Siva (Shiva) and Buddha

Preface

The publisher has come across manuscripts of two little stories which form the subject-matter of the present booklet, among the papers of Sister Nivedita. The reader will find from them that the author intended to write a series of such stories to make the general readers of the West familiar with the central ideals of Hindu Mythology. From attempts to trace reasons for the gradual evolution of those ideals, the artistic presentation of them, and above all from the current of sympathy underlying their treatment-he will be convinced moreover, that the manysided genius of the author made her pastmaster in the art of story-telling as well.

The publisher has tried to fulfill his duty to the Indian reader by his attempts to preserve these fragments of high art in the field of literature and regrets he could offer them only in such incomplete condition.