The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series (Princeton/Bollingen Paperbacks)

Unbelievable

The work done on this subject, in to day's atmosphere and for the people who do not have or have a very little interest in the subject will be an eye opener, telling that "THOSE WHOM WE CALL PRIMITIVE" were more dedicated to the "LIFE THEY WERE LIVING" and their thinking was not limited to their physical requirements but beyond........... A great work specially for young generations.

My husband wanted this as a gift and loves it!

Not only a wonderful reference book, but also enjoyable just to read straight through. It covers myths and gods, philosphy, mantras, yantras, worship and rituals, and includes 32 pages of black-and-white photographs of Indian sculptures of the gods. It has an excellent 41-page index. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that it omits 89 pages of Sanskrit text that appear in the original hardcover Bollingen edition as an appendix, and that are referenced throughout the body of the book. Otherwise it is an exact copy of that classic work. Most readers will probably not mind this omission, but Sanskrit scholars will find it disappointing and would be well advised to seek out a copy of the original hardcover.

Bought this for studying purposes. Everyone should have

Great!

I read a review that stated they wanted a simpler explanation for Hinduism. Well friend; there ISN'T one. Hinduism is deep, rich, culturally dynamic, and is far too expansive to be simplified any more than this. I cannot express to you the value that this book has had on my life and understanding, as someone who practices, teaches, and now trains teachers in yoga. This book saved me from so much confusion, and I am vastly thankful for it. If you want to rob yourself by reading another book, go ahead. If you want to understand what THIS is, and what it's about, where it came from, and how to relate it to your own life and philosophy, then buy this book and read it at your own pace. It's well worth it. It's the finest piece of literature I own, and I own many. Alain Danielou is an absolute marvel of intellectual brilliance, and he is a fantastic literature artist... this book is a thing of beauty.

The book contains many entries, but lacks in my opinion a more in-depth analysis. With more illustrations it could be a nice children's book...

Excelente libro, gracias. Genial lectura.

It’s a knowledgeable book about Hindu mythology. Very detailed about everything. It’s pretty vast but informative.

If you have no other book on your shelves this will keep you entertained for years. A constant reference work. Shcolarly and accessible. Danielou has done what many indologists have tried to do and succeeded with grace and inspiration. whether you want to find the original sources for material on the Gods, or simply the relationships between them this is a wonderful classic work on the subjkect. Equal to Kerenyi's work on Greek mythology. Extensive references to orinal material and easily accessible even to the non-scholar. uy it.

Interesting book but cost high

For someone interested in the early ideas associated with Indian religious thought and practices, this is a primer.Of course, the work is useless for scholars.It’s also thoroughly outdated.Most importantly, even the tag proclaiming it as "The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism" is wrong on every count. It’s nowhere close to Classic. The thoughts and practices mentioned in this book had arose long before the notion of 'Hindu' had even evolved. Finally, Indian religious pantheon is a classic example of Henotheism and not of Polytheism.It's not even a very good reference for classical as well as subaltern mythology.Nah! Not good for serious reads. But it's effective to display one's erudition while sitting at airports. So, if you have such inclinations, perhaps this is for you. Otherwise, stick to actual classics.