Foreword
List of Illustrations
Note on Translation of the Sanskrit
Note on Pronunciation
ONE: Philosophy
1. The Theory of Polytheism
The Language of Symbols; The Representation of the Transcendent; The Nondual Principle 6 Monotheism and Polytheism; Nondualism and Monism; The Equivalence of Religions
2. The Nature of the Ultimate
The Origin of Existence;The Perceptible Continua: Space, Time, and Thought;The Three Modes of Being: The Substrata of Space, Time, and Consciousness; The" r and the Self; The Realization of the Soul; Immensity (brahman), the Common Substratum; The Three Fundamental Qualities and the Trinity; The Three States of Experience; The Three Qualities and Manifestation; The Power-of-Illusion (maya); Illusion and Ignorance; Nature; The Living Individuality as the Power That Can Oppose Nature; The Power of Nature as the Obstacle to Knowledge; The Fundamental Duality; "God" (Isvara) and the Illusion of Divine Unity; Life as the One Deity; The Relationship of "God" and the Universe; The Causal Word; Dangers of Applied Metaphysics
3. The Cosmic Being
Macrocosm and Microcosm; Cosmic Duration; Cosmic Location; The Nature of Manifestation; The Appearance of the Universe; Cosmic Consciousness; The Personification and the Description of the Cosmic Being
TWO: The Gods of the Vedas
4. The Cosmic Sacrifice
Fire and Offering, Agni and Soma; The Relation of the Spheres; The Ritual of Sacrifice (yajna); The Forms of the Sacrifice; The Technique of the Sacrifice; The Creation of Man; The Last Sacrifice; The Way of the Gods; The Way of the Fathers; Divinity as the Embodiment of the Sacrifice; The Image of the Sacrifice; The Inner Yajna of the Yogi
5. The Thirty-Three Gods
The Three Spheres of Agni; The Three Aspects of Deities; The Number of the Gods
6. The Spheres and Their Deities
The Eight Spheres of Existence, the Vasus; The Earth; Agni (Fire); The Ten Forms of Fire; The Sphere of Space and the Lord-of-Wind (Vayu); The Sky (Dyaus); The Sun (Surya); The Image of the Sun; Dawn (Usas); The Constellations (naksatra); The Moon, the Cup-of-Offerings ( Soma); The Story of the Moon
7. The Divinities of the Sphere of Space
The Divinities of Space and Life, the Maruts and the Rudras; The Maruts (Immortals); A Legend of the Maruts; Indra, the Ruler of Heaven
8. The Adityas, the Sovereign Principles
Aditi (the Primordial Vastness), Source of the Adityas; Mitra ( Friendship), Solidarity; Aryaman (Chivalry); Bhaga (the Inherited Share); Varuna (the Coverer or Binder), the Mysterious Law of the Gods; Daksa ( Ritual Skill); Amsa (the Share of the Gods); Tvastr (the Shaper), Craftsmanship, the God of Industry; Pusan (the Nourisher), Security, the Protector of Cattle; Vivasvat, the Ancestor, the Embodiment of Morality or Ancestral Law; Savitr (the Vivifier), the Magic Power of Words; Sakra (the Mighty), the Divinity of Courage and Outer Security; Visnu, the All-pervading Light of Knowledge, the Cosmic Law Pervading the Three Worlds
9. Other Vedic Deities
The Asvins, the Twin Horse-headed Gods of Agriculture and Physicians of the Gods; The Regents of the Directions; Yama (the Binder), the Lord of Death; Manifold-Secret (Citra-gupta), the Scribe of the Lord of Death; Kubera, the Lord of Riches; The Yaksas, Guardians of the Earth's Treasures; Misery (Nirrta); Nirrti, the Goddess of Misery; Trita (the Third) or Aptya, the Water Deity
10. Gods and Antigods
The Antigods (asura); The Gods of Pre-Vedic India; Description of the Antigods; Different Kinds of Asuras; The Gods (sura) or the Resplendent-Ones (deva); The Age and the Felicity of the Gods
THREE: The Trinity
11. Visnu, the Pervader
Sattva, the Cohesive Tendency; The Name Visnu; The Nature of Visnu; The State of Dream; All Religion Is of Visnu; The Names of Visnu
12. The Image of Visnu
The Four Arms; The Twenty-Four Icons of Visnu; The Conch; The Discus; The Lotus; The Bow, Arrows, and Quiver; The Mace; The Jewel Treasure of the Ocean; The Lock of Hair Beloved of Fortune; The Garland of the Forest; The Earrings, the Armlets, and the Crown; The Yellow Veil and the Sacred Thread; The Chariot; The Dark Color; The Whisk, the Fan, the Flag, and the Parasol; The Sword and Sheath; The Bird Wings of Speech; The Serpent Remainder; The Attendants of Visnu
13. The Avatars, or Incarnations, of Visnu
The Planets; The Incarnations of the First Age, the Satya Yuga (Age of Truth)
The Fish-Incarnation (Matsya-avatara); The Tortoise-Incarnation (Kurma-avatara); The Boar-Incarnation (Varaha-avatara); The Man-Lion-Incarnation (Nr-simha-avatara)
The Incarnations of the Second Age, the Trela Yuga; The Dwarf-Incarnation (Vamana-avatara); Rama-with-the-Ax (Parasu-Rama); THE TALE OF RENUKA; Rama (Ramacandra), the Charming, the Embodiment of Righteousness; THE MANTRA "RAMA"; THE IMAGE OF RAMA
Krsna, the Incarnation of the Third Age; Rama-the-Strong (Bala-Rama); The Incarnations of the Fourth or Present Age, the Kali ruga (Age of Strife); Buddha; Kalki
14. The Minor Incarnations of Visnu
Nara and Narayana, Devotion; Kapila, Philosophy; Dattatreya, Magic; Yajna (Ritual Sacrifice); Rsabha (the Bull), Morality; Dhanvantari, Medical Science; Hayasirsa (the Horse-headed), Protector of the Scripture; Vyasa, the Compiler of the Scripture; Prthu, the First King - Agriculture and Social Order; Dhruva (the Immovable), Will Power 186 Visnu as Rescuer of the Elephant-King in Response to His Faith; Mohini (the Enchantress), Lust; Narada, Music
15. Siva, the Lord of Sleep
The Origin of Saivism; The Tendency toward Disintegration (tamas); The Many Aspects of Siva; The Fearful and Auspicious God; Rudra, the Lord of Tears, the Destroyer; The Name Rudra; The Personification of Anger; The Fire That Kills; Bhairava (the Terrible); The Lord-of Elements or Lord-of-Ghosts (Bhutesvara); Death, the Remover (Hara) Siva, the Auspicious, the Lord of Sleep; The Lord of Knowledge, Mahesvara; The Maheivara Sutra; Time (Kala), the All-Destroyer; The Divinity of Time; The Lord of Yoga; Sankara (the Giver of Joy) and Sambhu (the Abode of Joy); The Hermaphrodite
16. The Forms of Rudra-Siva
The Elemental Forms of Rudra
1. The Archer (Sarva)
2. Existence (Bhava)
3. The Herdsman (Pasupati)
4. The Ruler (Isana)
5. The Tremendous (Bhima)
6. The Lord-of-Tears (Rudra)
7. The Great-God (Maha-deva)
8. The Fearful (Ugra), or the Thunderbolt (Asani)
The Five Components (kala) of Siva and the Manifestation of Speech
1. The Conqueror-of-Death (Mrtyum-jaya)
2. The Southern-Image (Daksina-murti)
3. The Lord-of-Lust (Kamesvara)
40. The Herdsman (Pasupati)
5. The Lord-of-the-Elements (Bhutesa)
The Ruler of Space, the Five-faced
1. The Ruler (Isana)
2. The Supreme-Man (Tat-purusa)
3. The Nonfearful (Aghora)
4. The Left-hand-Deity (Vama-deva)
5. The Suddenly-born (Sadyojata)
17. The Image of Siva
The White Color; The Three Eyes; The Moon; The Ganges; The Matted Hair; The Tiger Skin; The Four Arms; The Trident; The Spear Pasupata; The Ax, the Bow (Pinaka), and the Club Khatvanga; The Serpent; The Noose and the Garland of Skulls; The Ashes; The Hourglass-shaped Drum, the Damaru; The Bull; The Lion; Kasi, the Resplendent City
18. The Linga
The Linga Is the Universe; The Yani; The Union of the Principles; The Divine Lust; The Father, Owner of the Linga; Bija, the Seed; The Worship of the Linga; Different Forms of Linga; The Linga of the Universe; The Cosmic Egg; The Formless Mass; The Altar's Fire; The Arrow; The Linga of Light; The "Supreme Sign," Maha-linga; The Self-born, Svayambhu; The Phallic Image; The Triangle
19. Brahma, the Immense Being
Brahma, the Space- Time or Revolving Principle; The Names of Brahma; The Worship of Brahma; The Tales of Brahma; The Brahma Icon; The Golden Embryo, Hiranyagarbha; The Lord-of-Progeny (Praja-pati); The Creation of the World; The Myth of Creation; The Creation of Man; The Creation of the Ritual Sacrifice; The Opening of the Cosmic Egg; The Duration of the Universe
FOUR: The Divine Power (Sakti) as the Goddess
20. Sakti, the All-pervading Energy
Power as Divinity; Origin and Worship of the Goddess
21. The Consorts of the Three Gods
The Progenitors of the Gods; The Flowing-One (Saras-vati), the Divinity of Knowledge; The Divinity of Speech, Vac; The Goddess of Fortune, Laksmi; Destiny or Transcendent Fortune, Maha-Laksmi; Success (Radha), the Personification of Devotion; The Powers of Procreation, Development, and Destruction, Parvati, Sakti, and Kali; The Power-of-Enjoyment (ahladini-sakti); The Amorous, Lalita; The Divinity of Lust, KameSvari; The Names of the Goddess
22. The Ten Objects-of-Transcendent-Knowledge (maha-vidya)
The First Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Kali, the Power of Time, and the Night-of- Eternity (Maha-ratri)
The Cycles of Time; The Eternal Night; Kali, the Power of Time; The Image of Kali; THE CORPSE; THE FEARFUL APPEARANCE; THE LAUGHTER; THE FOUR ARMS; THE SWORD; THE SEVERED HEAD; THE HAND REMOVING FEAR; THE GIVING HAND; THE GARLAND OF SKULLS; THE NAKEDNESS; THE FUNERAL PYRE; THE BLACK COLOR; The Dual Aspect of Kali"
The Second Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Tara, the Star, the Power of Hunger, and the Night-of-Anger (Krodha-ratri); Tara and Kali; The Representation of the Void; Other Aspects of Tara; The Image of Tara; The Worship of Tara
The Third Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Sodasi the Girl-of-Sixteen, the Power of Perfection, and the Divine-Night (Divya-ratri); The Fourth Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Bhuvanesvari, the Lady of the Spheres, the Power of Knowledge, and the Night-of-Realization (Siddha-ratri); The Fifth Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Chinnamasta, the Beheaded, the Power of the Sacrifice, and the Night-of- Courage (Vira-ratri); The Sixth Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Bhairavi, the Fearful Goddess, the Power of Death, and the Night-of-Death (Kala-ratri); The Seventh Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Dhumavati, the Smoky-One, the Power of Poverty, and the Night-of-Frustration (Daruna-ratri); The Eighth Object of Transcendent Knowledge: The Deceitful, Crane-headed Bagala, the Power of Cruelty, and the Second Night-of-Courage (Vira-ratri); The Ninth Object of Transcendent Knowledge: Matangi, the Elephant Power, the Power of Domination, and the Night-of-Delusion (Moha-ratri); The Tenth Object of Transcendent Knowledge: The Lotus-Girl, Kamala, the Power of Wealth, and the Night-of-Splendor (Maha-ratri)
23. Some Other Aspects of the Goddess
Uma; The Unborn or the She-Goat (Aja); The Destroyer-of-the-Genii (Camunda); The Coiled-Energy (Kundalini); The Mother (Ambika); The Seven-Mothers (Sapta-Matrkas); Indrani; The Destroyer of the Buffalo-Demon (Mahisa-asura-mardini); Minor Forms of the Goddess: Yoginis, Dakinis, Grahis, Bhairavis, and Sakinis
FIVE: Secondary Gods
24. The Sons of Siva
Ganapati or Ganesa, the Lord of Categories; The Cult and the Names of Ganapati; The Birth of Ganapati; The Meaning of Ganapati and Its Relation to the Number Principle; Elephant and Man; Thou Art That; The Remover of Obstacles; The Image of Ganapati; THE TUSK; THE TRUNK; THE FOUR ARMS; THE MOUSE; Kumara, the Adolescent
25. Minor Gods and Genii
The Attendants of Siva; The Universal-Principles (Visvas or Visvadevas); The Satisfied (Tusitas); The Shining (Abhasvaras); The Means-of-Realization (Sadhyas); The Realized (Siddhas); The Skillful-Craftsmen (Rbhus); The Bearers-of-Wisdom (Vidya-dharas); The Essences (apsaras); The Fragrances (gandharva); The Wanderers (carana); The Heavenly-Humans (kinnara); The Village- Angels (grama-devata) and Village-Goddesses (grama-kali); The Ancestors (pitr); Genii (daitya and danava); The Serpents or Dragons, the Ever-Moving (naga); The Night-Wanderers (raksasa); The Eaters-of-Raw-Flesh (pisaca); The Sorcerers (yatu or yatudhana); The Vampires (vetala); The Ghosts (preta); The Wandering-Souls (bhuta); The Fearful-Spirits (bhairava)
26. Other Deities
Kama (Eros), the Divinity of Lust; The Seed-of-Lust (Kamabija); The Architect-of-the- Universe ( Visva-karman); The Architect-of-the-Antigods (Maya); The Seizer (Rahu); The COW; The Seers (rsi); The Fiery (Angiras); The Owner-of-Wealth (Vasistha); The Universal-Friend (Visvamitra); Ritual-Skill (Daksa); The Crack-of-Fire (Bhrgu); The Mover-of-Mountains (Agastya); The Devourer (Atri); Inspiration (Kratu); The Giver-of-Advice (Narada); Light (Marici); Vision (Kasyapa); Brhaspati (the Great Master), the Teacher of the Gods; Sukra, the Teacher of the Genii; Prthu, the First King; Manu, the Lawgiver
SIX: The Representation and the Worship of Deities
27. The Representation of Deities
The Worship of the Manifest Forms; The Representation of Deities; Other Kinds of or Seed Mantras
28. The Thought-Forms, or Mantras
The Basic- Thought-Forms (bija-mantra); Mantras; The Chief Basic Thought-Forms or Seed Mantras
1. The Seed-of-the-Immensity (brahma-bija) or Thought-Form-of the-Knowledge-of-the-Immensity (brahma-vidya mantra)
2. The Seed-of-Consciousness or Seed-of-Speech (vag-bija)
3. The Seed-of-Illusion ( maya-bija) or Seed-of-Energy (sakti-bija)
4. The Seed-of-Existence or Seed-of-Fortune (laksmi-bija)
5. The Seed-of-Desire (kama-bija)
6. The Primordial-Seed (adya-bija) or Seed-of-the-Power-of-Time (kan-bija)
Other Seed Mantras; The Seed Mantras of the Elements; The Expanded Mantras
The Mantra of the Supreme-Energy (para Sakti); Flying through the Void (khecari bija); Giiyatrl (the Protector of the Vital Energies); Brahma Gayatri; Brahma Mantra; Rudra Mantra; The King-of-Mantras (mantra-raja); The Pacifying of Misfortune; The Calming-of-Anger (krodhasanti); The Fire-Mantra (agni-prajvalana); The Fire extinguishing Mantra (agni-stambhana); The Prevention-of-Sleep (nidra-stambhana); The Siva Mantra of Five-Letters (pancaksara); Hamsa-mantra, the Thought-Form of the Swan of Knowledge; The Thought-Form of Eight-Syllables (astaksrar) of Visnu; The Thought-Form of Fifteen-Syllables (pancadasi) of the First Goddess
29. The Yantras, or Magic Diagrams
The Constituent Elements of the Yantras; The Point; The Straight Line; The Triangle; The Circle; The Hexagon; The Square; The Pentagon (Star); The Cross; The Svastika; The Star Hexagon; The Lotuses; The Principal Yantras; The King-of-Tantras (yantra-raja); The Tantra "Guarded on all Sides" (sarvatobhadra); The Remover-of-Desire (smarahara); The Remover of Desire ( Second Form); The Yantra-of-Liberation (mukti); The Sri Cakra; The Ganapati Yantra; The Visnu Yantra
30. The Images (murti) of Deities
The Principal Elements of the Images of Deities; The Purpose of Image Worship; The Forms of the Images; Image Worship
31. The Worship of Deities
The Object of Worship; The Kinds of Worship; The Stages of Worship
32. Ritual
Life as a Ritual; The Rituals of Worship; The Technique of Worship; The Place of Worship; The Main Features of Individual-Worship (pujana); The Purification and Dedication of the Body; Removing Obstacles; The Praise of the Deity; Meditation; Japa, the Repetition of Mantras; The Accessories of Worship; The Water; The Ornaments; The Perfume; The Flowers; The Incense; The Lamp; The Edibles; The Rice; The Lauds; The Waving of Lights; The Obeisance; Right- and Left-hand Ways
Selective Bibliography
Index
