Top 10 Religious and Spiritual Books in Hindi : Find Your Zen

The essence of India’s religions was received in ancient times by the great sages from “Paramatma”- the Supreme Being and compiled over a long period into sacred texts. These texts, written mostly in Sanskrit along with the innumerable commentaries and related books are the repositories of Hindu culture. And the keys to this grand treasure chest are the languages of India, through which the ideas are availed to the people of the country and the world. Among the many lingual keys is Hindi, the official language of India and a widely read and spoken tongue. For the laypeople, the devotees, and the enthusiastic readers, Hindi opens the gates to the haven of Hinduism wrapped inside the pages of ancient texts. Exotic India Art has compiled a list of 10 religious and spiritual books in Hindi, reading which will bring you closer to the empowering wisdom of Indian tradition.

1. Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana

Translated in simple and easy-to-grasp Hindi by the famous Gita Press Gorakhpur, this version of Srimad Devi Bhagavata is an exquisite collection of the legendary episodes of Adi Shakti- the primordial feminine energy, from her origin to the innumerable battles she won against the forces of mighty demons. The Hindi version has been edited by Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar and Sri Chimmanlal Goswami, names that are synonymous with Gita Press’ unending zeal to spread the message of Hindu culture.

2. Vishnu Sahastranam

 “A Thousand Names of Lord Vishnu” or Sri Vishnu Sahastranam or Sahasranam is a list of 1000 epithets for Bhagawan Sri Hari Vishnu, mentioned as a part of the Mahabharata. The list is presented in a Hindi version by Gita Press Gorakhpur to elucidate the greatness of Sri Vishnu as described in the epic of Veda Vyasa. The Hindi translations are done with great care so that the real, contextual meaning of the words does not change, making this book a mesmerizing experience for anyone.

3. Nitya Karma Puja Prakash

Another book brought to the reading world by Gita Press Gorakhpur, Nitya Karma Puja Prakash is a comprehensive guidebook on how to begin and end your day as a follower of Hinduism or someone who wishes to gain from the wisdom of Hinduism. The book is written in lucid language and provides details on the daily routine of a person- from waking up to performing the Sandhya-puja (worship done in the evening). It also includes steps on how to worship different deities such as Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, and Kubera, how to conduct Yagya (Vedic sacrifice), and hymns and stotra of various divinities. Nitya Karma Puja Prakash underlines the might of Hinduism as a culture with different beliefs and practices, all knitted together not only in thought but also in practice.

4. Durga Saptashati

An integral part of the sacred Markandeya Purana, Durga Saptashati (700- Saptashati) is a collection of 13 parts that bring forth the greatness of the divine mother Durga and her various forms. For every follower of Shakti, Durga Saptashati is like the benevolence of the goddess herself, to be recited and read regularly. Presented in Hindi by Gita Press Gorakhpur, Durga Saptashati includes pious hymns and stotras of the Devi such as Argala Stotram which bestows an all-around fortune, Devya Kavacham or the armor of the goddess which protects from negative forces and Keelakam which eradicates the barriers that come in one’s spiritual quest. With all this potent knowledge translated into simple Hindi, Durga Saptashati is a powerful text for the devotee-reader.

5. Kamba Ramayana

The original Tamil work of Kamba or Kamban is translated into eloquent Hindi by N.V. Rajagopalan under the aegis of Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad. Tamil literature in Indian culture is a grand literary tradition in its own right, one that represents the beliefs and practices of ancient southern India. Based on the original story of Adi Kavi Valmiki, Kamban’s Ramayana reflects the amalgamation of the beliefs of north and south and the emergence of a Tamil epic that showcases the devotion for Sri Rama that spreads from one end of the country to the other.

6. Dharmashastra Ka Itihas

Compiled and worked upon by the great Sanskrit scholar of modern India, P.V. Kane, the History of Dharmashastra or Dharmashastra Ka Itihas is a ground-breaking work in the history of Indian society. Dharmashtras is a group of texts that contain rules on early Indian religion, society, culture, and law, thus forming an authority for someone looking to understand the historical background of the country. This book comes in a set of 5 texts which is a rare and difficult-to-find collection, published by Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, Lucknow.

7. Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

This Mahapurana is undoubtedly the most widely read and revered of all the 18 Mahapuranas of Hindu culture. Associated with the sect of Sri Vishnu, Bhagavata Purana in reality is the collection of the deeds, lives, and fate of the devotees, who come from different backgrounds. Through a variety of tales and legends, Bhagavata Mahapurana conveys important messages of Bhakti (devotion), Gyan (knowledge), Yoga (union with the divine), karma (action), dharma (duty) and answers some basic yet lingering questions of human existence. The seminal text is available in simple yet absorbing Hindi as a 2 book set, translated and edited by Gita Press Gorakhpur.

8. Vedanta Prabodha

Presented as a concise yet comprehensive study of Adi Shankaracharya’s Advaita (non-dualism) and his wider ideas that form the essence of present-day Hinduism, Vedanta Prabodha in Hindi is another religious book that needs to be read and absorbed. Encompassing essential themes of Indian philosophy such as Brahma (supreme being), Guru (teacher), Maya (loosely translated as illusion though signifying the world as we see it), Jeev (being, human being), and Moksha (salvation), Vedanta Prabodha presents a detailed and erudite picture of the vital components of Hindu culture.

9. Yoga Vasistha of Valmiki

A text larger in size than the epic Ramayana and hence sometimes called the Maharamayana (great Ramayana), Yoga Vasistha is a compilation of the philosophical sermons of sage Valmiki. Its descriptions give us a larger picture of Hindu culture which included the Shaivism of Kashmir as well as the Rationalist and scientific thought of ancient India. The contents of Yoga Vasistha throw light on the life of Sri Rama along with the persistent human quest for Moksha and the path to achieving salvation. Written and presented in the style of question and answers, this two-set Hindi volume of Yoga Vasistha offers a rare wide-ranging insight into Indian metaphysics and spiritual life.

10. Sri Ramacharitamanas

Goswami Tulsidas’s work on Valmiki’s Ramayana, written in the medieval period in beautiful Awadhi, Sri Ramacharitamanas is undoubtedly the Indian layperson’s way of reaching Sri Rama. A brilliant example of Indian poetry and religious culture, Sri Ramacharitamanas in Hindi is a must-have for those who want to immerse in the brilliance of Rama-Katha- a legendary epic that is told and re-told in every Hindu household as the story of a divine hero and his victory against the army of evil. Along with the story of Sri Rama, the Ramacharitamanas also contains simple yet effective lessons on how to lead a meaningful life, making it a guiding light for readers of all ages.

Other than the books mentioned in the list above, Ramayana by Valmiki, Mahabharata by Veda Vyasa, Shiva Purana, Vishnu Purana, Patanjali’s Yoga Darshana, Ashtadhyayi of Panini, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Srividya Sadhana, Ashtangahridayam and numerous other books on Hindu thought, beliefs and practices are available on Exotic India Art, in Hindi and major Indian languages. These texts are the zenith of religious and literary greatness and anyone who gets to read one, or more than one of these, will find themselves in the proximity of the primordial wisdom of gods and sages.

Key Takeaways

• Reading religious and spiritual books can help you find inner peace and connect with your spirituality.

• There are many religious and spiritual books available in Hindi that cover a variety of topics and can be helpful for people from different religious backgrounds.

• Some of the books on the list are classics that have been around for centuries, while others are more modern works that offer a fresh perspective on spirituality.

• The author provides a brief overview of each book on the list, which can be helpful in deciding which books to read.

• The list includes books from different religions, which can be helpful for people who are interested in learning about different spiritual traditions.