Foreword / Gregory Schopen -- Introduction: Buddhism as a Pragmatic Religious Tradition -- Popular Narratives and their "Domestication" in Buddhist Communities -- The Development of Buddhist Ritualism -- The Ritual Innovations of Mahayana Buddhism -- Nepal and Newar Buddhism -- The Context and Paradoxes of Modernity -- Stupas and Spouses: The Shrngabheri Avadana -- Merchants, Demonesses, and Missionary Faith: The Simhalasarthabahu Avadana -- Devotions to a Celestial Bodhisattva: The Tara Vrata -- Invoking the Powers of the Buddhist "Dark Lord": The Caturdashi Vrata of Mahakala -- The Refuge of Recitation: The Pancaraksa

1. Buddhist literature -- Nepal -- History and criticism
2. Buddhist literature
3. Sanskrit -- History and criticism
4. Mahayana Buddhism -- Nepal