Unlike many other ancient mythologies; Hinduism thrives in the modern world. One billion followers and countless others have been captivated by its symbolic representations of love; karma; and reincarnation. Handbook of Hindu Mythology offers an informative introduction to this dauntingly complex mythology of multifaceted deities; lengthy heroic tales; and arcane philosophies-all with a 3;000-year history of reinterpretations and adaptations. Williams offers a number of pathways by which to approach Hinduism's ever-changing gods and goddesses (e.g.; Brahmâ; Vishnu; Siva); spiritual verses (such as the vedas); secular epics (including the Râmâyana and the Mahâbhârata); myths within myths; devotional and esoteric traditions; psychic and yogic disciplines; and magical practices. With this handbook; readers can explore the history of Hindu mythology; follow a detailed timeline of key episodes and historical events; and look up specific elements of historical or contemporary Hinduism in a beautifully illustrated reference work. It is the ideal introduction to the origins of Hinduism; the culture that shaped it from antiquity to the present; and the age-old stories; ideas; and traditions that speak to the human condition as eloquently today as ever. Including annotated bibliographies; a glossary of cultural and mythological terms; and numerous illustrations; here is a gold mine of information on Hindu mythology.
#1520824 in Books Williams George M 2008-03-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.00 x 1.00 x 9.10l; 1.43 #File Name: 019533261X400 pagesHandbook of Hindu Mythology
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Great reference work! Right next to my Bhagavad Gita.By Dakota HenryThis really is a great work for reference. It has a dictionary feel to it; which was not what I expected. For westerners; one would need full texts as further reference (which I do; and probably could not write on this topic otherwise). The Handbook offers citations of other texts (Bhagavad Gita; Ramayana; etc.) and works as a very good secondary resource.I definitely recommend the Handbook for anybody taking a comparative religion course or anything regarding Hindu deities; it's just the best reference I've found.9 of 16 people found the following review helpful. Fraught with errors.By The PrograminatorThe book is full of errors. The mistakes are so bad that it becomes obvious that the author has little or no knowledge of Hinduism. Some examples: Calls Sati; Sita. Gets confused between Bhrigu and Sukracharya. Why write error-ridden books like this?
