Indian Mythology: Tales from the Heart of the Subcontinent

Rating:
Summary: A totally different vision
Review: I have read Hindu myths since I was a child. But this is a totally different vision. I never realized that the concept of 'evil' or 'prophet' or 'heaven' or 'hell' makes no sense in Hinduism. How it is foreign idea. How modern language is dominated by Western concepts. I was always confused about the many 'heavens' there were in Hindu myths - the heaven of Indra, the heaven of Krishna. Now it all makes sense. The author systematizes this highly complicated body of myth. Sometimes he does take too much artistic license but that is ok.

Rating:
Summary: Warped piece of literature.
Review: While reading the introduction I came to realize that this author does not understand the essence of any of the world's religions. Throughout the entire piece, he compares and contrasts Hinduism with a composite "religious category" entitled "Judeo/Islamic/Christain" religion. He protrays this category as being less of value when compared in Hinduism (states basically nothing positive through the entire book about this "category"). Also, these three religions are VERY different, hence, they are three different religions. For instance, he states that this category believes that "heaven" is for "saved souls" , etc. - which is only the composite "Christain" way of viewing "heaven". Jews do not get "saved" at all let alone believe in such a "heaven", etc. This books also has warped versions of the myths and then presents warped essays about the meaning of these myths. Because I know a great deal about this lovely religion I could ignore the mistakes and have learned through his use of wonderful visuals (Hence 2 stars not 1). But I do not recommend individuals who are new to this religion to read this book though - anything by David R. Kinsley and John Keay ( Indian Historian ) is wonderful.