An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Indian Mythology

An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Indian Mythology is the first title in the series on An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Indian History and Culture. The volume proposes to deal with Indian mythology in all its aspects. The Indian mythology is probably the most complicated and the oldest mythologies in the world. The origin of this mythology can be traced to the first book of mankind-the Rigveda.

The mythology was developed in the two epics-the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and found its culmination in the Puranas. The deeds of the gods and goddesses and also of ancient heroes have moulded the psyche of Indians.

The volume has three sections: (1) Historical Perspectives; (2) Encyclopaedic Entries from A to Z and (3) Bibliography.

The volume does not contain a section on chronology as it is well-nigh impossible to provide creditable data for the personalities or deeds related to the theme.

The first section Historical Perspectives has two chapters: The first chapter deals with the meaning and role of mythology in world civilizations. The second chapter deals with the sources and evolution of Indian mythology. There is a brief discussion of the Buddhist, Jain, Islamic, Sikh, Christian, and tribal mythologies besides a detailed exposition of the Hindu pantheon.

A.N. Kapoor: After obtaining M.A., D.Phil. in English from Allahabad University, Dr. Kapoor taught English at Agra and Delhi Universities for over four decades and has edited, compiled and authored more than hundred titles including reference books, encyclopaedias and language dictionaries. His dictionary of geographical terms published in 1955 was the first work of its kind in Hindi.

His comprehensive English-Hindi Dictionary stands as the crowning work of the four decade long effort. The lexicon is considered a work of tremendous relevance for the entire gamut of bilingual activity, being undertaken in the country as almost all levels of our social system, educational institutions and government departments.

V.P. Gupta: A former Professor at Delhi University, Chief Editor, Macmillan India and Deputy Director, Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies. V.P. Gupta is presently Secretary, Radha Kamal Mukerji Memorial Society. While he has been engaged in teaching, research and publishing activity for the last four decades, he has of late been concentrating on a study of Indian Freedom Movement, its ideas, events, personalities and forces which have laid the foundations of contemporary India along with all its triumphs and tragedies.

Mohini Gupta: A constant collaborator in the intellectual pursuits of her husband V.P. Gupta she is co-author in a number of his publications including an Encyclopaedia of History and Culture of Punjab, and biographical studies of Raja Rammohun Roy, Swami Dayanand Sara swati, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. A two-volume study of India since independence critically examines the triumphs and tragedies of Indian people during the last fifty five years. These books brought out in both the languages-English and Hindi-have been widely acclaimed as the harbinger of awareness about the ideals of our freedom struggle.

An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Indian Mythology is the first title in the series on An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Indian History and Culture. The volume proposes to deal with Indian mythology in all its aspects. The Indian mythology is probably the most complicated and the oldest mythologies in the world. The origin of this mythology can be traced to the first book of mankind-the Rigveda.

The mythology was developed in the two epics-the Rattle-Lye-ma and the Mahabharata and found its culmination in the Puranas. The deeds of the gods and goddesses and also of ancient heroes have moulded the psyche of Indians.

The volume has three sections: (1) Historical Perspectives; (2) Encyclopaedic Entries from A to Z and (3) Bibliography.

The volume does not contain a section on chronology as it is well-nigh impossible to provide creditable data for the personalities or deeds related to the theme.

The first section Historical Perspectives has two chapters: The first chapter deals with the meaning and role of mythology in world civilizations. The second chapter deals with the sources and evolution of Indian mythology. There is a brief discussion of the Buddhist, Jain, Islamic, Sikh, Christian, and tribal mythologies besides a detailed exposition of the Hindu pantheon.

**Contents and Sample Pages**