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

~ Alain Daniélou (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A pleasure to behold and an invigorating experience to read. -- American Anthropologist

If you read only one book on Hinduism, it must be Danielou's Myths and Gods of India. -- Tyr, August 2002

Review

"A pleasure to behold and an invigorating experience to read."
(American Anthropologist )

"If you read only one book on Hinduism, it must be Danielou's Myths and Gods of India."
(Tyr, August 2002 )

" . . . sheds light on more than just Hindu philosophy and practices, but also on how the Western 'Orientalphiles' have been clearly selective in what they put forward as their vision of India." (
Institute of Hermetic Studies, Sep 2008 )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (December 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892813547
• ISBN-13: 978-0892813544
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #394,616 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite the original, August 11, 2000

By	Irene Orage (Northern California) - See all my reviews

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.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Myths and Gods of India : The Classic Work on Hindu Poly, July 31, 2000

By	M. Scott "pinkpoet" (Canberra, ACT Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Of the three works of this author that I have read (Siva & Dionysus, The Phallus and this one), this is by far his best and shows him at his best. It is eloquent, lucid, comprehensive and inspiring. Unlike the other two books, this one is obviously written with a passion for his subject, and, also unlike the other two books, it has an index (!) which makes it accessible! A great reference book.

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars not what I expected, February 13, 2009

By	K. Madden (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being in a "yoga" book club, I was very interested in the stories behind the Deities we hear about in yoga. I would have liked to have known that this was more of a 400 page text book, as opposed to an easy to understand story and explanation.