Sources and licences

Nothing is published here without a named source and a licence. This page lists them all.

Texts, translations and commentaries

• The S'aiva-Upanishads with the commentary of Sri Upanishad-Brahma-Yogin (शैव-उपनिषदः), edited by A. Mahadeva Sastri (A. Mahadeva Sastri (Alladi Mahadeva Sastri), Upanishad-Brahma-Yogin, The Adyar Library (Theosophical Society), Adyar, Madras, 1925). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Vaishnava-Upanishads with the commentary of Sri Upanishad-Brahma-Yogin (वैष्णव-उपनिषदः), edited by A. Mahadeva Sastri (A. Mahadeva Sastri (Alladi Mahadeva Sastri), Upanishad-Brahma-Yogin (Upaniṣad-brahma-yogin, also called Upaniṣad-brahmendra), The Adyar Library (Theosophical Society), Adyar, Madras, 1923). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Yajurvedinām Āhnika-karma-sūtrāvaliḥ (यजुर्वेदिनाम् आह्निककर्मसूत्रावलिः), a handbook of daily rites for followers of the Yajurveda, compiled and corrected by Pandit Shivdatta Sharma (Shivdatta Sharma, Khemraj Shrikrishnadas, Shri Venkateshwar Steam Press, Bombay, 1928). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Acharendu (आचारेन्दुः) of Tryambaka Mate, a digest of daily rites, edited by Dattatreya Shastri Agashe (Anandashrama Sanskrit Series, no. 58) (Tryambaka Mate, Dattatreya Shastri Agashe, Anandashrama (Hari Narayan Apte), Poona, 1909). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• The Padmapurana (पद्मपुराणम्), vol. IV: the Uttara Khanda, edited from several manuscripts (Anandashrama Sanskrit Series) (Vishwanath Narayan Mandlik, Anandashrama Press (Mahadeva Chimnaji Apte), Poona, 1894). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Anek Sangrah (अनेकसंग्रह), an anthology of rāg songs, bhajans and devotional verse compiled by Pt. Ramlal of Khairagarh, revised and enlarged by Vrajratna Bhattacharya of Moradabad (Ramlal (son of Anjori Mahapatra, of Khairagarh, Raipur district), Vrajratna Bhattacharya, Ganga Vishnu Shrikrishnadas (Lakshmi Venkateshwar Press), Kalyan, Bombay, 1914). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Bhagavad Gîtâ, or The Lord's Song, translated by Annie Besant (Annie Besant, Theosophical Publishing Society, London, 1895). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• Bhaktimārgapradīp (भक्तिमार्गप्रदीप), a book of daily prayers, Sanskrit verses and Marathi saint-poetry, edited and published by Laxman Ramchandra Pangarkar (Laxman Ramchandra Pangarkar, Laxman Ramchandra Pangarkar (Mumukshu office), Pune, 1910). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Bhujanga Stotrani (भुजंगस्तोत्राणि), hymns in the bhujanga metre ascribed to Shankaracharya ('श्रीमच्छंकरभगवत्पादैः विरचितानि') (Sri Vani Vilas Press (श्रीवाणीविलासमुद्रायन्त्रालय), Srirangam, 1911). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Abhinavā Pāṭhāvaliḥ, part 3 (अभिनवा पाठावलिः, तृतीया), a Sanskrit school reader by Vinayak Pandurang Bokil and Lakshmikant Rangacharya Raddi (Vinayak Pandurang Bokil, Lakshmikant Rangacharya Raddi, Macmillan and Company, Limited, Bombay, 1930). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Brihat Stotra Ratnakara (बृहत्स्तोत्ररत्नाकरः), illustrated (सचित्रः), an anthology of 180 Sanskrit hymns; third edition (Nirnaya Sagar Press (Tukaram Javaji), Bombay, 1899). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Brihat Stotra Ratnakara (बृहत्स्तोत्ररत्नाकरः), illustrated (सचित्रः), an anthology of 180 Sanskrit hymns; fifth edition (Nirnaya Sagar Press (Tukaram Javaji), Bombay, 1904). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Brihat Stotra Ratnakara (बृहत्स्तोत्ररत्नाकरः), illustrated (सचित्रः), an anthology of 182 Sanskrit hymns; seventh edition (Nirnaya Sagar Press (Tukaram Javaji), Bombay, 1912). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• 51 Chalisa Sangrah Aartiyon Sahit (51 चालीसा संग्रह आरतियों सहित), a collection of chalisas and aartis, first edition (Randhir Prakashan (रणधीर प्रकाशन), Hardwar, 2000). Traditional prayer. Text from 51 Chalisa Sangrah Aartiyon Sahit (51 चालीसा संग्रह आरतियों सहित), a collection of chalisas and aartis, first edition, 2000. Translation and meanings: our own. The text on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Shri Devi Pushpanjali Stotra (श्रीदेवीपुष्पाञ्जलिस्तोत्रं), a Sanskrit hymn to the Goddess in 29 verses, printed as a small oblong booklet (Khemraj Shrikrishnadas (Shri Venkateshwar Steam Press), Bombay, 1917). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• An English Translation of the Satyarth Prakash … of Maharshi Swami Dayanand Saraswati, being a guide to Vedic hermeneutics, by Durga Prasad (Durga Prasad, preacher of Vedic religion, editor of the Harbinger, Lahore, Virjanand Press, Lahore, 1908). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Shri Durga Chalisa aur Shri Vindhyeshwari Chalisa (booklet no. 1033) (Gita Press, Gorakhpur). Traditional prayer. Text from Shri Durga Chalisa aur Shri Vindhyeshwari Chalisa (booklet no. 1033), undated. Translation and meanings: our own. The text on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• The Ramayana, translated into English prose from the original Sanskrit of Valmiki: Yuddha Kandam (Manmatha Nath Dutt, Manmatha Nath Dutt, Calcutta, 1893). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• 1 Mein 100 Pustak (१ में १०० पुस्तक, "a hundred books in one"), a collection of short devotional books compiled by Pt. Harishankar Shastri; first printing (Pt. Harishankar Shastri (son of Pt. Kundanlal, of Najibabad; head of a Sanskrit college at Hardwar), Pt. Harishankar Shastri, Hardwar (printed at his own cost), Cawnpore (Kanpur), 1900). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated into English prose: Anuçasana Parva (Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Pratapa Chandra Ray, Bharata Press (Pratapa Chandra Ray), Calcutta, 1893). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• Sri Bhagavad-Gita with Sri Ramanujacharya's Visishtadvaita commentary, translated by A. Govindacharya (Madras, 1898) (Scan uploaded to archive.org (folkscanomy collection)). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• The Hymns of the Rigveda, translated with a popular commentary by Ralph T. H. Griffith, second edition, vol. I (Ralph T. H. Griffith, E. J. Lazarus and Co., Benares, 1896). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• The Hymns of the Rigveda, translated with a popular commentary by Ralph T. H. Griffith, second edition, vol. II (Ralph T. H. Griffith, E. J. Lazarus and Co., Benares, 1897). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás, translated from the original Hindi by F. S. Growse; sixth edition, revised and corrected (Frederic Salmon Growse, Ram Narain Lal, Allahabad, 1914). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• Dāsbodh (दासबोध), Samarth Ramdas Swami's Marathi work in Hindi translation, by Madhavrao Sapre and Lakshmidhar Vajpeyi, first edition (Madhavrao Sapre, Lakshmidhar Vajpeyi, Shankar Narhar Joshi, Chitrashala Steam Press, Poona, 1913). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• The Thirteen Principal Upanishads, translated from the Sanskrit with an outline of the philosophy of the Upanishads and an annotated bibliography, by Robert Ernest Hume (Robert Ernest Hume, Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, London, 1921). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• Shri Kali Namamrit (श्रीकालीनामामृत), an illustrated collection of hymns, bhajans and aartis to Kali and the Devi, collected by Pt. Shivadatta 'Kaviratna' (Shivadatta "Kaviratna", Ramkrishna Bhagwandas Bhavsinghka (रामकृष्ण भगवान दास भावसिंहका), given away free ('विनामूल्य'), Calcutta (209 Cornwallis Street), 1921). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Chaitanya Movement: A Study of the Vaishnavism of Bengal, by Melville T. Kennedy (Calcutta: Association Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1925) (Digital Library of India scan). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, a critical edition with the commentary of Sri Govindaraja and extracts from many other commentaries and readings: Yuddhakanda 6 (T. R. Krishnacharya, Govindaraja, T. R. Krishnacharya (Madhva Vilas Book Depot, Kumbakonam), Bombay, 1913). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Manohar Pushpanjali (मनोहर पुष्पाञ्जलि), a collection of 300 bhajans of the Arya Samaj; second printing (Narayan Datt Sahgal and Sons, Lohari Darwaza, Lahore, 1922). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Hymns of the Rig-Veda in the Samhita Text, reprinted from the editio princeps, by F. Max Müller (F. Max Müller, Trübner & Co., 57 and 59, Ludgate Hill, London, 1873). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• The Upanishads, Part II, translated by F. Max Müller (The Sacred Books of the East, vol. XV; Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1884) (Public-domain scan, University of Toronto (Robarts Library)). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• The Bhagavad-Gita, or The Lord's Song, with the text in Devanagari and an English translation (Annie Besant, G. A. Natesan & Co., Madras, 1922). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Ramayan (रामायण), Goswami Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas with front matter: Tulsidas's life, praise of the Ramayan, Sankat Mochan, Ram Barahkhadi, Bajrang Baan, Ramayan Mahatmya, the full Ramayan with additions (kshepak), an aarti, the Lav-Kush Kand, a table of Sita and Rama's years in the forest, hymns to seven deities and a word index (Munshi Naval Kishore Press, Lucknow, 1905). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Īśādidaśopaniṣatsaṃgrahaḥ (ईशादिदशोपनिषत्संग्रहः): the ten principal Upanishads (Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka) and the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Sanskrit text (Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay, 1893). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Satik Gutka Ramayan: the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas with the Hindi commentary of Pt. Rameshwar Bhatt of Agra, with the Vairagya Sandipani, the Hanuman Chalisa and a glossary (Gudhartha Chintamani); seventh edition (Rameshwar Bhatt (of Agra), Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay, 1924). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Ramayana of Valmiki, with the commentary (Tilaka) of Rama, Part II: the Sundarakanda, the Yuddhakanda and the Uttarakanda (Kashinath Pandurang Parab, Rama (author of the Tilaka commentary), The proprietor of the Nirnaya-sagara Press, Bombay, 1888). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Īśādyaṣṭottaraśatopaniṣadaḥ (ईशाद्यष्टोत्तरशतोपनिषदः), the 108 Upanishads, Sanskrit text with variant readings, edited by Vasudev Sharma Panshikar, third edition (Vasudev Laxman Shastri Panshikar (Phansikar), Pandurang Javaji, Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay, 1925). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Handbook to the Study of the Rigveda, Part II: The Seventh Mandala of the Rigveda (Bombay Sanskrit Series No. XLIII), by Peter Peterson (Peter Peterson, Government Central Book Depot (for the Department of Public Instruction, Bombay), Bombay, 1892). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• The Twenty-eight Upanishads (Īsha and others) (अष्टाविंशत्युपनिषदः), the Sanskrit text, edited by Vasudev Laxman Shastri Phansikar (Vasudev Laxman Shastri Phansikar, Tukaram Javaji, Nirnaya-sagar Press, Bombay, 1906). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• J. M. Nallasvami Pillai, Studies in Saiva-Siddhanta, with an introduction by V. V. Ramana Sastrin (Madras: Meykandan Press, 1911); includes his English translation of the Unmai Vilakkam ('The Light of Truth'), pp. 5–12 (Public-domain scan, University of Toronto Libraries). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• Sree Krishna, the Lord of Love, by Bábá Premánand Bhárati (Baba Premanand Bharati, The Krishna Samáj, New York, 1904). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• Purashcharyarnava (पुरश्चर्यार्णवः), a Tantric digest of worship compiled by King Pratapa Simha Shah of Nepal; part III (तृतीयखण्डः), chapters 9 to 12, edited by Pandit Muralidhar Jha (Pratapa Simha Shah, King of Nepal, Muralidhar Jha (Jha 'Ojha'), Prabhakari & Co. (प्राभाकरीयन्त्रालय), Benares, Benares (वाराणसी), 1904). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Shri Purnavaishnavaryoday Pushpanjali (श्री पूर्णवैष्णवाऽऽर्योदय पुष्पांजलिः) (Shri Guru Purnagiri Sansthan (श्री गुरु पूर्णगिरिसंस्थान), Lakhanpur (Jammu), 1993). Traditional prayer. Text from Shri Purnavaishnavaryoday Pushpanjali (श्री पूर्णवैष्णवाऽऽर्योदय पुष्पांजलिः), 1993. Translation and meanings: our own. The text on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Rangaramanuja's Prakashika on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, as printed in the Anandashrama edition (Anandashrama Sanskrit Series, no. 64, Poona, 1911) (Public-domain scan, University of Toronto (Robarts Library)). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, edited from old manuscripts by five members of the Kashi Nagari Pracharini Sabha, with the commentary of Shyam Sundar Das; second printing (Shyam Sundar Das, Sudhakar Dvivedi (Mahamahopadhyaya), Shyam Sundar Das (Shyamsundardas), Radhakrishnadas (Babu Radhakrishna Das), Amir Singh (Babu Amir Singh), Kartik Prasad Khatri (Babu Kartikprasad), Indian Press, Ltd., Allahabad (Prayag), 1922). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Bhagavad-Gita, with the commentary of Sri Sankaracharya, translated by A. Mahadeva Sastri (2nd ed., Mysore: G. T. A. Printing Works, 1901) (Public-domain scan, University of California Libraries). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• The Upanishads, Part I, translated by F. Max Müller (The Sacred Books of the East, vol. I) (F. Max Müller, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1879). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• The Bhagavadgîtâ with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ, translated by Kâshinâth Trimbak Telang (The Sacred Books of the East, vol. VIII, ed. F. Max Müller) (Kashinath Trimbak Telang, F. Max Müller, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1882). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• The Upanishads, Part II, translated by F. Max Müller (The Sacred Books of the East, vol. XV) (Friedrich Max Müller, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1884). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• The Daily Practice of the Hindus, containing the Morning and Midday Duties, by Rai Bahadur Śrīśa Chandra Vidyārṇava (The Sacred Books of the Hindus, vol. XX) (Srisa Chandra Vasu (Vidyarnava), B. D. Basu, The Panini Office, Bhuvaneswari Asrama, Bahadurganj, Allahabad, 1918). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Second Triennial Report on the Search for Hindi Manuscripts for the years 1909, 1910 and 1911, by Shyam Behari Misra, assisted by Sukhdeo Behari Misra (Shyam Behari Misra, Sukhdeo Behari Misra, Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Benares, under the authority and patronage of the Government of the United Provinces, Allahabad, 1914). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• Shankara's commentary (bhāṣya) on the Taittiriya Upanishad, as printed in the Anandashrama edition (Anandashrama Sanskrit Series, no. 12, 3rd ed., Poona, 1909) (Public-domain scan, Digital Library of India). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• Stava-samudra, first part (স্তব-সমুদ্রঃ প্রথম-প্রবাহঃ), Sanskrit hymns in Devanagari with Bengali transliteration and Bengali verse renderings, edited by Purna Chandra De Kavyaratna Udbhatasagar (Purna Chandra De (Kavibhushan, Kavyaratna, Udbhatasagar), B.A., Haridas Chattopadhyay (Gurudas Chattopadhyay and Sons), Calcutta, 1918). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Bhagavad-Gita: translation and commentaries in English according to Sri Madhwacharya's Bhashyas, by S. Subba Rau (Madras, 1906) (Scan uploaded to archive.org (folkscanomy collection)). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita, with Sanskrit Text; Paraphrase with Word-by-word Literal Translation; English Rendering and Comments, Index, &c., by the Swami Swarupananda (Himalayan Series, No. XX) (Swami Swarupananda, The Editors and Publishers, Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, Prabuddha Bharata Press, Mayavati, Almora, Himalayas, 1909). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• The Îsavâsyopanishad, translated into English with the commentaries of Sri Sankaracharya and Sri Anantacharya and notes from the tikas of Anandagiri, Uvatacharya, Sankarananda, Ramchandra Pandit and Anandabhatta, by Srisa Chandra Vasu (Bombay Theosophical Publication Fund, Tookaram Tatya, 1896) (Public-domain scan on archive.org (the item name mentions Adyar)). Summarised in our own words; none of its text is reproduced.
• శ్రీవిష్ణుసహస్రనామస్తోత్రము, శ్రీకృష్ణాష్టోత్తరము ఇత్యాద్యత్యావశ్యకగ్రంథరత్నపేటికాయమానంబై యున్న యీపుస్తకము (Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra, Sri Krishna Ashtottara and other needful texts, a small casket of jewels; Sanskrit in Telugu script) (Tiru Venkatacharya, Sarasvati Nilaya press (సరస్వతీనిలయ ముద్రాక్షరశాల), Madras, 1873). Public domain. Used only to date the text. The Devanagari on this page is a reading text and is not copied from this printing.
• विष्णुसहस्रनामस्तोत्र सप्तश्लोकीगीतासमेतम् (Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra, with the Saptashloki Gita) (Gangavishnu Shrikrishnadas, Lakshmi Venkateshwar Steam Press, Kalyan-Bombay, 1923). Public domain. The Sanskrit on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.
• Rig-Veda Sanhita: a collection of ancient Hindu hymns, constituting the third and fourth Ashtakas, or books, of the Rig-Veda, translated from the original Sanskrit by H. H. Wilson (vol. III) (H. H. Wilson, Wm. H. Allen and Co., London, 1857). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• Rig-Veda Sanhita: a collection of ancient Hindu hymns, constituting the third and fourth Ashtakas, or books, of the Rig-Veda, translated from the original Sanskrit by H. H. Wilson (vol. III) (H. H. Wilson, Wm. H. Allen and Co., London, 1857). Public domain. Shown verbatim, as printed.
• Yagya-Mimamsa (यज्ञ-मीमांसा), a Hindi handbook of Vedic fire rituals in two parts, by Pandit Veniram Sharma Gaud, third enlarged edition (Veniram Sharma Gaud, Vaidik Pustakalaya (वैदिक पुस्तकालय), 7/17 Sakarkand Gali, Varanasi, 1970). Traditional prayer. Text from Yagya-Mimamsa (यज्ञ-मीमांसा), a Hindi handbook of Vedic fire rituals in two parts, by Pandit Veniram Sharma Gaud, third enlarged edition, 1970. Translation and meanings: our own. The text on these pages was read from this printing’s page images.

The Sanskrit of the Bhagavad Gita is read from the page images of a printed edition published before 1931, then checked letter by letter against an independent second keying. The Hanuman Chalisa is a reading text built on one dated base printing, the Nirnaya Sagar Gutka Ramayan of 1924. Where families say a word differently, the familiar word is kept only when another printing from the same period shows it, and the page names that printing. Every such word is listed on the page.

We also compared our transcriptions with digital texts whose terms do not allow copying, only to find our own mistakes. Nothing from them is copied or cited. Where they read a place differently, the verse page says so under “Edition differences”.

Translations are shown verbatim from public-domain printings, each with its edition line. Plain meanings in English and Hindi are our own words, written with AI help from the cited sources. Each text page shows its review status: one AI review is done, and an independent second review is required before a text is released.

Calendar data

• NASA JPL DE440 ephemeris. Public data. It decides the moments a tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana or sankranti begins.
• Astronomy Engine. MIT licence. It gives sunrise, sunset and moonrise for each city.
• Lahiri ayanamsa. The Indian government standard, with the exact variant named on how we calculate.
• Our calendar line. Every date page says: “Calculated for your location from NASA JPL's DE440 ephemeris and Astronomy Engine (MIT licence), with the Lahiri ayanamsa. Times can differ by a minute or two from printed panchangs. For vrat and puja timings, follow your family or temple tradition.”
• Hand checks. We compare a sample of dates by hand with published calendars such as Drik Panchang and with temple calendars. We do not copy their data.

Pictures

The children's stories show old art only: 30 pictures, 17 from Cleveland Museum of Art, 9 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2 from Art Institute of Chicago, 1 drawing by Warwick Goble, 1 painting by Raja Ravi Varma. There are no AI images and no temple photographs.

Museum pictures are open access under CC0 (public domain). We checked the licence of each object in the museum's own public records, and we link to the museum's page for it. Some pictures are by artists who died long ago, such as Raja Ravi Varma (died 1906) and Warwick Goble (died 1943), and are public domain; for each we name where the copy comes from and where we checked who made it. We resize each file for the web, and we say so when we crop one.

• “Boar Incarnation of God Vishnu (Varaha) Lifting the Earth Goddess Bhudevi”, 11th century, Rajasthan. Red sandstone. Art Institute of Chicago, 1997.707. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Varaha Lifts the Earth.
• “Savitri Triumphs over Yama, the God of Death”, 12th/13th century, Madhya Pradesh. Sandstone. Art Institute of Chicago, 2021.203. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Savitri and Satyavan.
• “A Serpent Protects Vasudeva Taking His Infant Son Krishna to Safety”, c. 1890, Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2003.153. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: The Night Krishna Was Born.
• “Descent of the Ganges”, c. 1700–1710, Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera and gold on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2018.111. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: How Ganga Came Down to Earth.
• “Enthroned Rama and Sita receive homage from their monkey and bear Allies, from the Yuddha Kanda (Book of the War) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)”, c. 1765, Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. gum tempera and gold on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2018.117. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Rama Comes Home.
• “Flying Hanuman”, 900s, Cambodia, Koh Ker style, 10th century. Bronze. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1987.43. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Hanuman Leaps for the Sun.
• “Hanuman spies Sita in the Ashoka Grove, from the “Shangri” Ramayana”, c. 1700–25, Northern India, Pahari kingdoms, Himachal Pradesh. Gum tempera and ink on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2025.8. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Hanuman Finds Sita.
• “Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso)”, 1700s, Southern India, Andhra Pradesh, possibly Tirupati. color on cloth. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1973.102.b. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Jagannath and the Closed Door.
• “King Bali gives a gift of land to Vamana”, 1700s, Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera and gold on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2009.315. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Vamana and King Mahabali.
• “Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata Purana”, c. 1775, Nepal, Kathmandu. Gum tempera and ink on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2022.45. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Krishna, Satyabhama and King Naraka.
• “Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan”, c. 1780–90, Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Kangra. gum tempera and gold on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2001.45. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Krishna Lifts Govardhan Hill.
• “Maharana Jagat Singh Attending the Raslila”, Jai Ram (Indian, active 1710–40); Jiva (Indian, active mid-1700s), 1736, Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Mewar, Udaipur, 18th century. Gum tempera, gold, and silver on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2011.141. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: The Dance under the Autumn Moon.
• “Parvati Placing a Wedding Garland on Shiva (recto), from a Kalighat album”, c. 1890, Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2003.108.a. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Shiva and Parvati's Wedding.
• “Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) series”, c. 1765, Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Chamba, Court of Raj Singh (reigned 1764–94). Gum tempera and gold on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1953.357. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Rama and Ravana.
• “Surya, the Sun God”, early 700s, India, Kashmir. Brass with inlaid silver eyes and copper inlaid lips. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1965.557. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Draupadi's Pot That Never Ran Out.
• “The birth of Rama and his brothers, from Chapter 17 of the Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood) of the Adhyatma Ramayana (Rama's Journey of the Supreme Spirit) from the Brahmanda Purana (Ancient Scripture of the Cosmic Egg)”, c. 1820–30, Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Kangra, Court of Aniruddh Chand (reigned 1823–33). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1953.13. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: The Day Rama Was Born.
• “Vishnu Battles Madhu and Kaitabha, from a Markandeya Purana”, c. 1760, Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1974.46. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: The King, the Merchant and the Sage.
• “Yasoda with Krishna Churning Butter”, c. 1890, Eastern India, Kolkata, Kalighat. Gum tempera, ink, graphite, and tin on paper. Cleveland Museum of Art, 2003.160. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Krishna and the Butter.
• “Yoga Narashimha, Vishnu in his Man-Lion Avatar”, c. 1250, South India, late Chola period (900–1200s). bronze. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1973.187. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Prahlad and the Fire of Holika.
• “Ekalavya at the shrine”, Warwick Goble, 1916 or earlier; printed in Cornelia Sorabji, Indian Tales of the Great Ones, 1916, Britain. Pen-and-ink line drawing, here from its printing in the book (black on a cream paper tone). Indian Tales of the Great Ones, 1916 (Internet Archive). Public domain (the artist died in 1943). Cropped for a children's page. Shown on: Ekalavya and His Teacher.
• “Durga Confronts the Buffalo Demon Mahisha: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya”, ca. 1780, India, Guler, Himachal Pradesh. Ink and opaque watercolor on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005.436.2. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Durga and the Buffalo King.
• “Ganesha transcribing the Mahabharata (Shri Shri Ganesh)”, 1878–83, India, Kolkata, West Bengal. Lithograph with watercolor on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2021.205. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Ganesha Writes the Mahabharata.
• “Shiva and Parvati with their Sons Karttikeya and Ganesha and the Calf Bull”, 9th century, India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir). Stone. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1989.362. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Ganesha Goes Round the World.
• “Shiva enraged by Parvati's interruption of his meditation”, early 19th century, India, Guler, Himachal Pradesh. Opaque pigments and gold on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019.146. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Parvati's Penance.
• “The Churning of the Ocean of Milk”, ca. 1780–90, India (Punjab Hill, Mandi). Ink and opaque watercolor on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1977.443.2. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: The Churning of the Ocean.
• “Vishnu on Garuda”, Sajnu, ca. 1810–20, India, Pahari School, Mandi. Opaque pigments and gold on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019.144. CC0 (public domain). Cropped for a children's page. Shown on: Dhruva, the Pole Star.
• “Vishvarupa Vishnu”, 6th century, India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir). Stone. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986.506.15. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Arjuna Sees the Universal Form.
• “Yama, Lord of Death: Regent of the South”, 9th century, Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura period. Bronze. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005.468.1. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: Nachiketa and Yama.
• “Yashoda and Gopal”, 1883, India, Kolkata, West Bengal. Lithograph with black ink, watercolor, and glaze on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2021.206. CC0 (public domain). Shown on: The Universe in Krishna's Mouth.
• “Bhishma's Resolve”, Raja Ravi Varma, 1906 or earlier; printed in The Modern Review, 1907, India. Oil painting, here from the black-and-white halftone plate printed in The Modern Review, 1907. The Modern Review, 1907 (Internet Archive). Public domain (the artist died in 1906). Cropped for a children's page. Shown on: Bhishma Waits for the Sun.

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