Hindu Myths : A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit

by Wendy Doniger

Book Overview

Recorded in sacred Sanskrit texts, including the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata, Hindu Myths are thought to date back as far as the tenth century BCE. Here in these seventy-five seminal myths are the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140443061
• Release Date: January 1975
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.7" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Great work

Despite what many small-minded reviewers have said, this book is an excellent compendium of analysis and translation. Dr. Doniger possesses an unbelieveable command of Sanskrit, something which I doubt any of her detractors can even approach.

A good intro book written by someone smarter than you

I read this book for Professor Doniger's class at the University of Chicago. I can't say that I absolutely loved it, but on the whole it was an excellent introduction to Hinduism with a widespread selection of relevant myths. I'm really writing this review to debunk the other reviews on this site. Chances are the reviewers who charged the author of innaccurate translating or having a Judeo-Christian agenda either (1) don't realize the extent of Prof. Doniger's expertise or (2) are just idiot Hindus with their own narrow views of their religion. Unless these reviewers are scholars themselves, I doubt they know enough about Hinduism to make these charges. Don't listen to them.

This book gives a well thought out understanding of Myths

good boo

Good intro. to Hindu mythology

This book gives an excellent overview of Hindu mythology and it's development. There are sections for each major diety. Numerous notes and comparisons by the translator make it easy to compare aspects of different Hindu texts, highlighting political, philosophical, mythological, societal and ritualistic outlooks and changes in same as the Hindu religion developed from the Vedas of the ancient Aryans to modern Hinduism.