A pioneer of studies of the culture and people of India, Max Muller was one of the most popular, most respected, and most influential thinkers on world spirituality of the 19th century. Here, in a series of lectures delivered at Cambridge University and collected in a book first published in 1883, Muller defends India against Western small-mindedness and invites the reader to explore and appreciate all that India has bequeathed to global culture. From Muller"s characterization of the gentle benevolence of Hinduism to his praise for the ancient beauty of Vedic literature, this is a passionate portrait of a culture long misunderstood and mischaracterized, and it remains an important work for anyone interested in the Indian nation. German author FRIEDRICH MAX MULLER (1823-1900) combined the studies of language, culture, and religion to create the discipline of comparative mythology. Among his many works are The Sacred Books of the East and History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature.