Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas

The Mahapuranas embody the received tradition of Hindu mythology. This anthology contains fresh translations of these myths, only a few of which have ever been available in English before, thus providing a rich new portion of Hindu mythology.

The book is organized into six chapters. "Origins" contains myths relating to creation, time, and space. "Seers, Kings and Supernaturals" relates tales of rivers, trees, animals, demons, and men, particularly heroes and sages. Myths about the chief gods are dealt with in three separate chapters: "Krsna," "Visnu," and "Siva." The chapter "The Goddess" presents stories of the wives and lovers of the gods, as well as of Kali, the savage battle goddess.

In their introductions, the editors provide a historical setting in which to discuss Hindu mythology as well as a full analysis of its basic sources. The many names given the gods and goddesses in the Sanskrit texts have been retained since their multiplicity is an essential part of the richness of the original. The editors have provided a thorough glossary to make these names accessible.

• In Praise of Krishna: Songs from the Bengali (Bengali Edition)
• Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists (Dover Books on Anthropology & Ethnology)
• The Mahabharata (Penguin Classics)
• Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit (Penguin Classics)
• The Rig Veda (Penguin Classics)
• The Bhagavad-Gita : Krishna's Counsel in Time of War (Bantam Classics)
• The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Penguin Classics)
• Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India
• The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology (Penguin Classics)
• Upanisads (Oxford World's Classics)