Chapter II: Introduction: xvii

I. INDRA, KING OF THE GODS 1

II. THE GREAT VEDIC DEITIES 19

III. YAMA, THE FIRST MAN, AND KING OF THE DEAD 38

IV. DEMONS AND GIANTS AND FAIRIES 61

V. SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENTS OF THE VEDIC AGE 76

VI. MYSTERIES OF CREATION, THE WORLD'S AGES, AND SOUL WANDERING 97

VII. NEW FAITHS: VISHNU RELIGION, BUDDHISM, AND JAINISM 119

VIII. DIVINITIES OF THE EPIC PERIOD 138

IX. PRELUDE TO THE GREAT BHARATA WAR 157

X. ROYAL RIVALS: THE PANDAVAS AND KAURAVAS 173

XI. THE TOURNAMENT 185

XII. FIRST EXILE OF THE PANDAVAS 195

XIII. THE CHOICE OF DRAUPADI 213

XIV. TRIUMPH OF THE PANDAVAS 224

XV. THE GREAT GAMBLING MATCH 237

XVI. SECOND EXILE OF THE PANDAVAS 249

XVII. DEFIANCE OF DURYODHANA 270

XVIII. THE BATTLE OF EIGHTEEN DAYS 285

XIX. ATONEMENT AND THE ASCENT TO HEAVEN 310

XX. NALA AND DAMAYANTÍ 328

XXI. WANDERINGS IN THE FOREST 340

XXII. NALA IN EXILE 353

XXIII. THE HOMECOMING OF THE KING 364

XXIV. STORY OF RAMA: HOW SITA WAS WON 374

XXV. THE ABDUCTION OF SITA 394

XXVI. RAMA'S MISSION FULFILLED 408

INDEX 429

PLATES IN COLOUR

Page

SITA FINDS RAMA AMONG LOTUS BLOOMS _Frontispiece_
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

SHANTANU MEETS THE GODDESS GANGA _facing_ 164
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

ARJUNA AND THE RIVER NYMPH " 226
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

THE ORDEAL OF QUEEN DRAUPADI " 242
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

THE RETURN OF THE HEROES SLAIN IN BATTLE " 320
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

DAMAYANTI AND THE SWAN " 330
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

DAMAYANTI CHOOSING A HUSBAND " 336
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

RAMA SPURNS THE DEMON LOVER " 400
_From the painting by Warwick Goble_

PLATES IN MONOCHROME

Page

THE CREMATION GHAT, BENARES _facing_ xxxvi

KALI " xl
_From a bronze in the Calcutta Art Gallery_

A VYASA, OR PUBLIC READER, RECITING THE MAHABHARATA " xlviii

INDRA " 4
_From the Indra Temple, Ellora_

INTERIOR OF A TEMPLE TO VISHNU (BRINDABAN) " 10

THE PARADISE OF INDRA " 16
_From a rock sculpture at Mâmallapuram_

AGNI, THE FIRE GOD " 20
_From a painting by Nanda Lall Bose_

SHIVA'S DANCE OF DESTRUCTION, ELLORA " 26

SURYA IN HIS CHARIOT " 32
_From the Kailâsa Temple, Ellora_

THE KAILASA TEMPLE OF SHIVA, ELLORA " 40

YAMA AND SAVITRI " 52
_From a painting by Nanda Lall Bose_

THE CITY OF THE GODS, PALITANA " 58

DURGA SLAYING GIANTS AND DEMONS " 64
_From a sculpture at Mámallapuram_

THE CELESTIAL FAIRIES (APSARAS) " 68
_Sculpture on a modern Hindu temple, Benares_

GROUP OF PRESENT-DAY BRAHMANS " 80

SADHUS (RELIGIOUS MENDICANTS) AT BENARES " 82

A YOGI ON A BED OF SPIKES " 84
_An example of present-day austerities_

THE BIRTH OF BRAHMA: SPRINGING FROM A LOTUS ISSUING
FROM VISHNU " 100
_From an original Indian painting_

HANUMAN " 106
_From a bronze in the Victoria and Albert Museum_

THE HINDU TRINITY AT ELEPHANTA " 120

VISHNU UPHOLDING THE UNIVERSE " 124
_From a sculpture at Mâmallapuram_

KRISHNA AND THE GOPIS (HERDSMAIDS) " 128
_From a modern sculpture_

BUDDHA EXPOUNDING THE LAW " 130

THE BOAR INCARNATION OF VISHNU RAISING THE EARTH FROM
THE DEEP " 136
_From a rock sculpture at Udayagiri_

INTERIOR OF A ROCK-HEWN BUDDHIST TEMPLE (AJANTA) " 140

LAKSHMI ARISING FROM THE SEA OF MILK " 144
_From a sculpture at Mâmallapuram_

SHIVA DANCING ON TRIPURA " 148
_From a bronze in the Madras Museum_

GANESA " 150
_From a sculpture in the Victoria and
Albert Museum_

KARTIKEYA, THE WAR GOD " 152
_From a painting by Surendra Nalh Gangoly_

PARVATI, WIFE OF SHIVA " 154
_From a South Indian temple_

A VAISHNAVAITE NUN READING THE RAMAYANA " 374

THE CORONATION OF RAMA AND SITA " 424

_To My Indian Friends_