(Sri Sarva Deva Sabha) The Hindu Pantheon

London: Printed for J Johnson, 1810, First Edition

1/2 title, (xiv) (ii) 467pp with top edge gilt, 105 engraved plates, blind stamps title page; rebound in period half brown leather with gilt rules and title at the spine, blue cloth
30 x 23 cm

The book begins with an image of and an invocation to Lord Ganesha - as any Indian manuscript should. The Sanskrit inscription at the top reads 'Sri Sarva Deva Sabha (honour to the name of Lord Ganesh)'' (Shi Ganeshah).

Moor's work tries to order Indian religion for a western audience. Ganesha is the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles, which is why his image appears at the start of the book.

Edward Moor, an early European scholar of Indian religion, intended this work as an introduction to Hinduism for an English audience and it was the first of its kind. It was illustrated with examples from Moor's own collection of Hindu artefacts.

Many of the engravings are by William Blake, with the content having an impact on his own philosophical beliefs.

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