Contents.

Page

The small demons, soul-beings p. 57. Younger types of gods p. 63. Savitar: A solar deity representing the sun’s enlivening power and impulse. p. 64. Bṛhaspati: The "Lord of Prayer," a deity who personifies the power of sacred speech. p. 66. Gods and animals p. 68. Animal worship p. 68. Animal-shaped demons and gods p. 71. Animals as the property of the gods p. 74. Animal fetishes p. 76. Man and animal p. 84. Totemism: The belief in a mystical or kinship relationship between a group of people and a specific animal or plant. p. 85. Lifeless symbols of the gods p. 87.

The Multiplicity of the Gods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92—101
Crowds of gods and pairs of gods p. 92. Indra or Varuṇa as the highest god p. 94. The blending of types of gods p. 98.

SECOND SECTION.

The Individual Gods and Demons.

Agni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102—133
The pre-Vedic and the Vedic fire god p. 102. The various births of Agni p. 105. Agni and the sun p. 108. Agni and the waters; the lightning p. 111. Apām napāt: Literally "Son of the Waters," a name for the fire god as lightning dwelling in the clouds. p. 118. Other forms of Agni p. 120. The descent of Agni p. 121. The finding of Agni p. 123. Agni as the father of the human race p. 125. Agni and mankind: magical fire, house fire, sacrificial fire p. 128.

Indra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134—185
The pre-history of Indra p. 134. The victory over Vṛtra: The central myth where the storm-god Indra slays a dragon-serpent to release the waters. p. 135. The subduing of the Paṇis: A class of demons who stole and hid the celestial cows. and the winning of the cows p. 143. The winning of the light p. 150. Indra's victory over the Dāsas: Original inhabitants or dark demons depicted as enemies of the Vedic tribes. p. 151. Kutsa and Suṣṇa: A demon of drought whose name means "the witherer." p. 158. Namuci p. 161. The Asuras: A class of powerful beings who, in the Rigveda, can be either gods or their rivals. p. 162. Historical events p. 167. Other myths of Indra: Indra and the dawn, the sun god and Etaṣa p. 168. Drinking and love adventures p. 170. Indra and Vṛṣākapi p. 172. Indra's character p. 174. Soma: Both a sacred ritual plant/drink and the god who personifies it., the drink of the gods, pre-history p. 175. The Soma in heaven and on the mountain p. 178. The bringing down of the Soma p. 179. The divine personality of Soma p. 181. Soma and the moon p. 182.

Varuṇa, Mitra, and the Ādityas . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185—207
The circle of the Ādityas: A group of solar deities, sons of the goddess Aditi, who uphold the cosmic order. p. 185. Character and physical attributes of the Ādityas p. 188. Mitra and the sun p. 190. The Ādityas as sun, moon, and planets; the foreign origin of the Ādityas p. 192. The Ṛta: The fundamental principle of cosmic and moral order. p. 195. The Ṛta and the gods p. 199. Varuṇa as a god of the waters p. 202. Aditi p. 203.

The Two Aṣvins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207—215
The Aṣvins: Twin gods of the dawn and divine healers who travel in a three-wheeled chariot. as morning deities p. 207. The Aṣvins as...