HINDU Mythology occupies much of the time and attention of
students of Indian Literature of the present day; and although orien-tal
research has in later years contributed much to unravel the
difficulties which perplexed early writers and to correct the theories
and errors into which they had unavoidably fallen, yet still no attempt
has been hitherto made to collate the valuable information at present
scattered in reviews, pamphlets, reports, &c., and to present it to the
public in a connected and convenient form, nor have the standard
works of earlier times undergone that thorough revision which has
been so long a desideratum. Coleman, Maurice and Crawford, with
some other authors of less note, are out of print, and even Moor is
scarcely to be met with any where in its original form, Messrs.
Williams and Norgate of London having deemed it sufficient to re-print,
in 1861, the plates only contained in the Work, illustrating the
principal Deities with their Saktis, Incarnations, &c.
Under these circumstances. I determined on the re-issue of
Moor�fs HINDU PANTHEON, after careful revision, in a style which
would not only sustain its former character, but greatly enhance its
value.

This edition, though less bulky and more portable than the
previous one, retains every essential particular of the original un-touched,
but proved inaccuracies, repetitions and irrelevant matter
have been omitted, and the text has been elucidated by a large
number of foot notes embodying references to acknowledged native
authorities and the works of eminent oriental scholars. The Chapters
on Buddhism and the Sects of the Hindus have been re-written, and
embrace the most recent and correct information on the subjects of
which they treat. None of the plates by which the text could receive
any elucidation have been omitted, while several others have been
added from other sources. These emendations are more particularlyii
alluded to in the Editor�fs Preface and need not be further noticed
here. The Index, always a valuable auxiliary to books of reference,
has been entirely re-written and considerably enlarged, so that any
portion of the book way be easily and readily referred to.
Great care has been bestowed in printing the work, and the
plates have been executed in a superior style of lithography: in fact
no pains have been spared to give the book an attractive appearance,
as well as to make it extensively useful. I feel confident therefore
that it has some claim to notice as an extended and improved work
on HINDU MYTHOLOGY.

THE PUBLISHER.
November 1864.