1st-millennium literature

Puranas () are a vast genre of Hindu literature that include a wide range of topics, especially legends and other traditional lore. The Puranas are known for the intricate layers of symbolism depicted within their stories. Composed originally in Sanskrit and in other South Asian languages, several of these texts are named after major Hindu deities such as Devi, Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. The Puranic genre of literature is found in both Hinduism and Jainism.

Kaumudi-Mahotsava (IAST: Kaumudīmahotsava, "Festival of Moonlight") is a Sanskrit play of uncertain date, known from a single manuscript discovered in the present-day state of Kerala, India. The portion of the manuscript that likely contained the playwright's name is damaged, but the name appears to be feminine—some scholars interpret it as "Vijjakaya"—though this remains uncertain. Several scholars have made attempts to identify the play's characters with historical figures, but most modern scholars consider it a work of fiction.