The Eternal Cycle: Indian Myth

Myth and Mankind

by Charles Phillips, Michael Kerrigan, David Gould

From the formless mass of primal chaos appeared the gods who were to create, preserve and ultimately destroy the universe: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the Timurti , or Great Trinity, of Hinduism. They came to rule over a bewildering array of divinities, all of whom were aspects of a single divine reality. But these angels were not invulnerable, and when their world was threatened by demons, running riot through the perfect universe, the gods turned not to their own power for deliverance, but to that of the mother goddess, in the fierce and vengeful form of Kali, the merciless destroyer.

So begins one of the stories taken from the many Hindu, Buddhist and Jain myths collected in The Eternal Cycle: Indian Myth , just one volume in the series of books called Myth and Mankind, a culture-by-culture examination of world myth and its historical roots. Whether exploring the myths of India, early America, Tibet or Greece, each book brings an ancient culture to life as never before.

Genres: Mythology, India, History

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

There is more than one author by this name on Goodreads

Charles Phillips (b. 1962) is an established writer of popular history, a contributor to Cassell's Dictionary of Modern Britain as well as to the Chronicle of Britain and several illustrated stories.

He has a keen interest in the mythology and history of the great Maya and Aztec civilizations and was a key writer on Time Life's Myth and Mankind series.
Phillips is a graduate of Oxford University, and holds an MA from the University of Westminster.

See also:
Charles Phillips, 1787-1859
Charles Phillips, Goodreads author, Historical Fiction
Charles Phillips, b.1948, American history

Reviews

[Adrian Stratulat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book that I took as a souvenir from Brooklyn. I think it is a great book if you want an introductory course to Hindu mythology. Not only the content is easy to read, it also has some greatartwork.

[Dan Sibbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indian history, religion, and mythology is pretty confusing (to me anyway). But I persisted with this book because Indian culture in general is a great subject, and a basis of understanding its myths and religious foundations is important for everything else. I think I understand this culture much better for having read the book.

[Rick Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent summary of Indian beliefs and legends. It was an eye opener for me, reading about the Hindu, Buddhist, and other religions that are practiced in India today. Excellent photos and side bars also help explain the text. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about religion in India.

[Craig Sieracki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the religions of India. It does read like a text book.

[Mehmet Baran]

This book is a visual feast. It is a very pain-free entry into the Indian lore. Lion's share goes to Hindu mythology, with Mahabharata and Ramayana carefully summarized. Then comes many stories about Vishnu and his avatars (Rama, Krishna), Siva, their consorts Lakshmi and Parvati and the great mother (Durga and Kali), and the demons they fought. In the meantme, we are also introduced to some very curious minor characters like Ganesha and Murukan.
Buddhist and Jain myths are also covered, but to a lesser degree.. Maybe this is understandable, as they are less mythological compared to Hinduism.