Hinduism is more than a religion; it is a way of life that has developed over approximately 5 milennia. Its rich and multicultured history, which has no equivalent among the great religions of the world, has made the structure of its mythical and philosophical principles into a highly differentiated maze, of which total knowledge is a practical impossibility.

This volume cannot offer a complete survey of the meaning of Hinduism, but Eva Rudy Jansen does provide an extensive compilation of important deities and their divine manifestations, so that modern students can understand the significance of the Hindu pantheon.

To facilitate easy recognition, a survey of ritual gestures, postures, attires and attributes as well as an index are included. Over 100 illustrations and several photographs make this book an important reference, both to the student of Hindu art and the interested amateur.