CHAP.

Page

INTRODUCTION

xvii

I.

INDRA, KING OF THE GODS

1

II.

THE GREAT VEDIC DEITIES

19

III.

YAMA, THE FIRST MAN, AND KING OF THE DEAD

38

IV.

DEMONS AND GIANTS AND FAIRIES

61

V.

SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENTS OF THE VEDIC AGE

76

VI.

MYSTERIES OF CREATION, THE WORLD'S AGES, AND SOUL WANDERING

97

VII.

NEW FAITHS: VISHNU RELIGION, BUDDHISM, AND JAINISM

119

VIII.

DIVINITIES OF THE EPIC PERIOD

138

IX.

PRELUDE TO THE GREAT BHARATA WAR

157

X.

ROYAL RIVALS: THE PANDAVAS AND KAURAVAS

173

XI.

THE TOURNAMENT

185

XII.

FIRST EXILE OF THE PANDAVAS

195

XIII.

THE CHOICE OF DRAUPADI

213

XIV.

TRIUMPH OF THE PANDAVAS

224

XV.

THE GREAT GAMBLING MATCH

237

XVI.

SECOND EXILE OF THE PANDAVAS

249

XVII.

DEFIANCE OF DURYODHANA

270

p. x

CHAP.

Page

XVIII.

THE BATTLE OF EIGHTEEN DAYS

235

XIX.

ATONEMENT AND THE ASCENT TO HEAVEN

310

XX.

NALA AND DAMAYANTI

323

XXI.

WANDERINGS IN THE FOREST

340

XXII.

NALA IN EXILE

353

XXIII.

THE HOMECOMING OF THE KING

364

XXIV.

STORY OF RAMA: HOW SITA WAS WON

374

XXV.

THE RAPE OF SITA

394

XXVI.

RAMA'S MISSION FULFILLED

403

INDEX

429