It is difficult to locate exactly these books at their accurate periods in these centuries. Even the biographical materials relating to the authors are very rare. Hence conflicting are the opinions of scholars regarding the dates of these books. But roughly speaking the entire Hindu literature covers a period of 6,000 years, from 4,000 B.C. the time of the Vedas to the present times.

The period or the Dharmasutras begins from the seventh century B.C. The age of the Smritis begins with Manu who is assigned to the second century B.C. Yajnavalkya, is assigned to the first century A.D. Narada and Vishnu lived in the fourth century. The period of the commentaries commences with Medhatithi, the earliest of commentators, who lived and wrote in the tenth century.

Mitakshara is assigned to the eleventh century and Jimutavahana, the author of Dayabhaga lived and wrote in the next century. The period of the ‘Digests‘ commences after a lapse of three centuries. Nandapandita wrote his digest between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Nirnayasindhu and Vyavahara mayukha flourished in the seventeenth century.