This is a comprehensive list of ancient and medieval literature and the authors of those pieces. Useful for UPSC Prelims prep and can also be used for supporting your arguments in Art & Culture questions in Mains.
WORK | AUTHOR |
Gulamgiri | Jyotiba Phule. |
Kavya phule | Savitribai Phule. |
Sarvajanik Satyadharma | Jyotiba Phule. |
Lokvibahaga | Jain cosmological text. Contains oldest known mention of zero and the decimal system. |
Sultana's Dream | Begum Rokeya. A feminist utopian novel. 1910s |
Kathasaritasagara | Somadeva. Shaivaite who collected Indian legends. |
Swapnavasavadatta | Vasavadatta. Sanskrit play in 6 parts. |
Brahmaguptsidhantika | Brahmagupta. Introduced negative numbers and operations on zero. |
Rajatarangini | Kalhana. History of Kings of Kashmir. 12th century. |
Harshacharita | Banabhatta |
Kadambari | Banabhatta. Sanskrit prose. |
Ratnavali | Harshavardhana. About a princess named Ratnavali. Contains the first textual reference to Holi. |
Priyadarsika | Harshavardhana. |
Nagananda | Harshavardhana. Jimutavahana's self sacrifice to save the nagas. |
Amuktamulyada | Krishnadeva Raya. Epic Poem in Telugu. Extolling the ideal king. About the marriage of said king with Andal (the alvar poetess) |
Jambavati Kalyana | Krishnadeva Raya. Writtening in sanzkrit. |
Mudrarakshasa | Vishakhadatta. Rise of CGM. |
Buddhacharita | Asvaghosa. 4th Buddhist Council. |
Kamasutra | Vatsyayana |
Charakasamhita | Botany and Chemistry. Charaka was at the court of Kanishka. |
Sushrutasamhita | Sushruta. Surgery |
Ashtangsamagraha | Vagbhata. Summary of 8 branches of medicine. Last of the medical trio. |
Tolkappiyam | Tolkappiyar. Grammar and poetics |
Tirukkural | Thiruvalluvar. Philosophy and maxims. |
Divya Prabandham | Collection of Alvar hymns a.k.a. Tamil Veda. |
Tirumurai | Collection of Nayanar hymns. |
Silappadikaram | Illango Adigal. Story of Kannagi and Kovalan #1 of Panchkavyams. First mention of puppetry. |
Manimegalai | Sittalai Sattanar. Story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi #2 |
Sivaka Chintamani/Mannul | Jain religious epic in Tamil #3 |
Valayapathi | Jain religious epic in Tamil #4 |
Kundalakesi | Buddhist religious epic in Tamil #5 |
Brihatsamhita | Varamihira. 500CE Astronomical text. |
Ashtadhyayi | Panini. Sanskrit grammar. |
Varrtika | Katyayana. Explained Panini's work. |
Yogasutra | Patanjali. Yoga school of philosophy. |
Mahabhasya | Patanjali. Sanskrit grammar, based on Katyayana and Panini's works. |
Mricchakatika | Sudraka. Story of Charudatta and Vasantasena. |
Barnaparichay | Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Bengali grammar. |
Milindapanho | Buddhist literature. Conversations of Nagasena and Bactrian King Milinda. |
Kavirajamarga | Amoghavarsha. Kannada. Rashtrakuta Emperor. 7th century CE. Ashoka of the South. |
Prashnottara Ratnamalika | Amoghavarsha. Sanskrit. |
Kitab-e-Navras | Adil Shah II. Songs in praise of Hindu deities and Muslim saints. |
Prayag prashasti | Harisena. Court poet of Samudragupta in sanskrit. |
Junagarh inscription | Rudradaman. 2nd century CE. Earliest written sanskrit. |
Tuzk-i-Jahangiri | Jahangir. Autobiography. |
Padshanama | Abdul Hamid Lahori. Reign of Shah Jahan. |
Alamgirnama | Mirza Muhammad Kazim. |
Ain-i-Akbari | Abul Fazl |
Stree purush tulna | Tarabai Shinde |
Sattasai | Hala. Prakrit lit of 700 verses. |
Dipavamsa + Mahavamsa | Buddhist chronicles from Ceylon |
Bharatvenba | Nandivarman II. Translation of Mahabharata. |
Tarikh i Firoz Shahi | Barani |
Khazain al Futuh | Khusrau. Alaudin Khilji's conquests. |
Tughlaq Nama | Khusrau, Rise of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. |
Kitab ul Hind | Al Beruni |
INSCRIPTIONS
Hathigumpha inscription - Kharavela of Kalinga's inscription from 1st century BCE.
Dhauli inscriptions of Asoka - have an elephant carved at the back. Near Bhubaneshwar
Nashik inscription - Gotamiputra Satakarani's exploits by his mom.
Rabatak inscription - Kanishka's time.
Pugalur inscription - Refers to three generation of Chera rulers. 1st Century CE.
Allahabad pillar inscription - Sumdragupta's conquests of Southern kingdoms.
Aihole inscription - Pulakesin II defeats Harsha.
Srirangam Copper Plate inscriptions - Devaraya II of Vijayanagara.
Iron pillar inscription - Chandragupta II.