The Mystics, Ascetics and Saints of India (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

This 1903 study of “Sadhuism”—concerning ascetics, monks, and mendicants—covers the stuff of myth and legend. The author’s ramble through history includes miracles, wonders, and prophecy; how European visitors reacted to fakirs; theological subjects like karma and pantheism; and the role of this rich vein of tradition in an age of democratic reform.