The author, Priya Hemenway, has background in ancient languages and spent a long time in the East studying ancient religions, according to the write-up in the book. She profiles 23 of the Hindu deities. There are many versions of any given story, and the author gives one for each deity, not necessarily the most popular version. The illustrations are colorful and beautiful.

The Introduction is very informative for any reader who may be unfamiliar to Hinduism. The author has addressed every aspect of Hinduism with reverence. The beliefs, worships, the religious texts and teachings are all described in a simple way for the novice. 13 major deities and the 10 avatars of Vishnu are portrayed.

An interesting perspective of the author is Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu. This concept cannot be found in any authentic source. There are stories of Buddha as Siva's avatar.

The subject is vast and cannot be ‘condensed’ in any way. The author deserves praise for taking on this difficult task and making it lucid and interesting. ( )