<DIV>Adapted from ancient Sanskrit texts, these stories comprise the literary heart of Hinduism, wherein divinity assumes innumerable forms. Among these, the portrayal of the Goddess is perhaps the most alluring. In just a few of her manifestations, she appears as a devoted wife, a master of the arts, a terrifying demon slayer, a scornful critic, a doting mother and a crafty lover stealing off into the night. The Vedic tradition, the beauty, power and grace of the Goddess is as one, with God, reflecting the universal truth that male and female are simply different expressions of one supreme, absolute truth. The stories of these and many other goddesses, spanning from the obscure to the iconic, are gathered here in a timeless celebration of Goddess imagery, symbolism and lore. The arresting, original portraits that accompany them complete this mythic repertoire with a stunning gallery of color, form and meaning.</div>