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 primarily associated with Buddhism
Pali sutras
- Digha Nikaya
- Majjhima Nikaya
- Anapanasati Sutta , a discourse on the method of being mindful of the breath
- Satipathana Sutta
- Samyutta Nikaya
- Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta , the Buddha's first discourse on the nature of his enlightenment
- Upanisa Sutta , on the two types of conditionality
- Anguttara Nikaya
- Kalama Sutta
- Metta Sutta , a rhapsody on the quality of universal loving-kindness
- Khuddaka Nikaya
- Dhammapada, a collection of sayings and aphorisms thought to be amongst the oldest texts
Mahayana sutras
Vajrayana sutras
- Mahavairocana Sutra also known as the Mahavairocanādhisambodhi Tantra.
- Vajrasekhara Sutra
See also