Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization by Heinrich Zimmer, Joseph Campbell Paperback (1992)

This book interprets for the Western mind the key motifs of India's legend, myth, and folklore, taken directly from the Sanskrit, and illustrated with seventy plates of Indian art. It is primarily an introduction to image-thinking and picture-reading in Indian art and thought, and it seeks to make the profound Hindu and Buddhist intuitions of the riddles of life and death recognizable not merely as Oriental but as universal elements.

The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series by Alain Danielou Paperback (1992)

The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning
by Eva Judy Jansen, Tony Langham
Paperback (1993)

Good reference book for symbolism. This is a reference book to postures, hand signs, clothing, attributes, symbols, gods, etc. used in Hindu art. Since it is only a reference book, it does not expand into theory. It has good black and white drawings that make it easier to scrutinize an often complicated art style.  Reviewer: A reader from Los Angeles, CA, USA

The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms
by George Michell
Paperback  (1988)

A reprint with a new preface of the Harper edition (1977) of Michell's standard introduction. He explains the cultural, religious, and architectural significance of the temple, illustrating his points with many photographs, building plans, and drawings of architectural details. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit
by Wendy O'Flaherty, Wendy Doniger, Thomas Wyatt
Paperback (1975)

The Dance of Siva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture by Ananda Coomaraswamy Paperback (1985)

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Devi: Goddesses of India (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society, 7) by John Stratton Hawley, Donna Wulff Paperback (1996) Hardcover (1996)

Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition by David Kinsley Paperback  (1989)

Goddess worship has long been a significant aspect of Hinduism. In this book David Kinsley, author of The Sword and the FluteKali & Krsna: Dark Visions of the Terrible and the Sublime in Hindu Mythology, sorts out the rich yet often chaotic history of Hindu goddess worship.

Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar by Elizabeth Harding Paperback (1993)

Kali: The Feminine Force by Ajit Mookerjee Paperback  (1988)

Kali Puja by Swami Satyananda Saraswati Paperback  (1998)

The complete worship of the Divine Mother who Takes away Darkness, includes Her advanced puja, Her thousand names, the mantras and mudras for traditional offerings, as well as the systems of worship for begetting spiritual children. Also available to accompany the text is a beautiful CD or cassette of Shree Maa's recitation of the thousand names. It includes the original Sanskrita mantras, Roman phonetic transliteration and English translation.

Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva and Dionysus by Alain Danielou Paperback  (1992)

Siva, the Erotic Ascetic: The Erotic Ascetic
by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty
Paperback (1981)

The Gods at Play: Lila in South Asia
by William Sturman Sax
Hardcover  (1995)

Lives of Indian Images by Richard H. Davis Hardcover  (1997)        Paperback (1999)        Paperback (1999)

This is a book that could only have been created with vigorous, meticulous research and the pulling together of sources not ordinarily converging in one study." Critical Review of Books in Religion
"Davis masterfully explores the intersections among possible frames for understanding Indian images.... Essential reading not only for anyone interested in the ways in which cultural interactions have changed over the centuries." Religious Studies Review



Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion
by Stephen Huyler
Hardcover (1999)