Religious Hindu book recommendations?

Question

I am looking for books based on the Hindu faith. Books other than the Bhagvad Gita, Upnishads / Vedas. I've read the scriptures, but am looking for something on the inspirational / devotional side. Any ideas?

I'm actually hoping I might get some serious answers to this question...

Answer 1

The Srimad Bhagavatam Purana translated from Sanskrit into English by HDG A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This sastra contains 18,000 verses which when studied will purify the subtle mind and revive the original spiritual consciousness.

"This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana."

The timeless wisdom of India is expressed in the Vedas, ancient Sanskrit texts that touch upon all fields of human knowledge. Originally preserved through oral tradition, the Vedas were first put into writing five thousand years ago by Srila Vyasadeva, the "literary incarnation of God." After compiling the Vedas, Vyasadeva set forth their essence in the aphorisms known as Vedanta-sutras. Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) is Vyasadeva's commentary on his own Vedanta-sutras. It was written in the maturity of his spiritual life under the direction of Narada Muni, his spiritual master. Referred to as "the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic literature," Srimad-Bhagavatam is the most complete and authoritative exposition of Vedic knowledge.

To acquire one copy, follow this link:-

http://www.thekrishnastore.com/Page.bok?template=Information&info=_info_bhagavatams

Or please contact :-Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari ([e-mail])

Answer 2

You may try these, all are excellent:

[1]. A Brief History of Dharmasastra by Banerji, S.C. 2000, US$ 11.76 or Rs. 500. (A systematic account of Dharmasastra comprising both original Smrti works and digests written in different regions of India. It describes the contents of the above works under the principal heads. viz. Acara, Prayascitta, Vyavahara and Rajadharma.)

[2]. A Catalogue of Vaisnava Literature ; On Microfilms in the Adyar Library, The Bodleian Lidbrary and the American University Library by White, Charles S.J. 2004, pp. x+205, US$ 11.65 or Rs. 495.

[3]. A Classical Dictionary of India : Illustrative of the Mythology, Philosophy, Literature, Antiquities, Arts, Manners, Customs of the Hindus by Garrett, John 1999, 23cm., pp. xv+717, US$ 9.41 or Rs. 400. (The work, now in a fresh format, is a storehouse of knowledge on Indian Mythology, antiquities - Hindu deities and concepts, Buddhist theological terms, etc. It refers to authentic writings and their vast sources.)

[4]. A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion : Geography, History and Literature by Dowson, John 1998, 19cm., pp. xviii+430, pb, US$ 3.53 or Rs. 150

[15]. A Nation on Fire : Hinduism Under Siege by Sharma , B.N. 2006, 23 cm., pp. 407, US$ 18.71 or Rs. 795. This book is about an assault on the culture, creed and credo of the oldest civilization in the world. Hinduism is under siege both from without and within. While the forces of neo secularism, minorityism, historical negationism, religious conversions, and a tyrannical media inflict an internal haemorrhage, its hostile neighbours and Islamic terror are bleeding it through a thousand cuts. Despite its precious Vedic cultural roots, which have nourished and sustained it during its ten millennia old existence against adverse weather, the challenges today are daunting indeed. Hinduism and Bharat enfeebled by a civilizational tolerance and fatalism is struggling against a monotheistic and indigestible Islamic sword of terror. While there is a need for internal cleansing, the external threat cannot be wished away. The inherent resilience of Hinduism, strengthened through a triple entente with America and Israel based on a, coherence of strategic interests and civilizational imperatives should form a cordon sanitaire around the Pak-Afghanistan centric militant Islam with its world wide web of terror.

Answer 3

Check the books name or written by :
Shrimad Bhagvatam
Srilu PrabhuPadha - ISKON - International Society for Krishna Conscience
Swami Shivananda - written a lot of books

Also check for free books

http://www.dlshq.org/teachings/teachings.htm

Answer 4

There are lot of books. There are saints who dedicate their whole time to read religion and God. You can try puranas.
http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/religions/puranas.htm

You can read Siva purana.