Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Acknowledgment ix
4. A Note on Transliteration xi
5. Introduction 1
6. I: Orientations
7. 1. There's Always a Reason 16
8. 2. Lives and Stories 37
9. 3. Sadhus 63
10. 4. The Listeners 88
11. II: Storytelling Occasions
12. 5. Loincloths and Celibacy 113
13. 6. False Gurus and Gullible Disciples 132
14. 7. Death and Laughter 160
15. 8. Heaven and Hell 189
16. 9. The Divine Storyteller 208
17. III. Conclusions
18. 10. The World of the Stories 231
19. 11. Storytelling as Religious Teaching 242
20. Epilogue 248
21. Appendix I: Glossary of Commonly Used Hindi Terms 251
22. Appendix 11: Map of India 253
23. Notes 255
24. Bibliography 267
25. Index 283