Book excerpt: ‘Among the eighteen classic Hindu texts called the Puranas, the Brahmanda Purana recounts the stories and lores associated with Brahma, the creator and one of the trinities of the supreme divinity along with Vishnu and Shiva. A relatively early Purana, its composition can be traced back to approximately 400 to 600 BCE, predating many other Hindu texts. While the first volume talks of the cosmology, creation, and geography, the lineages of rishis and shraddha rites, ending with Parashurama's stoory, the highlight of volume 2 is its emphasis on Lalita's greatness, the slaying of Bhandasura, Madana's rebirth and the glory of Kamakshi. Translated and annotated from the original Sanskrit by Bibek Debroy, this edition of the Brahmanda Purana is a precious and rare volume for the lovers of Hindu mythology and religion. This is the sixth volume in the Purana series; the others include the Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, the Brahma Purana, Vishnu Purana, and the Shiva Purana.’