List of sutras - Definition

Below is a list of sutras organized alphabetically under the broad categories of Hinduism and Buddhism. Note that there is considerable difficulty in fixing the period of the various sutras.

Sutras primarily associated with Hinduism

Vedic sutras (800-300 BC)

• Kalpa Sutras, covering rituals
  • Srauta Sutras, performance of sacrifices
  • Sulba Sutras, architecture of sacrificial area
• Smarta Sutras, covering domestic life
  • Grhya Sutras
  • Samayacarika or Dharma Sutras
• Ashtadhyayi (Panini), discussing grammar

Sutras of Hindu Philosophy

• Brahma Sutras (or Vedanta Sutra) (Badarayana)
• Yoga Sutras; (Patanjali); Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• Nyaya Sutra, on logic
• Vaisesika Sutra

Sutras primarily associated with Buddhism

Pali Suttras

• Anapanasati Sutta, a discourse on the method of being mindful of the breath
• Brahmajala Sutta, a critique of 64 'wrong views' current at the time of the Buddha
• Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, the Buddha's first discourse on the nature of his enlightenment
• Dhammapada, a collection of sayings and aphorisms thought to be amongst the oldest texts
• Goshinga Sutta
• Kalama Sutta
• Mahaparinibbana Sutta, the last days of the Buddha, Theravada version
• Metta Sutta, a rhapsody on the quality of universal loving-kindness
• Satipathana Sutta
• Upanisa Sutta, on the two types of conditionality

Mahayana Sutras

• Amitabha Sutra, or Smaller Pure Land Sutra
• Avatamsaka Sutra or Flower Garland Sutra (Chinese: Huayan Jing)
• Contemplation Sutra, important in Pure Land Buddhism
• Diamond Sutra
• Heart Sutra, important in Zen Buddhism
• Infinite Life Sutra, or Large Pure Land Sutra
• Lankavatara Sutra
• Lotus Sutra, foundational text of Tiantai and Nichiren sects
• Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the last days of the Buddha, Mahayana version
• Perfection of Wisdom or Prajñāparamita Sutras
• Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
• Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (Chinese: Yuanjue Jing)
• Shurangama Sutra
• Sutra in Forty-Two Sections
• Sutra of Golden Light, important in Japanese Buddhism

See also Buddhist Texts: Mahayana text

Vajrayana Sutras

• Mahavairocana Sutra also known as the Mahavairocanādhisambodhi Tantra.
• Vajrasekhara Sutra

See also

• Buddhist texts which includes non-canonical texts important to Buddhism
• Pali canon of the Theravada school
• Chinese Buddhist canon of the Mahayana
• Tibetan Buddhist canon associated with Vajrayana Buddhism