Looking for the best Indian Mythology books? Browse our list to find excellent book recommendations on the subject.
- 1. Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent (2003)
- 2. Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization (Works by Heinrich Zimmer) (2017)
- 3. Hindu Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Hindu Myths, Hindu Gods, and Hindu Goddesses (2018)
- 4. Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit (Penguin Classics) (2004)
- 5. Myth = Mithya: Decoding Hindu Mythology (2008)
- 6. The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow (2006)
- 7. American Indian Myths and Legends (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) (1985)
- 8. Folktales from India (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) (1994)
- 9. Asian Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Chinese Mythology, Japanese Mythology and Hindu Mythology (2018)
- 10. Myths of the Asanas: The Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition (2010)
- 11. American Indian Myths & Legends (1984)
- 12. Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest (2003)
- 13. Mythology of the Blackfoot Indians (Sources of American Indian Oral Literature) (2008)
- 14. Many Many Many Gods of Hinduism: Turning believers into non-believers and non-believers into believers (2013)
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1. Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent (2003)
An exploration of 99 classic myths of India from an entirely non-Western paradigm that provides a fresh understanding of the Hindu spiritual landscape• Compares and contrasts Indian mythology with the stories of the Bible, ancient Egypt, Greece, Scandinavia, and Mesopotamia• Looks at the evolution of Indian narratives and their interpretations over the millennia• Demonstrates how the mythology, rituals, and art of ancient India are still vibrant today and inform the contemporary generationFrom the blood-letting Kali to the mysterious Ganesha, the Hindu spiritual landscape is populated by characters…
2. Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization (Works by Heinrich Zimmer) (2017)
A landmark work that demystifies the rich tradition of Indian art, Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization analyzes key motifs found in legend, myth, and folklore taken directly from the Sanskrit. It provides a comprehensive introduction to visual thinking and picture reading in Indian art and thought. Ultimately, the book shows that profound Hindu and Buddhist intuitions on the riddles of life and death are universally recognizable….
3. Hindu Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Hindu Myths, Hindu Gods, and Hindu Goddesses (2018)
The stories in Hindu myth stem from traditions within Hinduism, drawing on stories from ancient texts, like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Keep in mind that because different versions of Hinduism inspire different people, many different versions of the stories float through the jungle and over the stones of temples and traditions. The stories in this volume are my version, though I’ve stuck as closely to the original myths and legends as imagination allows. At the end of this book, you’ll find a short bibliography for further research and reading….
4. Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit (Penguin Classics) (2004)
Recorded in sacred Sanskrit texts, including the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata, Hindu Myths are thought to date back as far as the tenth century BCE. Here in these seventy-five seminal myths are the many incarnations of Vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child Krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals including boars, buffalo, serpents and monkeys. Immensely varied and bursting with colour and life, they demonstrate the Hindu belief in the limitless possibilities of the world – from the teeming miracles of creation to the origins of the…
5. Myth = Mithya: Decoding Hindu Mythology (2008)
Hindu mythology is full of variety. There are 330 million gods. There are gods, goddesses, spirits, personal gods, household gods and gods of space and time. There are gods for each caste, and guardian gods who look after the artisans. There are gods who are protective of the nature, living in trees, and other who take animal form. Some are fond of minerals, some find meaning in geometrical form. Then there are numerous demons, each of which has its own story of rise and fall. Yet, there is no central Devil to this mythology, no head honcho on whom to lay the blame for the demons and their ravaging. In this book, Devdutt Pattanaik seeks…
6. The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow (2006)
The Little Book of Hindu Deities is chock-full of monsters, demons, noble warriors, and divine divas. Find out why Ganesha has an elephant’s head (his father cut his off!); why Kali, the goddess of time, is known as the “Black One” (she’s a bit goth); and what “Hare Krishna” really means.“Throw another ingredient in the American spirituality blender. Pop culture is veering into Hinduism.”—USA Today…
7. American Indian Myths and Legends (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) (1985)
More than 160 tales from eighty tribal groups gives us a rich and lively panorama of the Native American mythic heritage. From across the continent comes tales of creation and love; heroes and war; animals, tricksters, and the end of the world. In addition to mining the best folkloric sources of the nineteenth century, the editors have also included a broad selection of contemporary Native American voices. With black-and-white illustrations throughout Selected and edited by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz Part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and…
8. Folktales from India (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) (1994)
An enchanting collection of 110 tales, translated from twenty-two different languages, that are by turns harrowing and comic, sardonic and allegorical, mysterious and romantic. Gods disguised as beggars and beasts, animals enacting Machiavellian intrigues, sagacious jesters and magical storytellers, wise counselors and foolish kings—all inhabit a fabular world, yet one that is also firmly grounded in everyday life. Here is an indispensable guide to India’s ageless folklore tradition.With black-and-white illustrations throughoutPart of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library…
9. Asian Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Chinese Mythology, Japanese Mythology and Hindu Mythology (2018)
The first part of this book contains an amazing collection of Chinese myths will allow you to enter the Chinese mind so you can gather secrets and wisdom from a proud and respected country. And best of all, the myths are written in an exciting language and has an easy-to-read format that doesn’t require you to be a specialist in order to understand. In the second part of this book, you’ll discover captivating stories of mystery, horror, and romance while simultaneously learning about the Japanese culture….
10. Myths of the Asanas: The Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition (2010)
Practitioners around the world reap the physical benefits of yoga, assuming poses and frequently calling them by their Sanskrit names. While many know that hanumanasana is named for the deity Hanuman, few understand why this is the case. Behind each asana and its corresponding movements is an ancient story about a god, sage, or sacred animal, much like Aesop’s fables or European folktales. Myths of the Asanas is the first book to collect and retell these ancient stories. The myths behind yoga’s spiritual tradition have the power to help students of all levels realize their full potential….
11. American Indian Myths & Legends (1984)
Excellent Book…
12. Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest (2003)
This collection of more than one hundred tribal tales, culled from the oral tradition of the Indians of Washington and Oregon, presents the Indians’ own stories, told for generations around their fires, of the mountains, lakes, and rivers, and of the creation of the world and the heavens above. Each group of stories is prefaced by a brief factual account of Indian beliefs and of storytelling customs. Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest is a treasure, still in print after fifty years….
13. Mythology of the Blackfoot Indians (Sources of American Indian Oral Literature) (2008)
Mythology of the Blackfoot Indians, originally published in 1908 by the American Museum of Natural History, introduces such figures as Old Man, Scar-Face, Blood-Clot, and the Seven Brothers. Included are tales with ritualistic origins emphasizing the prototypical Beaver-Medicine and the roles played by Elk-Woman and Otter-Woman, as well as a presentation of Star Myths, which reveal the astronomical knowledge of the Blackfoot Indians. Narratives about Raven, Grasshopper, and Whirlwind-Boy account for conditions in humanity and nature. Many of the…
14. Many Many Many Gods of Hinduism: Turning believers into non-believers and non-believers into believers (2013)
“Religion is the opium of the people,” said Karl Marx many centuries ago. For more than a billion people living in India and abroad, Hinduism is the religion and a way of life. In this book Swami Achuthananda cracks open the opium poppy pods, analyzes the causes for euphoria, and comes away with a deeper understanding of the people and their religion.This is a comprehensive book on Hinduism. It tells you why Hindus do the things they do – and don’t. Written in a casual style, the book guides you through the fundamentals of the religion. It then goes further…
Best Indian Mythology Books You Must Read
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Mythology of the American Indians
Author(s): Evelyn Wolfson
ID: 1342986, Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Year: 2014, Size: 2 Mb, Format: epub
Indian mythology: tales, symbols, and rituals from the heart of the Subcontinent
Author(s): Pattanaik, Devdutt
ID: 2740581, Publisher: Inner Traditions;Bear & Company, Year: 2012;2003, Size: 16 Mb, Format: epub
Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent
Author(s): Devdutt Pattanaik
ID: 1054932, Publisher: Inner Traditions, Year: 2003, Size: 10 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not definite. Some books are really record-breakers according to Washington Post, others are written by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant links you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.