"I have known for many years the beauties of its literature, the bold flights of its native philosophy, the fervid devotion of its ancient religion and these together seem to me to give a much truer picture of what India  really was, and is still meant to be, in the history of the world...."

Max Muller's fascination for India is well-known. This book was intended to familiarise the western world with the vastness and depth of Indian philosophy. Metrical translations of ancient hymns, Vedanta philosophy, reformist religious movements, an in-depth study of the doctrines of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa  - strands of thought blend seamlessly in this work of erudition --of Dwarkanath Tagore and Raja Radhakanta Deva among others..