The Hindu Pantheon

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The book is one of the earliest and probably the most respected works in Hindu Mythology. It is the second edition of the book published originally in 1861; edited and annotated by W. O. Simson in 1864. This edition was composed and set again as the original. The original drawings have also been reconstructed and have been placed together. To maintain the authenticity, the linguistics have not been interfered with. It is hoped that the new edition of the work eliminates the difficulty faced, especially by a European, in going through this masterpiece of scholarly writing, and provides as much reading pleasure as it provided when it appeared for the first time in 1861 under the title "Sri Sarva Deva Sabha: The Court of All Holy Gods".

IT having fallen to my lot to visit, in very early life, the extraordinary people whose Mythology I here endeavour to explain, and to remain among them, in situations frequently favourable to the acquisition of information, until lately, I take the liberty of offering to the Public this Work, the result of my observations and inquiries.

During an intercourse of many years, with natives of almost every de- scription, I often, in conversation on interesting topics, found myself at a loss in comprehending certain terms and allusions, and in secking what I required; and frequently experienced the utility of pictures and visible objects in direct- ing me in both: hence I began to collect pictures and images, which in the progress of years, without being particularly valuable as a selection, have accu- mulated to a considerable extent.

Conceiving that the possession of such objects may be of similar use in guiding the inquirer to sources of information that might not otherwise offer, and be agreeable at the same time to those in search of amusement chiefly, I have caused many of those subjects to be accurately copied, and engraved by hands eminent in their respective lines. The greatest attention has been paid by the ingenious artist (Mr. HAUGHTON of the Royal Academy) in taking the portraits of the images and the drawings of the pictures for my plates; which may be relied on as faithful representations of the original subjects; and will, I hope, be deemed curious in themselves, as well as possessing, in many instances, a highly creditable portion of elegance in their execution.

**Contents and Sample Pages**