List of Plates ix I Eternity and time 1 The Parade of Ants 3 2 The Wheel of Rebirth 11 3 The Wisdom of Life 19 II The Mythology of Vishnu 1 Vishnu Maya 23 2 The Waters of Existence 27 3 The Waters of Non-Existance 35 4 Maya in Indian Art 53 III The Guardians of Life 1 The Serpent, Supporter of Vishnu and the Buddha 59 2 Divinities and their Vehicles 69 3 The Serpent and the Bird 72 4 Vishnu as Conqueror of the Serpent 77 5 The Lotus 90 6 The Elephant 102 7 The Sacred Rivers 109 IV The Cosmic Delight of Shiva 1 The "Fundamental Form" and the "Playful Manifestations" 123 2 The Phenomenon of Expanding Form 130 3 Shiva-Shakti 137 4 The Great Lord 148 5 The Dance of Shiva 151 6 The Face of Glory 175 7 The Destroyer of the Three Towns 185 V The Goddess 1 The Origin of The Goddess 189 2. The Island of Jewels 197 VI Conclusion 217 Index 223 Plates 249