Preface
1: Introduction
Living power of Hindu mythology
Mythic identities
Alive within Hindu myths
Hindu worldviews
Historical contexts of Hindu myths
Pre-Aryan period (c 2500-1700 BCE, Indus Valley or Dravidian civilization)
Vedic or Samhita period (c 1500-900 BCE, Aryan civilization)
Brahmanical and Aranyaka period (c 900-c 600 BCE)
Upanishadic period (c 900-c 600 BCE)
Epic period (c 400 BCE-c 400 CE)
Puranic period (c 300-800 CE)
Tantric period (c 900-c 1600)
Modern period
Sources: Oral tradition, texts, scriptures-and modernity
Myth cycles, perspectives, and communities
Understanding mythically
Literalistic
Sectarian
Pan-Indian
Reformed
Hindu mythology's contribution to world mythology
Hindu mythic themes: universal
Cosmogony, theogony, and anthropogony
Cosmology
Theogony and theology
Theomachy
Anthropogony
Mythic themes: specific
Dharma
Karma
Samsara or transmigration
Kala
Cosmogonic return to the one
Renunciation, sacrifice, and magic
Maya as illusion
Notes. 2: Mythic Time, Space, And Causality
Mythic time
Additional systems and units of time
Desa (Space)
Nimitta (Causality)
3: Characters, Themes, And Concepts
Adi
Adi-Kurma
Aditi
Aditya (Adityas)
Agastya (Agasti)
Agni
Ahalya
Airavata
Ambarisha
Amrita
Ananta
Anasuya
Andhaka, Andhak
Angiras
Ani-Mandavya
Anjana
Apsara, Apsaras
Ara
Arayanna
Arishta
Arishtha (Arishthaka)
Arjuna
Aruna
Ashthavakra
Asikni
Astika
Asura
Asva-Medha
Asvatthaman (Asvatthama)
Asvins (Asvini-Devas)
Atibala
Atri
Aum
Aurva
Avatara
Ayodhya
Bala
Bala-Rama (Balarama, Balabhadra-Rama)
Bali
Bali
Bhadraka
Bhadrakali
Bhaga
Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavadgita
Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavati
Bhagiratha
Bhairava
Bhairavi
Bhakti
Bharadvaja
Bharata
Bhima
Bhrigu
Bhumi
Brahma
Brahmacarin, Brahmacarya
Brahman
Brahmanas
Brahmanda
Brahmin (also brahmana and brahman)
Brihaspati
Buddha
Cancalakshmi
Canda and Munda
Candaka
Candika
Candra
Candrangada
Candrasharman
Catur-Mukha-Linga
Catur-Varna (Caturvarnyam)
Chaya
Ciranjivi, Ciranjivin
Citraketu
Citralekha
Citrangada
Citraratha
Citrasena
Cudala
Cyavana
Dadhici or Dadhica
Dakinis
Daksha
Dalbhya
Damayanti
Dasaratha
Dattatreya
Deva (Devas); Devi (Devis)
Devaki
Devakulya
Devasena
Devayani
Devi
Dhanvantari
Dharma
Dhritarashtra
Dhruva
Dirghatamas
Draupadi
Drona
Durga
Durvasa
Duryadhana
Dushyanta
Ekalavya
Ekavira
Ganapati
Gandaki
Gandhari
Gandharva, Gandharvas
Gandiva
Ganesa
Ganga
Garuda
Gautama
Gavijata
Ghanta-Karna, (Ghantakanta)
Ghatotkaca
Ghosha
Ghritaci
Gotama
Gunasharman
Halahala
Hamsa, Hansa
Hanuman
Hara
Hari
Haridhama
Harimitra
Hariscandra
Haritasva
Harivamsa
Havyaghna
Hayagriva
Hemakanta
Hemamali
Hiranyagarbha
Hiranyahasta
Hiranyakasipu
Hiranyaksha. Ida
Ila
Indra
Indradyumna
Indrani
Isvara
Jada
Jahnu
Jajali
Jamadagni
Jambavan, Jambavat
Jambha
Jambu
Jambuka (Jambumalika)
Janaka
Janamejaya
Jara (Jaras)
Jarasandha
Jatayu
Jatila
Jaya
Ka
Kabandha
Kaca
Kaikeyi
Kailasa
Kaitabha
Kakshasena
Kakshivan
Kakshivatasuta
Kala
Kalanemi
Kalavati
Kali
Kali
Kalindi
Kalipriya
Kaliya
Kalki, Kalkin
Kalmashapada
Kama
Kamadhenu
Kamsa, Kansa
Kandu
Kanva
Kapila
Karma, Karman
Karna
Karttikeya. Kashyapa
Kauthumi
Ketu
Krishna
Krittikas
Kshiroda-Mathana
Kubera
Kubja
Kucela
Kumbhakarna
Kunti
Kurma
Kurukshetra
Lakshmana
Lakshmi
Lanka
Lanka-Lakshmi
Likhita
Lilavati
Linga, Lingam
Madri, Madravati
Magic, blessings, cursings
Mahabharata
Mahadeva
Mahameru
Mahisha (Mahishasura)
Mainaka
Maitra-Varuna
Maitreyi
Malini
Manasa-Putra (Manasa-Putra)
Mandakarni (also Shatakarni)
Mandodari
Mangala
Manthara
Mantra
Manu, Manus
Manvantara
Marici
Markandeya
Marutas (Maruts)
Matsya
Maya
Maya
Mitra
Mohini
Murukan
Naciketas, Naciketa
Naga, Nagas
Nahusha
Nakula
Nala
Nalakubera
Nandi, Nandin
Nara
Narada
Naraka (Narakasura)
Narasimha
Narayana
Om (or Aum)
Pancakanya
Pandavas
Pandu
Parasara
Parasu-Rama
Parikshit
Parvati
Pashupati, Pashupata
Pitris, Pitaras
Prahlada
Prajapati (Prajapatis)
Prakriti
Pralaya
Prana (Pranas)
Puranas
Purusha
Pushan
Radha
Rahu
Rakshasa
Rama
Ramayana
Ravana
Renuka
Rigveda
Rishi
Rishyashringa. Rita
Rudra
Rudras
Rukmini
Sabari (Shabari)
Sakti (Shakti)
Sakuntala (Shakuntala)
Samjna
Samnyasin, Samnyasa
Samsara
Sanjaya
Sapta-Matris
Sapta-Matrikas
Sapta-Nagas
Sapta-Rishis
Sarasvati
Sastras (Shastras)
Sati
Satyavati
Savitri
Siddhi, Siddhis
Sikhandi (Shikhandi)
Sisupala (Shishupala)
Sita
Siva (Shiva)
Skanda
Soma
Subrahmanya
Suddhi
Sukra
Surya
Takshaka
Taladhvaja
Tantra, Tantrism
Tapa
Tapas
Tara
Tilottama
Tirtha-yatra
Trita
Tvashthri
Uma
Upanishad
Urvashi
Usha
Ushas
Vac
Vadhrimati
Vaikuntha
Vaivasvata Manu
Valmiki
Vamana
Varaha
Varna
Varuna
Vasuki
Vayu
Vedas
Vishnu
Visvakarman (Vishvakarman)
Visvamitra (Visvamitra)
Vrindavana
Vritra
Vyasa
Yajna
Yama
Yamuna
Yoga, Yogas
Yuvanashva. 4: Selected Print And Nonprint Resources
Print resources
Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Hindu mythology (and Hindu theology)
Hinduism
Texts in translation
History
Material culture: art, architecture
Selected nonprint resources
Video and film
CD-ROM and DVD
Web sites on Hindu mythology
Spelling
Commercial vs scholarly sites
Online Sanskrit dictionaries
South Asian WWW virtual library
Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (ECAI)
Wabash Center Internet Guide: Hinduism
American Academy of Religion syllabus initiative
Miscellaneous sites (largely personal and commercial)
Glossary
Index
About the author

From the Publisher: 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., Brahma, Vishnu, Siva), spiritual verses (such as the vedas), secular epics (including the Ramayana and the Mahabharata), 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