Jagdish Chandra Chatterji (originally published as "India's Outlook on Life", 1931; Quest Books edition, 1992)	A short book (about 150 pages) by a pre-eminent scholar of Sanskrit in modern times Recommended here for its audience of Western- and Western-minded readers
Vedas	Rig-Veda-Sanhita: A Collection of Ancient Hindu Hymns by Edward Byles Cowell Will Hayman Wilson	Rgved is the source for the Saamved and a good portion of the Atharvaved Serves as a reference for
Vedas	Rigveda: the rise of Aryan power by Brij B Nigam (2003)	An ex-space scientitst, Dr. Nigam contends that all translations of the Rgved are flawed, primarily because they wrongly refer to the Devas as Gods. Instead, he proposes, the Devas were a clan
Upanishads	Upanishads by Juan Mascaro	Contains a very succinct introduction, with moving prose about spirituality
Upanishads	Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran	Contains remarkably high-quality translations of the principal Upanishads An accurate reference for key spiritual concepts in the Vedas
Ramayan	The Ramayana and Mahabharata: Abridged by Romesh C Dutt (1898)	Contains key verses from Valmiki Ramayan Translated into 32-metre-form rhyming English verses, i.e., no small feat and perhaps a work of genius
Bhagvad Gita	Bhagavad-gita As It Is by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1972)	A widely-read and -used English translation with succinct commentary on each verse Contains all original Sanskrit verses, with transliteration
Bhagvad Gita	The Bhagavad Geeta by Swami Chinmayananda	Written by a modern-times authority on Bhagvad Gita Contains extensive commentary on each verse Contains numerous reference sections such as an index to topics and the names of Krishn Bhagwan used in the Bhagvad Gita