“Hindu Mythology. The Vedic Deities” is a comprehensive study of Hindu mythology written and published by W.J. Wilkins in 1900. Due to the huge number of gods and goddesses, and their changing role through centuries of Indian spiritual life, this is a complex subject. This book covers Hindu mythology during the Vedic and Puranic periods. Wilkins starts with the very earliest pantheon of the Vedas, such as Surya, the storm-god Maruts, Agni, Soma, Yama, and the dawn Goddess Ushas. From there he moves into the later, and very intricate, Puranic mythology. This includes the detailed treatment of the central triad of Brahmâ, Vishnu and Shiva, along with dozens of other Gods and Goddesses, nature spirits, half-divine heroes of the epics, and so on. Wilkins covers the dozen of so principal avatars of Vishu, including Krishna and (surprisingly) Buddha, and prophecies of the mysterious Kalki avatar, yet to come.
This book includes “The Vedic Deities”, “The Purānic Deities”, “The Incarnations or Avatāras of Vishnu”, and “The Inferior Deities”. Let's read and step into the world of different Gods and Goddesses of Indian mythology!
