This is an authoritative and exhaustive account of the Hindu gods and goddesses commonly worshipped in India, their origin, nature, and the myths and legends that grew around them. It covers the entire pantheon of the ancient Vedic era as well as the more contemporary Puranic age. The lesser deities, demons, the sacred birds, animals and trees, have also been explained in great detail. The Hindu pantheon has so many gods and goddesses that even the very devout find it difficult to remember them all. They are presented here in a single volume, each identified and brought alive, giving the reader a complete picture of the Hindu theogony.