Introduction
Chapter 1--Mythology: Studying Myth
Vishnu and the Earth Cow (Bhagavata Purana)
Myth and Mythology
Expressions of Myth
Renuka's Umbrella (Mahabharata) • Renuka's Infidelity (Mahabharata)
• Renuka's Head (Yellamma Mahatmya) • Arjuna and the Navagunjara •
(Orissan folklore based on the Mahabharata) • The Half-Woman God
(Tamil Temple Lore) • A Golden Effigy of Sita (Uttara Ramayana) •
Lakshmi's Symbols (Orissan folklore)
The Function of Myth
Rama's Ring (Folklore based on the Ramayana) • A Palace for Indra
(Brahmavaivarta Purana) • Shambuka Beheaded (Uttara Ramayana) • The
Beheading of Brahma (Shiva Purana)
Coping Through Mythmaking
Conclusion
Chapter 2--Mythosphere: Comparing Myths
The Idea of God
Harishchandra (Bhagavata Purana) • The
Past Life of Yashoda and Nanda (Padma Purana) • The Doorkeepers of
Vishnu (Bhagavata Purana)
Devils and Demons
Why Rama Went into Exile (Ramayana) • The Curse of Gandhari
(Mahabharata) • The Offering of Bel Leaves (Linga Purana) • Indra
Seduces Ahalya (Ramayana) • Churning the Ocean to Find Shri
(Bhagavata Purana)
Creation with a Difference
The Birth of the Three Gods (Folklore) • Brahma Opens His Eyes
(Vishnu Purana) • Brahma's Mind-Born Sons (Brahmavaivarta Purana) •
Brahma Splits Himself (Shiva Purana) • The Creation of Death
(Mahabharata) • Transformations of the Daughter (Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad)
Heaven or Hell
The Birth of Urvashi (Bhagavata Purana) • Mahabhisha (Mahabharata)
• Agastya's Ancestors (Mahabharata) • Heaven for Markandeya (Linga
Purana) • The Death of Yama (Rig Veda) • Vishnu Cursed (Padma
Purana) • Fish to the Rescue (Matsya Purana)
Conclusion
Chapter 3--Mythopoesis: Transforming Myth
March of the Vedic Hymns
The Beheading of Vishwarupa (Mahabharata) • Durvasa's Curse (Padma
Purana) • Mount Vindhya Bows (Uttara Ramayana) • The Birth of River
Kaveri (Kaveri Mahatmya) • Repelling Taraka (Ramayana) • Rama
Befriends the Monkeys (Ramayana) • The Burning of Khandavaprastha
(Mahabharata) • The Marriage of Marisha (Bhagavata Purana) • The
Body of Society (Rig Veda) • Vishwamitra Becomes a Rishi (Bhagavata
Purana) • Ekalavya (Mahabharata) • Atoning for Killing Ravana
(Rishikesh Sthala Purana) • Ammaveru's Husband (South Indian
folklore) • The Birth of Krishna (Harivamsa)
The Ascetic Ideal
Parashurama Destroys the Warrior Race
(Vishnu Purana) • The Golden Mongoose (Mahabharata) • Yagnavalkya
Rebels (Brahmanda Purana) • Nachiketa Questions Yama (Katha
Upanishad) • Vidura's Past Life (Mahabharata) • Shiva Enlightens
Matsyendra-nath (Nav-Nath-Charitra) • The Destruction of Daksha's
Yagna (Skanda Purana) • Kapila's Fiery Glance (Ramayana) •
Trishanku (Vishnu Purana) • Kumbhakarna's Asceticism (Ramayana) •
Dadhichi's Head (Jaiminya Brahmana) • Dadhichi's Bones
(Mahabharata) • Vishwamitra and Menaka (Bhagavata Purana) • The
Seduction of Rishyashringa (Mahabharata) • The Birth of Skanda
(Skanda Purana) • Shilavati's Chastity (Brahmanda Purana)
The Birth of God
Krishna Humbles Indra (Bhagavata Purana) • Kali's Tongue (Kalika
Purana) • Vishnu Enlightens Brahma (Vishnu Purana) • Shiva the
Dancer (Skanda Purana) • The Return of Vyasa's Son (Devi Bhagavata
Purana) • The Death of Parikshit (Bhagavata Purana) • The Power of
Rama's Name (Ramayana) • The Idol in the Termite Hill (Temple lore)
• The Marriage of Valli (Skanda Purana) • The Descent of Ganga
(Shiva Purana) • The Pillar of Fire (Shiva Purana) • Mohini to the
Rescue (Vishnu Purana) • The Birth of Ayyappa (Sabarimalai Sthala
Purana) • God Turns for Kanaka Dasa (Udipi Sthala Purana) • The
Hunter's Eye (Periyar Purana)
Invasions and Immigrations
The Death of the Pandavas (Mahabharata) • Manikantha and Vavar
(Sabarimalai Sthala Purana) • Ranganatha's Muslim Bride (Shrirangam
Sthala Purana)
Conclusion
Chapter 4--Mythography: Interpreting Myth
History and Prehistory
The Sons of Kadru and Vinata
(Mahabharata) • Yudhishtira's Horse Sacrifice (Mahabharata) •
Krishna's Early Life (Harivamsa) • Krishna's Later Life
(Mahabharata) • The Sacrifice of Sunahshepas (Mahabharata) • The
Children of Vichitravirya (Mahabharata) • Oghavati's Obedience
(Mahabharata) • Gandhari's Children (Mahabharata) • Krishna Curses
Ashwathama (Mahabharata) • Shiva Destroys Tripura (Linga
Purana)
Strategic Charters
The Churning of Vena's Corpse (Bhagavata Purana) • Shvetaketu's Law
(Mahabharata) • The Marriage of Draupadi (Mahabharata) • Shiva
Blesses Draupadi (Mahabharata) • Vrinda's Chastity (Shiva Purana) •
Sita's Chastity (Uttara Ramayana) • Three Boons for Kaikeyi
(Ramayana) • How Mountains Came into Being (Bhagavata Purana) •
Dhruva (Folklore based on the Bhagavata Purana) • Donations for
Venkateshwara (Tirumalai Sthala Purana) • Jayadeva's Verse
(Folklore)
This in Terms of That
Chandra and the Nakshatras
(Somnath Sthala Purana) • Rudra and Prajapati (Shatapatha Brahmana)
• Sapta Rishis and Their Wives (Mahabharata) • Krishna's Rasa Leela
(Gita Govinda) • The Rescue of the Elephant King (Bhagavata Purana)
• Shiva's Erect Manhood (Shiva Purana)
Metaphors of the Mind
Kunti's Magic Formula (Mahabharata) • The Sons of Yayati
(Mahabharata) • Devavrata's Vow of Celibacy (Mahabharata) •
Arjuna's Exile (Mahabharata)
Conclusion
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
A medical doctor by training, Devdutt Pattanaik moved away from clinical practice to nurture his passion for mythology. His books include The Goddess in India and introductions to Shiva, Vishnu, and Devi. He lives in Mumbai, India, where he works as a health communicator and writes and lectures on Hindu narratives, art, rituals, and philosophy.
"Further calls on the ability of the Western mind to see from
another point of view."
*ForeWord, 2004, Vol.7 No.1*
"I cannot praise this book highly enough. Pattanaik is a gifted
teacher and writer."
*Alicia Elkins, Rambles, May 2004*
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