Contents.

Morning Star and Evening Star p. 210. The Aṣvins: Divine twin horsemen who represent the transition from darkness to light and act as healers and rescuers. as saving gods p. 214.
Rudra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216—224
Character of Rudra: A fierce deity associated with storms, mountains, and healing; a precursor to the god Shiva. p. 216. Rudra as a god of the mountains and forests p. 222.
Other Deities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224—261
The Maruts: Storm deities who serve as the boisterous companions of the god Indra. p. 224. Vāyu and Vāta Both names refer to the wind; Vāyu is the personified deity, while Vāta is the elemental wind. p. 225. Parjanya The personification of the rain cloud. p. 226. Viṣṇu p. 227. Pūṣan A solar deity and guardian of paths and livestock. p. 230. Savitar and Bṛhaspati p. 233. Tvaṣṭar The divine craftsman or architect of the universe. p. 233. The Ṛbhus Three brothers who attained divinity through their exceptional craftsmanship. p. 235. Goddesses p. 236. Uṣas The personification of the Dawn. p. 237. Iḍā and Aditi Iḍā represents the sacrificial food and prayer, while Aditi is the "Boundless" mother of the gods. p. 238. Rākā, Sinīvālī, Kuhū, and Anumati Minor goddesses associated with the various phases of the moon. p. 239. Indrāṇī, etc. p. 239. Heaven and Earth, Sun and Moon p. 240. Water and Rivers, Sarasvatī p. 242. The Gandharvas Celestial musicians and guardians of the sacred Soma plant. p. 244. The Apsaras Celestial nymphs and water spirits. p. 251. Deities of the soil and the mountains p. 254. Deities of plants and trees p. 255.
Evil Demons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262—273
Evil demons p. 262. The harm caused by them p. 269.
Humans. Priestly and Martial Heroes . . . . . . . . 273—280
Humans p. 273. The first human p. 275. Divine ancestry of humans p. 276. The priestly heroes p. 278. The martial heroes p. 280.
Appendix: Good and Evil Gods. The Divine and the Moral World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281—301
Grace and wrath of the gods p. 281. The gods and the law p. 284. Guilt p. 287. Varuṇa as punisher of sins p. 292. Agni and Indra pursuing sins p. 299.

General Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302—317
The Cult: The system of religious veneration and ritual, encompassing both the care for gods and the defense against malevolent forces. as care and defense p. 302. The petitory sacrifice, expiatory sacrifice, and thank offering p. 305. The mode of action of the sacrifice p. 308. The sacrifice compelling the gods p. 311. Sacrifice and magic p. 313.
Expiatory Sacrifice and Expiatory Magic . . . . . . . 317—326
Appeasement of the gods p. 317. Removal of the substance of guilt p. 319.
The Share of the Sacrificer and the Priest in the Sacrificial Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326—336
Man's consumption of the sacrificial food p. 326. Magic-