The Book of Avatars and Divinities

In the Hindu universe, gods and goddesses play freely among human beings to help them, nudge them towards the right action and mete out justice. They may appear to us as avatars in human form or manifest themselves as forces of nature. The many myths of Hinduism become colourful and entertaining when Shiva, Vishnu and Devi take different forms to enact their rivalries, destroy demons and teach devotees with superpowers a lesson in humility.

This first-of-its-kind book brings together the major deities of the Hindu pantheon, describing the different manifestations by which they are recognized, celebrated and worshipped-from Durga to Sita to Kali, and from Narasimha to Parashurama to Krishna. The contributions by Bulbul Sharma, Namita Gokhale, Nanditha Krishna, Parvez Dewan, Royina Grewal and Seema Mohanty offer enchanting stories about our favourite divinities.

Namita Gokhale was born in 1956. She is the author of four
novels-Paro: Dreams of Passion; Gods, Graves and Grandmother;
A Himalayan Love Story; and The Book of Shadows-and two
books of non-fiction-Mountain Echoes and The Book of Shiva.
Namita Gokhale lives in New Delhi.