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Sacred Texts
Glossary
[from John Noyce, Sahaja Studies (2012)
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Acts of Thomas
Greek text with Gnostic influences that records the missionary work of Thomas in India. The earliest
surviving copies are in Syriac. Early 3rd century CE.
Adi Granth see Guru Granth Sahib.
Advaya Taraka Upanishad
One of the yoga upanishads to be found in the Sukla Yajur Veda, this text explains the awakening of
Kundalini through taraka yoga. Possibly 17th century, but influenced by earlier texts.
Aitareya Upanisad
One of the earlier, primary upanishads.
Akulavira Tantra
Nath text attributed to Matsyendranath.
Aleppo Codex
An important manuscript of the Jewish Bible, written in the city of Aleppo in Syria in c.930.
Damaged in riots in 1947, 294 of the original 487 pages are preserved in Jerusalem.
Allah Upanishad (Allopanishad)
A text written during the 17th century, possibly at the request of Darah Shikoh.
Amanaska Yoga
Nath text attributed to Gorakhnath. 12-13th century.
Amaraughasasana
Nath text attributed to Gorakhnath. 12-13th century.
Amritabindu Upanishad
Yoga upanishad that refers to dvara (gate) for the centres of the subtle body. May have been written
between the 8th and 13th centuries under the earlier title, Brahmabindu Upanishad.
Amritanada (Amritanadabindu) Upanishad
A yoga upanishad written between the 12th and 13th centuries, originally known as the Amritabindu
Upanishad.
Amritanubhava
A Marathi text by Jnaneshwara describing the Divine blessings (amrit). Late 13th century.
Anu Gita
L Mahabharata (14:16-50).
Apirami Antati
Tamil hymn from South India in praise of the Goddess Apirami. 18th century.
Aparokshanubhuti
A Sanskrit text on self-realization attributed to Sankara. 7th century CE.
Apocalypse of Ezra
A Christian text in Greek that may be based on an earlier Jewish text in Hebrew. Late 1st century CE.
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Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ
Channelled through the American mystic, Levi, this is an account of the life of Jesus Christ. Published
in 1907.
Ascension of Isaiah
Early Christian text that is a composite of two texts. Reached its present form in the second half of the
2nd century CE, but may date as early as c.80CE.
Ashrama Upanishad
Text that describes the various types of forest ascetics. 3rd century CE.
Ashtavakra Gita
Possibly late 15th century.
Astangayoga
Hatha yoga text, probably modern, attributed to Goraksa.
Astottarasatopanisadah
A printed South Indian collection of the upanishads, written in Telugu characters. 1883.
Atharvasira Upanishad
Minor upanishad.
Atharva Veda
This ancient Sanskrit text may represent an independent tradition parallel to that of the Rig Veda and
other vedas.
Avadhuta Gita
Text ascribed to Dattatreya.
Avesta
The primary collection of the sacred texts of Zoriastrianism, written in the Avestan language.
Ayur Veda Sutra
Yogic text that combines yoga and Ayurveda. Composed by Yogananda Nath. 16th century.
Baja Govindam
Verses by Sankara.
Bhagavad Gita
Sanskrit text. Probably 2nd century CE.
Bhagavata Purana
Well-known text of bhakti to Krishna. 10th century. Also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Bhaktavijaya and Bhaktilamrita
Two important compilations of information on the Maratha saints by the 18th century pandit,
Mahipati.
Bhakti Sutra of Narada
A popular work that expounds the path of bhakti. 10th century.
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Bharat Tirtha
Verses in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) said to be a prophecy of the Sahaja yogis
meeting at Ganapatipule on the western coast of India.
Bhavana Upanishad
A text of the Shri Vidya tradition.
Bhavisya Purana
Massive Sanskrit text, much still untranslated, containing chronicles and prophecies.
Bhela Samhita
Long-lost ancient Sanskrit compendium of Indian medicine, rediscovered in the 20th century.
Bodmer Papyri
A group of 22 papyri found at Pabau in Egypt, the headquarters of the Pachomian monks (and not far
from Nag Hammadi), and named after their first modern owner. Includes Jewish and early Christian
literature, and some Greek texts.
Bostan
A prose tex -1283), completed in 1257. Lit. The Orchard.
Brahmabindu Upanishad
A yoga upanishad that may have been written between the 8th and 13th centuries, later being renamed
the Amritabindu Upanishad.
Brahma Gita
Modelled on the Bhagavad Gita, this text is to be found in book six of the Yoga Vasishtha.
Brahma Purana
Yoga is discussed in one chapter of this purana. (235:4-29)
Brahma Samhita
A lost Sanskrit Pancaratra text, possibly 13th century CE, of which 62 verses of chapter 5 survive,
rediscovered in the early 16th century by the Vaishnavite bhakta, Chaitanya.
Brahma Sutra of Badarayana
A commentary on the classical, earlier upanishads. Possibly 2nd century BCE.
Brahma Vidya Upanishad
An early yoga upanishad of 14 verses written between the 9th and 11th centuries. There is also a longer
southern version of 111 stanzas, probably composed in the 17th or early 18th century, which takes
much of its expanded text from the Upasanasarasamgraha.
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
An early upanishad which contains the first presentation of multiple pathways of vital energy in the
subtle body. This text is a dialogue between the sage Yajnavalkya, and his wife, Maitreyi. Possibly
1500BCE.
Buddha Carita
Biography of Gautama, the Buddha, by the Buddhist teacher, Ashvaghosha. 1st century CE.
Cantigas de Santa Maria
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Written in Galician-Portuguese (a precursor of modern Spanish), the Cantigas are songs in praise of
the Virgin Mary, set to music by King Alfonso X, known as El Sabio (the Learned) and his musicians
at the Castilian court in Toledo and later Seville.
Caraka Samhita
Ancient Sanskrit compendium of Indian medicine, ascribed to Caraka (possibly 2nd century CE), the
earlier Agnivesa, and the much later Drdhabala (9th CE) who gave it its present shape.
Chandogya Upanishad
Early upanisad containing the teachings of the chandogas, the Vedic chanters. It contains an early
description of the yogic subtle system.
Codex Sinaiticus
An early manuscript of the Christian Bible written in Greek in the 4th century CE, containing the
earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Vaticanus
An influential early manuscript of the Christian Bible written in Greek, and kept in the Vatican
Library where it has been stored since the 15th century.
Culika Upanishad
One of the early yoga upanishads. Known as the Mantrika Upanishad in South India. 9th 11th
centuries CE.
Dakshinamurti Stotra
A hymn to Dakshinamurti by Shankara.
Darshana Upanishad
One of the later yoga upanishads, this text of 224 verses is a systematic summary of yoga practice in
South India in the late medieval period. Possibly early 18th century. Also known as the Yoga
Darshana Upanishad.
Dasbodha
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Major instructional text in Marathi by the Maratha guru/ spiritual teacher, Samarth Ramdas. 17th
century.
Dattatreyayogashastra
The earliest of the texts on Hatha yoga. 13th century CE.
Dead Sea Scrolls
Ancient scrolls, written in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek, discovered at Qumran, from the period
200BCE to 68CE. The scrolls include many Jewish texts that were lost for centuries until their
rediscovery at Qumran.
Devi Bhagavatam
Secondary purana. Possibly 12th century.
Devi Gita
Text in praise of the Goddess. Can be found in the Devi Bhagavatam (7:15). 15th century.
Devi Kavacham
The reading of this Kavacham (lit: armour) protects the devotee in all parts of his body, in all places
and in all difficulties. Found in the Markandeya Purana.
Devi Mahatmyam
Sanskrit text in which the Devi is extolled as the all-powerful protector of the universe. Part of the
larger Markandeya Purana. Also known as the Sri Candi and as the Sri Durga Saptasati.
Devi Bhagavata Purana
A repository of spiritual wisdom relating to the Devi. Probably 12th century CE.
Devi Sukta
Sanskrit text in praise of the Devi. Can be found in the Rigveda 10:125.
Devi Upanishad
One of the later Upanishads. Possibly 12th century CE.
Dhammapada
Pali text containing teachings of the Buddha.
Dharmasunya
Written in Java in 1418, in Old Javanese and Sanskrit, using the terminology of the South Indian
Saivite tradition, this text describes the ascent of the Kundalini to the Sahasrara and the achievement
of yoga.
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Dhyanabindu Upanishad
This yoga upanishad contains a description of Turyatita, namely that which is beyond Turiya. The
early (northern) version of 21 to 23 slokas may date from as early as the 8th century, but more likely
12th 13th centuries. The expanded southern text, containing 106 to 107 slokas, dates from the mid-
late 17th century.
Didache A rendering of the substance of the four gospels in the New Testament. Rediscovered in a monastery
in Constantinople and published in 1883. May have been written between 70 and 100CE.
(La) Divine Commedia
A prophetic text by the Italian writer, Dante Alighieri (1265-1321).
Divya Prabandham
Collection of Tamil songs of the Alvars. Compiled by Nathamuni. 10th century.
Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi
A major work of Persian poetry by the Sufi, Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273)
Durga Stotra
Verses in praise of the Goddess Durga.
Enoch
The text known as 1 Enoch is a composite of at least five writings from the 2nd century BCE through
to the 1st century CE. The entire text only survives in Ethiopic, but these manuscripts are relatively
late. There are also earlier Greek textual fragments, as well as the Aramaic fragments in the Dead Sea
Scrolls.
Epistula Apostolorum
Originally written in Greek, probably in Egypt, in the mid 2nd century. The text is preserved in
translations in Coptic and Ethiopic.
Epistula Fundamenti
of Augustine.
Garuda Purana
This purana contains three chapters on yoga.
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Gathas
The sacred hymns of Zarathrustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism. Incorporated into the Yasna, which
is found in the Avesta.
Gherandasamhita
Regarded as a foundation text of Hatha Yoga, this text was composed by Gheranda for his pupil,
Chanda, and contains seven chapters corresponding to the seven means of perfecting the person.
Gita Govinda
th century.
Gitasara
Early 17th century text, parts of which are to be found in the expanded southern version of the
Dhyanabindu Upanishad.
Gorakhbodh
Nath text in the form of a dialogue between Gorakhnath and his teacher, Matsyendranath. Also known
as the Gorakh Shataka.
Goraksha Paddhati
An important Hatha yoga text.
Goraksha Samhita
A collection of 13th century texts attributed to Gorakhnath.
Gorakshasataka
Nath text attributed to Gorakhnath.
Goraksha Chalisa
In praise of Gorakhnath.
Gospel of Eve
Lost Gnostic text from early 2nd century CE. Known from references in the Panarion of Epiphanius of
Salamis (315-403CE).
Gospel of Judas
Gnostic gospel that survives in an early 4th century Coptic text. It has been suggested that this is a
translation of an earlier Greek text of the late 2nd century CE.
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Gospel of Philip
Gnostic Christian text of the Valentinian tradition, found at Nag Hammadi. Late 2nd century CE.
Gospel of Mary [of Magdala]
Incomplete text that survives in a Coptic translation together with earlier fragments in Greek. Possibly
2nd century CE.
Gospel of the Ebionites
Lost text that belonged to the Ebionites, a group of Greek-speaking Jewish-Christians. Known only
from fragments in the Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis (315-403). Probably dates from the first
half of the 2nd century CE.
Gospel of the Egyptians
Early Greek text, now lost, known only from fragments in the writings of Clement of Alexandria
(c.150-c.215CE). Not to be confused with a later Coptic Gnostic text found at Nag Hammadi.
Gospel of the Hebrews
A lost gospel written in Hebrew, known from fragments quoted in later Christian writings. Late 1st
century CE.
Gospel of the Savior
Gnostic Christian text that survives only in 4th century Coptic fragments. May be latter half of the 2nd
century CE.
Gospel of Thomas
An early record of the sayings of Jesus Christ. The Coptic text found at Nag Hammadi (c.320CE) is a
translation from the earlier Greek text (pre 200CE) which has survived in fragments from three
separate copies.
Gospel of Truth
Gnostic Christian text, originally in Greek, ascribed to Valentinus who was active in Rome, c.140-
160CE. Known only from two Coptic translations found at Nag Hammadi.
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Gulistan
-1283), completed in 1258. Lit. The Rose Garden
Guru Gita
A widely distributed text also found in the vast Skanda Purana.
Guru Granth Sahib
Holy book of the Sikhs. Also known as the Adi Granth. Contains verses by Nanak and the later Sikh
gurus. Also contains verses by earlier bhakta saints.
Hamsa (Hamsanada) Upanishad
One of the later yoga upanishads that describes six chakras and the brahmarandhra through which
move a breath or wind. The northern version dates to the 12th to 13th centuries. The southern version is
later, possibly 15th 17th centuries.
Hamsa Shodah Upanishad
A short tantric text attributed to the rishi Virupaksha Mahakala.
Hanumana Chalisa
Hindi poem praising Hanuman. Composed by Tulsidas. 16th century.
Hamsavidyopasana
Part of the larger Upasanasarasamgraha.
Haritaayana Samhita
Alternative name for the Tripura Rahasya.
Hatharatnavali
Hatha yoga text. 17th century.
Hatha Sanketa Candrika
Hatha yoga text. Early 18th century.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
A classic manual on Hatha yoga, written by Yogi Svatmarama (15th century), said to be a Nath yogi,
and based on earlier Nath sources. Also known as Hathapradipika.
Hevajra Tantra
The surviving text contains 750 slokas and has several descriptions of the Sahaja state. Date uncertain,
6th 10th centuries CE.
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Homeric Hymns
Ancient Greek texts in praise of the Goddess.
Homilies of Macarius
Greek text wrongly attributed to the Egyptian monk Macarius the Great (d.390). 4th century CE.
Heart Sutra
Pali text also known as the Hridaya Sutra from the Buddhist Mahayana tradition. Possibly 4th century
CE.
(The) Interior Castle
A mystical text by the Spanish Christian nun, Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) in which the soul enters a
castle and proceeds through seven heavenly mansions so as to encounter God at its centre.
Isa Upanishad
One of the earlier primary upanisads.
Ishvara Gita
A Shaiva text embedded in the Kurma Purana. Possibly 9th century CE.
Jabala Upanishad
The oldest of the samnyasa upanishads. 3rd century BCE.
Japji
The first hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Jivanmukti Viveka
Text by Vidyaranya that refers to some of the yoga upanishads. 14th century.
Jnana Karika
Nath text attributed to Matsyendranath.
Jnaneshwari (Bhavarthadpika)
Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Jnaneshwara. Late 13th century.
Jogawa
Song in Marathi by Eknath invoking the ascent of the Kundalini. 16th century.
Kalama Sutta
Pali text cont
tradition and the sayings of priests and teachers.
Kamadhenu Tantra
Text of 24 chapters that expounds on the 50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet.
Katha Upanishad
The first of the early Sanskrit texts to deal explicitly with yoga. Possibly 5th century BCE or even
earlier. Also known as the Kathaka Upanishad.
Kaulajnananirnaya
Nath text attributed to Matsyendranath. Contains a description of the Sahasrara and the chakras
beyond. 11th century?
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Kaushitaki Upanishad
An early primary upanishad that takes it name from an old brahmin family in which it was handed
down.
Kavach of the Devi see Devi Kavacham
Kena Upanisad
One of the earlier primary upanishads. Also known as the Talavakara Upanishad.
Kerygma Petri (The Preaching of Peter)
Lost Christian text known only from fragments in later Christian writers. Early 2nd century. Not to be
confused with a later text known as the Kerygmata Petri.
Kriya Samgraha Panjika
Buddhist tantric text.
Kshurika Upanishad
One of the earliest yoga upanishads to describe a complete yoga practice. It uses the Ayurvedic
marman (vital point) and other medical terminology rather than chakras. 9th 11th CE.
Kula Arnava Tantra
Text in the form of a dialogue between Shiva and Devi.
Kulananda Tantra
Nath text attributed to Matsyendranath.
Laghuyogavasistha
Mid 14th century.
Lakshmi Stutu
Sanskrit text in praise of Goddess Lakshmi. Can be found in the Vishnu Purana.
Lakshmi Tantra
This Pancharatra text probably dates from the 9-10th centuries CE.
Lalita Vistara
Pali text of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.
Lalla Vakya
Collection of verses by the Kashmiri woman saint, Lalla. 14th century.
Lankavatara Sutra
Pali text in which the Buddha talks about Self-Realisation.
Liber Graduum (The Book of Steps)
Collection of thirty treatises concerning the rigorous asceticism of the early Syrian Christian tradition.
Possibly from the Persian part of northern Mesopotamia. 4th century CE.
Lotus Sutra
Chinese verses in praise of the Goddess as Kuan Yin, translated from a now lost Sanskrit original.
Chanted in Mahayana Buddhist temples in China and Japan.
Mahabharata
Ancient Sanskrit text. Assembled in its final form possibly in the 2nd century BCE.
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Mahalakshmi Stotrum
Verses in praise of the Goddess as Mahalakshmi. Part of the Padma Purana.
Mahanrayana Upanishad
An early text that incorporates later material from the brahmanical tradition.
Mahanirvana Tantra
Modern, probably 19th century, text that purports to be 12th century.
Mahavakya Upanishad
A South Indian yoga upanishad of 12 slokas. The text is attested by the 17th or early 18th centuries.
Authorial date unknown.
Maitrayaniya Upanishad
Later upanishad that refers to the fourth (turiya) state. Possibly 2nd century BCE.
Malinivijayottara Tantra
A Sanskrit text from Kashmir that is regarded as part of Kashmiri Shaivism.
Manache Shloka (Manobodha)
Marathi text by Guru Samarth Ramdas. Lit: Verses to the Mind. 17th century.
Mandala Brahmana Upanishad
A South Indian yogic text. May be an expanded compilation based partly on the Advaya Taraka
Upanishad and also influenced by the Siddhasiddhantpaddhati. Probably late 17th to early 18th
centuries, but may be as early as the 14th century. Not to be confused with the non-yogic text of the
same name derived from the Satapatha Brahmana.
Mandukya Karika
A text on Advaita Vedanta. Attributed to Gaudapada, a teacher active in the previous century to
Shankara.
Mandukya Upanishad
Later upanishad containing a description of the four states of consciousness, including the fourth state,
turiya. Found in the Arthavaveda.
Manteq at-Tayr
Persian work by the Sufi, Farid ud-Din Attar (1145-1221), in which he describes the Seven Valleys of
Love. Lit. Conference of the Birds.
Mantra Mahodadhi
An encyclopedic compilation of mantras compiled by Mahidhara. Late 19th century.
Mantra Yoga Samhita th century.
Mantrika Upanishad
South Indian title for the Culika Upanishad.
Markandeya Purana
One of the oldest of the major, or maha-puranas, written in the style of a dialogue between the sage
Markandeya and Jaimini, a disciple of Vyasa. Contains the Devi Mahatmyam. 4/5th century CE.
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