I. AVATARS IN HINDUISM

1 INTRODUCTION The Problems. Vedic Theism. Upanishadic Monism and Reaction

2 AVATARS IN THE GREAT EPIC Vishnu and Others. Ten or More Avatars. The Origins of Krishna

3 KRISHNA IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA Krishna and Vishnu. Avatar Appearance. Immanence. The Vision of Transcendence. Devotion. Implications.

4 PHILOSOPHICAL COMMENTS ON AVATAR DOCTRINE Avatar and Monism. Sankara. Ramanuja. Madhava. Other Views.

5 AVATAR IN RAMA The Ramayana of Valmiki. The Ramayana of Tulsi Das.

6 GROWTH OF THE KRISHNA CULT Life Stories. The Bhagavata Purana with Twenty-two Avatars. Growth of Love Symbolism. Alvars and Others. Chaitanya and Avatar Theory.

7 SIMILARITY AND OPPOSITION Siva and Sakti. Kabir and the Sikhs.

8 MODERN INDIAN THOUGHT AND CHRISTIANITY Reform Movements. Mahatma Gandhi. Ramakrishna. Modern Philosophers

9 ANALYSIS OF AVATAR DOCTRINES Hindu and Christian Belief. Twelve Characteristics of Avatar Doctrines. The Avatar Faith

II. BUDDHAS, JINAS AND SUFIS

10 INCARNATION OF THE BUDDHA God and Gods. Descent of Buddha. Humanity of the Buddha. Glorification. Worship

11 BUDDHAS AND AVATARS Buddha Succession. Bodhisatta. Seven Buddhas. Twenty-five Buddhas. Buddha-To-Come. Incarnation and Reincarnation. Uniqueness.

12 DEVELOPING BUDDHOLOGY Other Lives. The Lotus Sutra. Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. Buddha Bodies. Buddhas and Avatars.

13 JINAS AND AVATARS Lives of Twenty-four Jinas. Krishna Parallels. Jinas and Avatars.

14 INCARNATION IN ISLAM? The Qur'an. Ghazali on Incarnation. Shi'as and Others. Sufi Beliefs

III. CHRISTIAN AND OTHER BELIEFS

15 INCARNATION AND AVATARS Biblical Doctrine of Incarnation. Crucifixion. Resurrection. Uniqueness and Eschatology.

16 THEOPHANY: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KRISHNA AND CHRIST Repeated Avatars. Incarnation and Reincarnation. Avatar and Theophany. Theophany and Incarnation. Man-God. Krishna and Christ

17 DOCETISM, IN BUDDHOLOGY AND CHRISTOLOGY Buddhas and Avatars. Biblical Parallels. Docetism. Person and Work

18 ADOPTIONISM: CHRIST AND MUHAMMAD Glorification. Growth of Devotion to Muhammad. Adoptionism. Muhammad and Christ

19 RECENT INTERPRETATIONS Myth. Questions. Saviour Figures and Mediators. Christian Uniqueness? Avatars. Faith and Pluralism.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TEXTS

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MODERN WRITINGS

INDEX