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The Essentials of Hinduism: An Introduction to All the Sacred Texts
Hinduism is an ancient religion, philosophy and way of life. Unlike other great religions that are based on a small set of books, there are hundreds of texts in Hinduism, most of which are very voluminous. They span not merely centuries, but millennia. And most importantly, these ancient scriptures are all in Sanskrit which many do not know. Therefore for a beginner with an interest in Hinduism it is a daunting task as you don't know where to start such a study.
In The Essentials of Hinduism, Trilochan Sastry unpacks all the ancient texts from the Vedas to the epics covering the entire range of scriptures and everything you need to know about them in an easy-to-read and accessible way making it of special interest to Hindus and those from other religions and nations, and even those who are agnostic or atheistic.
In The Essentials of Hinduism, Trilochan Sastry unpacks all the ancient texts from the Vedas to the epics covering the entire range of scriptures and everything you need to know about them in an easy-to-read and accessible way making it of special interest to Hindus and those from other religions and nations, and even those who are agnostic or atheistic.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2022
88 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 20, 2023
Good intro to the variety of branches / thoughts in Hindiusm. Doesn't have depth, as it should but the overview is very well abstracted
February 22, 2023
A great introductory text which (successfully) tries to provide a concise version of something which is overwhelmingly voluminous in nature. This book gives a very brief summary of various key texts which are sacred to the religion of Hinduism, and may be used as a starting point if one wants to delve deeper in the world of Hindu texts. A highly recommended quick read.
April 22, 2023
In aiming to be precise, this book takes away the joy of the subject matter. The author tries to present facts as unbiased as possible, but in that attempt repeats the same things over and over. This book does a good job if the intended audience is a person studying religious texts for an exam. But for the casual reader who is interested in Hinduism, this doesn't leave you with much you will remember a day after reading a chapter. It just lists facts, not insights.
February 5, 2023
I'm in love with this brilliant hardcover, I mean just look that the bejeweled book cover, it's gorgeous.
It is no doubt that there are hundreds of texts in Hinduism and all of them in Sanskrit, with volumes of information, spanning millennia. This is why this book comes in handy for those who would like to know the essentials of Hinduism, who have an interest in the religion but aren't able to read or comprehend all the literary texts.
All branches of Hinduism accept the primacy of the Vedas and the Upanishads. This book talks about those in brief and then cover most of important texts in a short introductory text. Hinduism does not have one philosophy or one teaching. There is no one founder. And this is why it is really difficult to collate all of these texts into a short book, but this is really a great attempt to make things clear and to spread awareness of the actual teachings of these epics.
It's an easy beginner's guide to Hinduism, quite accessible and handy. The verses mentioned in the book have apt translations that add beauty to the book, it's a really enjoyable read for readers of all ages, quite fancy to get an overview of all the religious texts from the Hindu religion and with a lot of stuff to learn about. Highly recommended.
It is no doubt that there are hundreds of texts in Hinduism and all of them in Sanskrit, with volumes of information, spanning millennia. This is why this book comes in handy for those who would like to know the essentials of Hinduism, who have an interest in the religion but aren't able to read or comprehend all the literary texts.
All branches of Hinduism accept the primacy of the Vedas and the Upanishads. This book talks about those in brief and then cover most of important texts in a short introductory text. Hinduism does not have one philosophy or one teaching. There is no one founder. And this is why it is really difficult to collate all of these texts into a short book, but this is really a great attempt to make things clear and to spread awareness of the actual teachings of these epics.
It's an easy beginner's guide to Hinduism, quite accessible and handy. The verses mentioned in the book have apt translations that add beauty to the book, it's a really enjoyable read for readers of all ages, quite fancy to get an overview of all the religious texts from the Hindu religion and with a lot of stuff to learn about. Highly recommended.
December 15, 2022
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙢 by 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮
🕉️I always found myself attracted towards the religion I'm born in. I come from a Brahmin family, and yet I still have very little knowledge about it. One of the main reasons I got into reading was this curiosity. Though I'm not alone, there are a handful of people like me.
🕉️ The ancient word for Hinduism is Sanatan Dharma or the Eternal Religion, though Hinduism is widely used today. There is no founder and Hinduism says that the Eternal Truths have always existed.
🕉️Unlike other great religions that are based on small sets of books. There are hundreds of texts in Hinduism, most of which are very voluminous. They span not merely centuries but millennia. The ancient scriptures are all written in Sanskrit, a language which not so many people know.
🕉️The beginner is sometimes bewildered and does not know where to start such a study. Then comes this book, it serves as an introductory for those who have an interest in Sanatan Dharma, but do not have time and inclination to study all the texts.
🕉️It precisely and descriptively presents the foundational concepts and models in order to understand the dharma. It will answer your "What's", "Why's" and "How's". From Upnishads to Vedas and then to philosophies. It covers all of them in order to give you a lucid and efficient explanation.
📌 It's a short lengthed classic designed hardcover with a classic approach. For all those who have been wishing to learn about Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism should go for it or you need a pocket guide for the Eternal Religion in your hands then this is one of the best choices for you.
🕉️I always found myself attracted towards the religion I'm born in. I come from a Brahmin family, and yet I still have very little knowledge about it. One of the main reasons I got into reading was this curiosity. Though I'm not alone, there are a handful of people like me.
🕉️ The ancient word for Hinduism is Sanatan Dharma or the Eternal Religion, though Hinduism is widely used today. There is no founder and Hinduism says that the Eternal Truths have always existed.
🕉️Unlike other great religions that are based on small sets of books. There are hundreds of texts in Hinduism, most of which are very voluminous. They span not merely centuries but millennia. The ancient scriptures are all written in Sanskrit, a language which not so many people know.
🕉️The beginner is sometimes bewildered and does not know where to start such a study. Then comes this book, it serves as an introductory for those who have an interest in Sanatan Dharma, but do not have time and inclination to study all the texts.
🕉️It precisely and descriptively presents the foundational concepts and models in order to understand the dharma. It will answer your "What's", "Why's" and "How's". From Upnishads to Vedas and then to philosophies. It covers all of them in order to give you a lucid and efficient explanation.
📌 It's a short lengthed classic designed hardcover with a classic approach. For all those who have been wishing to learn about Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism should go for it or you need a pocket guide for the Eternal Religion in your hands then this is one of the best choices for you.
July 13, 2024
If there’s one book you need to read to understand Hinduism through its oral and written texts, it is this very book. A brilliant, succinct yet easy to decipher collection of the sacred texts that define the ideology and practice of the religion.
Living in sync with nature and striving for spiritual growth mainly liberation of the soul make their recurring presence in the multiple mentioned texts, composed way before the advent of Christianity. A religion or way of life with a massive chunk of its written texts established and followed, define the science and purpose of these books. Doubts about the “Itihasas” i.e. Ramayana and Mahabharata being history or myth are busted.
The author’s attempt to deliver the profundity of these written texts without interpretations (but with lucid explanations, instances and examples) is rather noble, compiled sequentially highlighting the chronological presence and assertion of authority of the oldest texts like the Vedas and Upanishads (later part of the Vedas, known as the Vedanta) the diversification and progress of the idea of thought led to multiple sacred and important texts.
This book is a storehouse of knowledge introducing a glimpse into the voluminous texts spanning over millennia, it intrigues, enlightens and carves a path to discovering the holistic nature and complexity of all that is and ever was.
Verdict: Highly recommended!
Living in sync with nature and striving for spiritual growth mainly liberation of the soul make their recurring presence in the multiple mentioned texts, composed way before the advent of Christianity. A religion or way of life with a massive chunk of its written texts established and followed, define the science and purpose of these books. Doubts about the “Itihasas” i.e. Ramayana and Mahabharata being history or myth are busted.
The author’s attempt to deliver the profundity of these written texts without interpretations (but with lucid explanations, instances and examples) is rather noble, compiled sequentially highlighting the chronological presence and assertion of authority of the oldest texts like the Vedas and Upanishads (later part of the Vedas, known as the Vedanta) the diversification and progress of the idea of thought led to multiple sacred and important texts.
This book is a storehouse of knowledge introducing a glimpse into the voluminous texts spanning over millennia, it intrigues, enlightens and carves a path to discovering the holistic nature and complexity of all that is and ever was.
Verdict: Highly recommended!
February 7, 2023
This book is very well written and has very concise paragraphs, which makes reading very engaging. There are hardly any wasted words. This book covers the various sacred documents of the Sanatana Dharma, modernly,, known as Hinduism. The texts described start from Vedas, the most ancient of all, to modern philosophical texts and commentaries written by modern scholars or followers of a certain sect of traditions.
Pros of reading this would be that you will get a very good outline of the kind of books available on Hinduism and the essential content of all of them. This book also contains many mantras and shlokas, with translations (the author provides accepted translations and does not provide his translations or his interpretations).
The only con I could find in this book, is that I had hoped it would be more detailed, with much more rigorous discussions on the various principals described in the sacred texts. It only provides a very overview of the various subjects, interpretations and the philosophies that have developed over the years.
i do recommend that people starting to learn about the culture and tradition of this land, use this book as a roadmap, so they know what they are getting into without starting to read huge books. Also, it provides a one stop description of all sacred texts which would be very handy for me in my further studies on Sanatana Dharma.
Pros of reading this would be that you will get a very good outline of the kind of books available on Hinduism and the essential content of all of them. This book also contains many mantras and shlokas, with translations (the author provides accepted translations and does not provide his translations or his interpretations).
The only con I could find in this book, is that I had hoped it would be more detailed, with much more rigorous discussions on the various principals described in the sacred texts. It only provides a very overview of the various subjects, interpretations and the philosophies that have developed over the years.
i do recommend that people starting to learn about the culture and tradition of this land, use this book as a roadmap, so they know what they are getting into without starting to read huge books. Also, it provides a one stop description of all sacred texts which would be very handy for me in my further studies on Sanatana Dharma.
June 22, 2024
Trilochan Sastry takes the very bold and tedious task of summarising all the sacred texts of Sanatan Dharm, to the best of his ability, in one book.
His writing style, by his own admission, is to attract both the Bharatian reader as well as a global audience curious about Sanatan Dharm.
He goes over every aspect of Sanatan Dharm, from the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Itihas, the 6 Darshans, the Bhakti movement, Dvait/Advait philosophy, and tribal religions. Some topics have crossover, but they're understandable. The final chapter deals with the modern day practices.
The book has some shortcomings. It glosses over the several tribal religions, like the Bishnoi traditions, the Puya traditions, Bhuta Kola puja, etc. It also glosses over modern day philosophers like Swami Vivekananda, and modern day reform movements like Shuddhikaran/gharwapsi. That makes this work limited in its scope, esp for the future.
In the authors defence, there is very little collection of tribal traditions. This includes Longa traditions, Tondai traditions, Kuki traditions, and so on. If more efforts were made, more works on these could emerge and assist a renaissance.
Overall, this is a Very comprehensive collection of mainstream Sanatan Dharm. Highly recommend it to all interested in Sanatan.
For more reviews, follow @karthikgovilbooksandtravel on Instagram!
His writing style, by his own admission, is to attract both the Bharatian reader as well as a global audience curious about Sanatan Dharm.
He goes over every aspect of Sanatan Dharm, from the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Itihas, the 6 Darshans, the Bhakti movement, Dvait/Advait philosophy, and tribal religions. Some topics have crossover, but they're understandable. The final chapter deals with the modern day practices.
The book has some shortcomings. It glosses over the several tribal religions, like the Bishnoi traditions, the Puya traditions, Bhuta Kola puja, etc. It also glosses over modern day philosophers like Swami Vivekananda, and modern day reform movements like Shuddhikaran/gharwapsi. That makes this work limited in its scope, esp for the future.
In the authors defence, there is very little collection of tribal traditions. This includes Longa traditions, Tondai traditions, Kuki traditions, and so on. If more efforts were made, more works on these could emerge and assist a renaissance.
Overall, this is a Very comprehensive collection of mainstream Sanatan Dharm. Highly recommend it to all interested in Sanatan.
For more reviews, follow @karthikgovilbooksandtravel on Instagram!
June 6, 2024
This awesome book provides an accessible and comprehensive coverage of the vastness of the ancient Vedic literature, in a way that a common modern person can understand its depth as well as practical implications. Vedic knowledge is condensed into a few key concepts such as Brahman, Isvara, avtaar, dharma and karma to name the most important ones. The Absolute and the relative both have been done justice. The book begins with establishing the primacy of the Absolute in Vedas. Its various other names such as Brahman, Atman, Purusha, Kaivalya etc are connected nicely. The Upanishads have been explained in terms of their common message of Advaita, and yet they are also shown to be addressing different specific practical questions. The Vedangas and Upangas have been covered. The stories related in the Puranas section include many of the lovely tales that Indian kids often hear in their childhood. The coverage on Bhakti tradition is very wide and it names dozens of prominent bhakts over the ages. Then some of the very popular shlokas from Kabir and Surdas are narrated in a most endearing sequence. The epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are narrated equally endearingly in brief. The sutra tradition of writing has been explained. For readability, the whole of Vedic literature has been covered without interrupting the flow by avoiding mentioning specific verse numbers etc. This is a book that the world has been waiting for. The entire scope of the 40 branches of Vedic literature has been respectfully translated from a state of being grounded in the true unmanifest nondual reality, in just a couple of hundred pages. That is a giant feat! The book will be useful for people around the world, for a long time. The title includes the word Hinduism, but it is really about the Vedic or sanatana tradition. Very highly recommended. Disclaimer: The author is a close friend of this reviewer. However the reviewer is also a long time student of the Vedas, and a prominent published researcher in consciousness based leadership and management.
June 19, 2025
“The book I had been searching for, finally found.”
The Essentials of Hinduism is precisely the guide I had been longing for—a work that brings clarity and coherence to the vast ocean of Sanatana Dharma. What sets this book apart is its structured and thoughtful approach: it doesn't merely skim over Hindu beliefs and rituals, but instead walks you through the evolution of Hindu thought scripture by scripture—beginning with the Vedas, then the Upanishads, the Smritis, Itihasas (like Ramayana and Mahabharata), the Puranas, and into modern interpretations.
For anyone like me who has always wanted a single resource that lays out the foundational texts of Hinduism in order—explaining their significance, role, and how they interconnect—this book is a treasure. It doesn't get lost in abstract philosophy, nor does it oversimplify. Rather, it finds a balance that both scholars and sincere seekers can appreciate.
If you’re someone looking for a holistic yet accessible entry point into Sanatana Dharma—with a clear roadmap through its scriptural traditions—this is the book you’ve been waiting for too.
The Essentials of Hinduism is precisely the guide I had been longing for—a work that brings clarity and coherence to the vast ocean of Sanatana Dharma. What sets this book apart is its structured and thoughtful approach: it doesn't merely skim over Hindu beliefs and rituals, but instead walks you through the evolution of Hindu thought scripture by scripture—beginning with the Vedas, then the Upanishads, the Smritis, Itihasas (like Ramayana and Mahabharata), the Puranas, and into modern interpretations.
For anyone like me who has always wanted a single resource that lays out the foundational texts of Hinduism in order—explaining their significance, role, and how they interconnect—this book is a treasure. It doesn't get lost in abstract philosophy, nor does it oversimplify. Rather, it finds a balance that both scholars and sincere seekers can appreciate.
If you’re someone looking for a holistic yet accessible entry point into Sanatana Dharma—with a clear roadmap through its scriptural traditions—this is the book you’ve been waiting for too.
April 1, 2023
This book is for everyone who keeps interest in Hinduism and wants to know precisely about the sacred texts.
I truly got the gist of every sacred texts ever existed and prevails in Hinduism. I love reading about religion and spirituality. This book sets a great introduction to understand and know the concept of ancient sacred scriptures which follows Hinduism.
💫Vedas and Upanishads are greatly discussed where the author has simplified most of the shlokas in accessible way that a layman can understand it.
💫 It shares ancient religion philosophy and way of life. In Hinduism, there are so many voluminous sacred texts which are hard to find and read in this modern life. The author has translated Sanskrit shlokas and lessons in the English language.
It develops interest in Hinduism as it serves the accessible reading and understanding.
I profoundly loved reading this book and highly recommend this book to everyone who loves reading about this most ancient religion "Hinduism".
I truly got the gist of every sacred texts ever existed and prevails in Hinduism. I love reading about religion and spirituality. This book sets a great introduction to understand and know the concept of ancient sacred scriptures which follows Hinduism.
💫Vedas and Upanishads are greatly discussed where the author has simplified most of the shlokas in accessible way that a layman can understand it.
💫 It shares ancient religion philosophy and way of life. In Hinduism, there are so many voluminous sacred texts which are hard to find and read in this modern life. The author has translated Sanskrit shlokas and lessons in the English language.
It develops interest in Hinduism as it serves the accessible reading and understanding.
I profoundly loved reading this book and highly recommend this book to everyone who loves reading about this most ancient religion "Hinduism".
October 23, 2023
Two noteworthy points: Firstly, the writer has successfully accomplished the task of constructing a comprehensive mental representation of all Hindu literature. This achievement is particularly commendable, even for individuals like myself who have been exposed to Hinduism as a fundamental aspect of their familial heritage.
Secondly, upon perusing this book, I gained insight into the reasons behind the emergence of numerous divergent philosophies over time, despite being derived from the same Vedas. This revelation provided a glimpse into the intricate dynamics that have shaped these contrasting perspectives.
In conclusion, this literary work is highly commendable and offers a valuable reading experience, a great read.
Secondly, upon perusing this book, I gained insight into the reasons behind the emergence of numerous divergent philosophies over time, despite being derived from the same Vedas. This revelation provided a glimpse into the intricate dynamics that have shaped these contrasting perspectives.
In conclusion, this literary work is highly commendable and offers a valuable reading experience, a great read.
January 9, 2025
This book does a fine job of summarizing the numerous scriptures and philosophies of Hinduism, and it certainly is exhaustive in doing so. However, as other reviewers have noted, the text is very dry and can be repetitive, and although it presents itself as an introductory text, it requires a pretty good grasp of the core concepts of Hinduism before reading, in my opinion. Still, it did help me figure out how the different scriptures fit together and where to go next after reading the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. And I'll add that the book is absolutely beautiful.
March 11, 2023
Trilochan Sastry has packed Hinduism in this small packet. This book helps you understand the chronology of Hindu philosophy. A must-read for those who are in going through an existential crisis or those who are simply wanting to know Hinduism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2024
Book is categorized in a thoughtful way with short summary of major ancient Hindu texts. It is kind of master table of content for concepts available in ancient scriptures. I was looking for such book to understand landscape of Hindu scriptures and this definitely serves the purpose.
January 10, 2023
Extraordinary book
This book gives a fantastic bird’s eye view of all scriptures of Hinduism. It will motivate you to take up serious study.
This book gives a fantastic bird’s eye view of all scriptures of Hinduism. It will motivate you to take up serious study.
November 28, 2023
Great writing style. Often gets boring with historical details. Would have appreciated to have more discussion on texts, less on the history part.
April 2, 2024
This book is an excellent introduction to the literature of Hinduism. Well written and explained in great detail and it was easy to understand.
October 30, 2025
Great book to learn the basics of Hinduism and the general principles. Well organized, gives definitions, insights, and repeats concepts to aid in recalling each concept.
December 28, 2025
Nice read, gives an overview of various texts related to Hinduism.
February 8, 2025
One of the most intimidating parts of studying or converting to a religion is knowing where to start, and that is perhaps the MOST true for Hinduism. Hinduism is a broad umbrella of thousands of years of texts to study, mostly uninterrupted across time, covering topics such as what is the nature of God, the nature of the Self, the purpose of life, and how to be fulfilled. And MANY of these texts are hard to find in English in an edition that is easily accessible to a Western audience.
Fortunately, this is a fantastic place to get started. The title is erroneous, because it would take millions if not billions of pages to catalogue ALL the sacred texts of Hinduism, but here's what it does touch upon across its 250 page, 13 chapter format:
The Vedas, The Upanishads, The Bhagavad Gita, the Puranas, the Agama Sastras, the Itihasas, and touches upon some of the epics without giving you the entire text, like the Ramayana (Ramayana is at least about 500 pages by itself).
I think its worth your time if you're serious about Hinduism to seek these texts out individually in a version that's more in depth, HOWEVER if you're just looking for a starting point, this is a fantastic little book to give you a better understanding of the Sanatana Dharma.
Fortunately, this is a fantastic place to get started. The title is erroneous, because it would take millions if not billions of pages to catalogue ALL the sacred texts of Hinduism, but here's what it does touch upon across its 250 page, 13 chapter format:
The Vedas, The Upanishads, The Bhagavad Gita, the Puranas, the Agama Sastras, the Itihasas, and touches upon some of the epics without giving you the entire text, like the Ramayana (Ramayana is at least about 500 pages by itself).
I think its worth your time if you're serious about Hinduism to seek these texts out individually in a version that's more in depth, HOWEVER if you're just looking for a starting point, this is a fantastic little book to give you a better understanding of the Sanatana Dharma.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews