INDIA

DONALD A. MACKENZIE

Published by The Mystic Press, hardcover with dust jacket, illustrated


For thousands of years, the people of India have gathered together to hear holy men and teachers tell stories from the books. They tell of fabulous beings - gods, fairies, ogres, heroes and heroines - in an elaborate, magical world where characters appear in a multitude of incarnations. Objects, animals and people miraculously change form or size at any moment, fly through the air or become invisible, as the laws of nature suddenly run in reverse.

From India where the old stories, myths and legends are still a living form, and are adapted to new circumstances and changed to suit new values and experiences. After the Creation, in a glorious golden age, the gods mingled with mankind, and both fought together in the eternal struggle of good against evil. The two great Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva are the protagonists:
Vishnu, god of grace, whose seventh and eighth incarnations, as Rama and Krishna, provide some of the most popular tales in the Ramayana and Bhagavad-Gita epics; and Shiva, 'lord of all creatures', leader of demons and vampires, who has four arms, three eyes, a tiger skin on his back and snakes about his neck and arms.

The cast of Indian mythology is bewilderingly complex, colourful and compelling, from Brahma himself, the Creator and 'World Soul', and Indra, the mighty 'hammer god' of strength, to the horrible Rakshasas, demigod demons who eat human flesh. Between these extremes are chivalrous heroes, strong ideals of manhood, such as Yudhishthira, as well as fascinatingly beautiful and virtuous heroines, like Sita and Shalantala­ and the noble, self-sacrificing Savitri, who saves her husband from death by her love and devotion.

Indian Myth and Legend provides a compendium and guide to the seemingly infinite variety of stories still told throughout the subcontinent. Many of the most famous and significant tales are reproduced here, together with authoritative commentary and explanation. A fulsome introductory chapter sets the myths in their correct historical and social context, and the index is especially c1early laid out to supply a glossary of the characters and themes. There are 40 illustrations - of paintings and sculpture depicting incidents and characters from the stories.

A facsimile of the original edition