Preface VII;
Part I: Puranic literature;
1 Purana studies;
1.1 Introduction;
1.2 Importance of the puranas;
1.2.1 The puranas and the Veda.;
1.3 "Extant" versus "earlier" puranas;
1.3.1 Sectarian character of the puranas;
1.3.2 Puranam pañcalaksanam;
1.3.3 Eighteen puranas;
1.3.4 Descriptions of puranas in puranas;
1.3.5 Quotations from puranas in the dharma literature;
1.3.6 Gradual deterioration of puranas;
1.4 The original purana;
1.4.1 The "Ur-purana";
1.4.2 Traditional origin of the puranas;
2 The place of the puranas in Indian literature;
2.1 Nature of the puranas;
2.1.1 Puranic textual tradition;
2.1.2 The suta;
2.1.3 Different recensions of puranas;
2.1.4 Diversity of puranic literature;
2.1.5 The puranas and other branches of Sanskrit literature;
2.2 Consequences;
2.2.1 "Mini-puranas";
2.2.2 Dating the puranas;
2.2.3 The puranas as religious documents;
2.2.4 The puranas as historical documents;
Part II: Individual puranas (in alphabetical order);
Abbrevitions;
General bibliography;
Index.

FROM THE EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY One of the main reasons why Indian thought and Indian civilization make so fascinating a field of study and research lies in their unique history and remarkable structure. Indian civilization has its roots in an ancient heritage, in that pattern of culture which is sometimes called archaic or semi-primitive, sometimes also pre- or non-modern. This culture, or rather structure of the human mind, is, in the main, characterized by presenting, in some essential features, striking contrasts to our modern ‘mentalité’. . . . The plan of this work reflects, not only the increase in factual knowledge and the widening of our horizon, but also the changed attitudes of the last sixty years. While much space is allotted to Sanskrit literature, the literary works written in the Middle Indian languages receive extensive treatment and much more importance than was possible in Winternitz’ days had to be given to the modern literatures. A considerable part of the incorporated material has never been described. Those sections which already found a place in the works of our predecessors are generally much enlarged; old matter had to be brought up to date and a wealth of fresh information to be included. . . . Jan Gonda A History of Indian Literature was published originally between 1975 and 1987 in 10 volumes (30 books, details inside). This series which had been out of print for quite some time, is now being presented in a hard cover reprint.