Indian Demonology: The Inverted Pantheon

This is for the first time that Indian demonology and demon-lores, as found in the Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, Epic and Puranic sources have been presented in their entirety on the basis of original materials by N.N. Bhattacharyya who does not require any special introduction to the scholars. The present volume deals at length with the myths and legends pertaining to various kinds of celestial, aerial and terrestrial demoniacal beings such as the Asuras, Daityas, Dnavas, Rksasas, Ytudhanas. Dsas, Dasyus, Panis, Klakeyas, Vidydharas, Gandharvas, Yaksas, Apsarases, Rbhus Bhrgus, Angirases, Virpas, Garudas, Suparnas, Kiannaras, Ngas, Pannages, Kabandhas, Bhtas, Pretas, Picas, Pitrs, etc. It also discusses various mythical apes, beasts, birds and reptiles, the Pramathas, Ganas, etc., of iva, the blood-consuming Mtrks and so forth and demonstrates how they have been subjected under diverse historical conditions to the processes of social, religious and cultural transformations and why the Indian demonology should be characterized as the ‘inverted pantheon’. Like other works of Prof. Bhattacharyya, this one is also expected to evoke great interest among scholars, researchers and readers.