Ganesha

Hindu Religious Literary Text Timeline

By kevbshields
  • Rig Veda
    1800 BCE

    Rig Veda

    First of the Vedas composed
  • Upanashads
    900 BCE

    Upanashads

    Until about 300 BCE this distinct literary genre represents the esoteric & inward turn of Hindu religious philosophy
  • Last of the Brahmanas Composed
    700 BCE

    Last of the Brahmanas Composed

  • Ramayana
    550 BCE

    Ramayana

    At least 1 version of this Epic dates to this time frame
  • First Sutras Emerged
    500 BCE

    First Sutras Emerged

    The "rules" or "threads" of religious thought & practice
  • Mahabharata
    400 BCE

    Mahabharata

    Likely year of composition for this Epic
  • Srimad-Bhagavatam
    500

    Srimad-Bhagavatam

    Generally agreed this Purana was composed around this time
  • Final Puranas Composed
    1200

    Final Puranas Composed

    All eighteen Puranas were composed between 300 CE and 1200 CE
  • Tantras
    1300

    Tantras

    The Tantric movement began around 300 CE and continued until 1300 CE. Some are considered simply marginal texts while others are wholly unorthodox