Download Free Apps & Games @ PHONEKY.com
Download Free Apps & Games @ PHONEKY.com
Subject: Hindu mythology
Replies: 28 Views: 1172
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:02pm
(..Encyclopedia Mythica..- www.pantheon.org)*The beliefs, practices, and socioreligious institutions of the Hindus (originally, the inhabitants of the land of the Indus River). It evolved from Vedism, the religion of the Indo-European peoples who settled in India. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:06pm
Introduction.
hindu mythologyby Bernard Doyle
The Hindus have created a rich, complex mythology which is still very much alive. Hundreds of millions of people continue to believe in the multitudes of gods which inhabit the Hindu pantheon. This tapestry of religion is the result of millennia of integration. The Indian sub-continent has been a crossroad for several cultures, and the Indian people have incorporated numerous ideas from different faiths. Still, one cosmic Truth holds in Hindu thought, and that is that all things are simply a part of a greater, whole One. In early Hindu belief, which still holds true, for nothing in Hinduism is ever discarded, this Universal whole was called Brahmam. All beings and things, from the gods and demons, through humans, on to the lowliest pebble on the beach, were and are part of this One. In later times, the neuter Brahmam became equated with the masculine Brahma, but the original idea is still very much a part of Hindu thought...continue *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:08pm
The history of Hindu mythology can be broken up into several different ages, all of which have contributed to the faith as a whole. The first is the pre-Vedic age, which goes back to the time of the early Indus valley civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, which were established around 2400 BCE. These cities were destroyed by 1700. Some think that the Aryan invaders who came to dominate the sub-continent destroyed those cities, but current archeological evidence suggest they may have disappeared before the Aryans arrived. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:10pm
In any event, the Indo-European invaders known as the Indo-Aryans came and conquered both much of India and Persia by about 1500 BCE. They brought with them new gods and hymns dedicated to them. These hymns came to be called collectively the Vedas. The Vedic age is when Hinduism proper begins. The Indo-Aryans became the lords of India, and their gods became the most important in the pantheon, but earlier gods were still revered; they were just given different roles. The Aryans also brought with them a distinct class structure, which included a priestly class, a warrior or ruling class, and the trade or merchant class. The native peoples who were subject to Aryan rule were incorporated into a fourth class. This is the basis for the caste system which still is very much a part of Indian life. By the end of the Vedic period, these castes were called, respectively: Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:13pm
The Vedic gods were led by Indra, the archetypical thunder god, and they got their strength from the drink Soma, a form of ambrosia. From around 900 BCE to 500 BCE, as Aryan culture spread further into the sub-continent, Hinduism underwent some major changes. This period has been referred to as the Brahmanic Age, for it was during this time that the Brahmans and the Kshatriyas fought for supremacy over Indian life. New thought had been adopted, with the idea of the soul or atman becoming a major part of Hinduism and the transmigration of that soul becoming a foundation of the religion. It was during this time that the Brahman caste asserted that the gods need human priests to keep their power, and some of the rishis, or sages, became more powerful than the gods. Sacrifice became the chief form of worship *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:18pm
Sacrifice became the chief form of worship. The major Vedic deities began to fall from their high positions and were slowly usurped by the cults of the three gods who came to dominate Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. From 500 BCE to about 100 CE, the age of Buddhism and Jainism put Hinduism in decline. The Buddha's doctrine took India by storm, and the older religion almost was suppressed entirely. Hinduism still included its child into itself, however, and was able to survive the storm with new ideas. Sacrifice went out of favor, and influence by the ascetic worshipers of Jainism and Buddhism led to the composition of the Upanishads. It was also during this time that Vishnu and Shiva completed their eclipse of Indra and the other Vedic gods. The next age was the Epic or Classical period, the time of the great Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These great works were compiled into their present form during this time, but their origins go back at least to Vedic times *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:23pm
The Puranas were also composed at this time. Finally, around 1000 CE we come to modern Hinduism, when the religion once again became the dominant faith on the sub-continent. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:26pm
Abarimon:
The people of Abarimon were said to have their feet turned backward. One might think they could not get around very well, but, according to legend, they were such fast runners that no one else could keep up with them. __________Abhijit:Abhijit is one of the 27 constellations, a ''Nakshatras''. __________Adhidevata:A term used to refer to a divinity whom one invokes for protection. __________Adimurti:Hindu avatar of Vishnu. __________Adityas:The Adityas are, in Hindu myth, a group of sun gods and the sons of Aditi and Kashyapa. Originally, there were seven or eight of them, but their number was expanded to twelve in the Vedic period. As the twelve sun gods they represent the twelve months of the year. The Adityas protect against various diseases, and belong to the Devas, a generic term for divine beings. They are: Ansa, Aryman, Bhaga, Daksha, Dhatri, Indra, Mitra, Ravi, Savitri, Surya, Varuna, and Yama. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:32pm
Agastya:Hindu protector of the god Rama. __________Aghora:Double of the Hindu god Shiva. *---lucretia 5.10.10 - 12:25amAgni:Agni is one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire, the messenger of the gods, the acceptor of sacrifice. Agni is in everyone's hearth; he is the vital spark of life, and so a part of him is in all living things; he is the fire which consumes food in peoples' stomachs, as well as the fire which consumes the offerings to the gods. He is the fire of the sun, in the lightening bolt, and in the smoke column which holds up the heavens. The stars are sparks from his flame. He was so important to the ancient Indians that 200 hymns in the Rig Veda are addressed to him, and eight of its ten books begin with praises dedicated to him. Agni is closely associated with Indra, and is sometimes said to be his twin brother. Thus Dyaus Pita and Prthivi are named as two of his parents. But he has many more. Sometimes Kasyapa and Aditi are his parents; *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:35pm
another time he is the son of a queen who keeps his birth secret from her king. He was born, like Indra, in full power and vigor. Agni is also said to be the son of ten mothers who are all sisters; these are the ten fingers of man. Another story tells that he consumed his parents when he was born, as they could not provide for him; this is symbolic of the fire born when two sticks are rubbed together which quickly are burned up by it. Dawn and Night are his sisters, his wife is Svaha, and he is the father of Karttikeya. When Agni is described in anthropomorphic form, he sometimes has two faces which are smeared with b*tter. He has seven fiery tongues and sharpened, golden teeth. He is red in color, with black eyes and wild, black hair. He has seven arms and three legs, and seven rays of light emanate from his body. He either rides on a ram, or on a chariot, pulled by goats or sometimes parrots. Agni loves all his worshipers equally, and so is loved in turn by all of them. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:37pm
He visits everyone's hearth, no matter if they are rich or poor. He is the mediator between the gods and mankind. He is a great consumer of Soma. When people use fire, they must face it toward the proper direction for different uses. When facing East, the fire should be used for sacrifices to the gods; when facing South, the fire should be used for sacrifices to the Manes or spirits of the dead; a cooking fire should always face toward the West. The proper offering to Agni, and hence all the gods, is ghee, which is clarified b*tter. Agni also had the power to impart immortality on mortals, as well as remove all sins at the time of one's death. In later times, Agni's worship fell off dramatically. He became an incarnation of either Shiva or Brahma. Eventually he has come only to be called on by lovers, and by men who wish to increase their virility. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:39pm
Ahalya:In Hindu myth, Ahalya is the wife of a devout sage. The god Indra once made love with Ahalya. As a punishment, Ahalyas husband turned her into stone. Years later Rama lifted the spell by touching her and persuaded her husband to forgive her. __________Ahi:In Hindu myth, one of the forms of the serpent-god, also identified with Vritra, whom Indra slew with his thunderbolt, releasing the fructifying waters which Ahi withheld and was guarding. __________Airavata:The elephant-steed of Indra. This animal was always victorious, and had four tusks which resembled a sacred mountain.__________Akshayapatra:An extraordinary and magical vessel given to Yudhisthira by Surya (Sun-god) which ensured uninterrupted supply of food at all times. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:42pm
Akshobhya:''Immovable.'' The buddha who reigns over the eastern paradise Abhirati. He was once a monk who took a vow before the buddha who, long ago, reigned over Abhirati, never to feel anger or disgust towards any living being. He carried out this vow in such as way that he showed himself ''immovable'' and after endlessly long striving because Buddha Akshobhya and thus the ruler of the Abhirati paradise. In Buddhism, paradise is not a location, but rather a state of consciousness. __________Akupara:In Hindu mythology, the tortoise upon which the earth resides. __________Alakapuri:Abode of Kubera, the lord of Uttaradisha (North). __________Amaravati:Capital of Indra and gods in the Swarga 
. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:46pm
Ambika:A feminine personification of Parvati in Hindu mythology. An astonishingly beautiful woman she lured demons to their deaths. She announced to them that she would not bed with anyone who had not bested her in battle, and when they approached to fight her she killed their retinue with a supersonic hum, then transformed herself into the fearsome Kali and slew them. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:48pm
Amitabha:''Boundless Light.'' One of the most important and popular buddhas of the Mahayana (one of the two great schools of Buddhism), unknown in early Buddhism. He is the ruler of the western paradise Sukhavati. He symbolizes mercy and wisdom. According to tradition he was a king who came in contact with Buddhist teaching and renounced his throne and became a monk with the name Dharmakara. He resolved to become a buddha and took forty-eight vows obliging him to sustain beings on the path to enlightenment. Through his meditative practice he fulfilled his vow and became Buddha Amitabha, ruler of Sukhavati. In iconography he is adorned with a crown of precious jewels, sometimes with shaven head as the monk Dharmakara. He is most often seated in the middle of a lotus blossom, the symbol of purity. He also frequently appears with the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara (on his left) and Mahasthamaprapta (on his right). Another iconographic style shows him together with Bhaishajya- *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:50pm
guru-buddha, the ''Medicine Buddha.'' Amitabha is at the center of the worship of the Pure Land school of Chinese and Japanese Buddhism....continue *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:53pm
Amitayus:''Boundless Life.'' A manifestation of the buddha Amitabha. In iconography he is depicted sitting, holding in his hands a vessel that contains the nectar of immortality. __________Ammavaru:An ancient goddess of India who existed before the beginning of time. She laid an egg that hatched into the divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.__________Amrita:In old-Indian (Hindu) mythology, the drink of the gods which gives (and sustains) immortality. Possibly the origin of the later Greek Ambrosia. __________Anala:A Hindu attendant god. He is one of the eight vasu deities who serve the god Indra. __________Ananga:''The bodiless''. An epithet of Kama, the Hindu god of love. He was called this way because he was consumed by the fire of Shiva's eye when he interrupted Shiva's devotions with thoughts of Parvati. __________Ananta:''Infinite''. An epithet of the god Vishnu; description of the serpent on whose body Vishnu slept. It is also applied to Sesha, ruler over the Nagas, the mythical human serpents. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:54pm
Anantesa:One of the eight vidyesvaras in Hindu mythology. __________Andhaka:A Hindu demon. __________Angiris:Hindu angels who presided over sacrifices. __________Anila:One of the eight vasu in Hindu mythology. __________Annamurti:A form of the Hindu god Vishnu. __________Annapurna:A Hindu avatar of Durgha who ruled over food production.__________Ansa:In Hindu myth, one of the Adityas, the guardian deities of the months. A minor sun god. __________Anumati:Her name means ''Divine Favor.'' She is a moon goddess. Many Hindu goddesses are worshipped as givers of wealth, intelligence, prosperity, children, and spiritual enlightenment. Anumati is one such goddess. __________Anuradha:The Hindu goddess of fortune. She is the daughter of Daksha and wife of Chandra. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:56pm
Apa:One of the eight vasu deities. __________Apalala:In Buddhist legend, a water dragon (or serpent) who lived at the source of the Swat River. His conversion by Buddha is a favorite theme in Buddhist art.__________Apam Napat:Hindu god of fresh water. __________Apsaras:The Apsaras were nature spirits, the mates of the Gandharvas. They sometimes were water ny*phs, and other times were beings of the forest. They are all female, and all of them are described as being very beautiful. They were paired with the Gandharvas, who would play their instruments so the Apsaras would dance. They would often perform for the gods in their palaces. They were inspirations for love, and were sometimes sent to tempt rishis or Brahmans who were very austere. __________Aranyani:A Hindu woodland goddess. __________Ardhanari/Ardhanarisvara:In Hindu mythology, Shiva represented as half-male and half-female, typifying the incarnation of the male and female principles of the world.__________Ardra:The Hindu goddess of misfortune. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 02:59pm
Ardra:The Hindu goddess of misfortune. __________Arjuna:A Hindu hero. He is a son of Indra and the princess Kunti. __________Arundhati:A Hindu astral goddess. __________Aryman:In Hindu myth, one of the Adityas, the guardian deities of the months. ___________Ashta-Dikpalas:Gods ruling the eight sides i.e., East, Southeast, South, Southwest West, Northwest, North and Northeast. They are Indra (East), Agni (Southeast), Yama (South), Nirrith (Southwest), Varuna (West), Kubera (North) and Eesana (Northeast). __________Aslesa:Another Hindu goddess of misfortune. __________Astamatara:A Hindu (Puranic) group of mother goddesses. __________Astomi:The Astomi were men who hid away in india many years ago. They did not eat or drink like regular people. Instead they fed themselves by smelling flowers. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:05pm
Asuras:The asuras are usually called demons, but this is not a terribly good translation, for it denotes a sinister quality which is not always in the character of these beings. Strictly speaking, the asuras are the powerful beings who are opposed to the devas. In early Vedic times, they were originally another class of gods, but who were incorporated into the new pantheon. Such important Vedic gods as Varuna and Mitra were classified as asuras. By the end of the Vedic period, however, the asuras had attained their more demonic role. Certainly some of the asuras were quite evil, such as Vritra, but some of them were also as pious if not more so than some of the gods. They would, at times, even be more powerful than the gods, forcing them to flee in the face of their power until some way of dealing with them could be found. On the other hand, in certain instances they were known to work alongside the gods for a common goal. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:27pm
Asvayujau:The Hindu (Epic and Puranic) goddess of fortune. __________Aswins:The Aswins are the twin sons of Surya, the sun god, and are hor born of a ny*ph who turned herself into a mare to seduce Surya. Like their father, Surya, the Aswins are also associated with celestial lights. They are said to be the harbingers of Usha, the dawn, and they precede Usha each morning in their golden chariot drawn by birds. In this aspect they are revered as the twin gods of morning. The Aswins are represented as young and handsome, agile and brilliant. They were worshipped quite enthusiastically in the Vedic period in Indian history for their famed ability of bestowing youth upon men. They were also known as being physicians to the gods.There are many tales told of the Aswins' benevolence to men. One such tale, which narrates how the twins gained entry to the ranks of the immortals, is told here. Chyavana was a very old sage. His body was decrepit, shriveled and hideous to look at. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:29pm
One day, he was lying resting by his hut by the woods when some boys came by on their way to bathe in a pool nearby. On seeing Chyavana's ugly, ancient body they started making fun of him and, eventually, started throwing clods at him. Chyavana was incensed at this and resolved to put a terrible curse on the boys. On hearing this, the boys' father rushed to the old sage's abode and hastened to appease him with the hand of his daughter, Sukanya, in marriage. The old man was mollified and, after the marriage, settled down into his new life as a husband. One day, the Aswins came by the old man's abode by the woods. Being of flirtatious nature, one of them started to seduce Sukanya, who was young and pretty. He started with commiserating with her on the condition of her husband's physique. Sukanya, though miserable at being wed to such an old husband, was nevertheless faithful and refused to respond to the Aswin's advances. Chyavana, though extremely old, *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:32pm
still had his wits about him and was shrewd enough to realize what was going on. He decided to capitalize on the situation. He devised a plan whereby he could get the twins to bestow youth upon him. He prompted Sukanya to taunt the twins by telling them that they were incomplete in one aspect. The vain young men were affronted at this and anxiously asked Sukanya what it was that made them incomplete. She promised to tell them on condition that they restore her husband's youth. The twins acceded to this bargain and, accordingly, instructed Chyavana to go and bathe in a certain pool in the nearby woods. Chyavana did as the twins told him to and came back with his youth restored. Sukanya was overjoyed at this transformation in her husband. Then, when the twins asked her what it was that made them incomplete, she told them that they were incomplete because they had not been invited to drink soma *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:34pm
(a celestial drink that made the drinker immortal) at a party Indra, the king of the gods, was throwing at his heaven, Baikunth. Feeling insulted by this, the proud twins rushed to Baikunth and asked to be given access to the feast. Indra refused, saying that they associated with mortals and assumed whatever forms that pleased them. Enraged at this affront to their pride, the twins hastened back to Chyavana to seek his advice in avenging this indignity. Chyavana was wily and started to perform a sacrifice to the Aswins. This enraged Indra, who did not acknowledge the Aswins as gods worthy of offering sacrifice to, and he rushed out of Baikunth to attack Chyavana with a mountain in one hand and his customary thunderbolt in the other. Chyavana was not intimidated at this and retaliated by creating a monster, Mada, who had enormous teeth and jaws so huge that one could engulf the entire earth while the other could swa11ow the heavens. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:36pm
When Mada was about to swa11ow the entire universe with all the gods in it Indra succumbed and asked Chyavana to withdraw Mada. Chyavana agreed to do this on condition that the god allowed the Aswins to parti te in his feast. The bargain was kept by both sides and this is how the Aswins were invited to Indra's feast at Baikunth and allowed to drink soma and become immortals. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:38pm
Atharva Veda:One of the four groups of Vedas, comprising magical spells. __________Atharvan:In Hindu myth one of the Rishis, or legendary early sages. __________Aticandika:The Hindu (Puranic) form of goddess Durgha.__________Atman:In Hinduism, the world-soul or life principle, and the actual self-pervading Self of the universe. __________Atri:A deified bard of ancient India. The Hindu son of Brahma, and a renowned sage.__________Avatars of Vishnu:Avatars were like messengers, aspects of the gods who descended to Earth. In the Hindu mythos, the Avatars of Vishnu are many: firstly, Matsya, which appeared as a fish, to the good king Satyavrate, he and his family, and seven sages and their families having escaped the terrible flood which swamped the world, drowning all its wickedness, mirroring the Great Flood of Christian myth. Like Noah, Satyavrate escaped the deluge in a great ark, filled with the beasts of the earth, and the birds of the sky. The second Avatar, Kurma, appeared as a tortoise, *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:41pm
The second Avatar, Kurma, appeared as a tortoise, supporting Mount Mandara on his back, while the gods churned the sea for the divine ambrosia. Varaha, the third Avatar, appeared as a boar, to save the Earth when it had been drowned a second time. The boar went into the sea and fished the Earth out on its tusks. Narasinha was the fourth, manifesting himself as a man-lion, to save the world from a monarch who, for his austerities, had been endowed with universal dominion by the gods. The subsequent Avatars were a dwarf, then Rama, hero of the Ramayana, then as Krishna himself. Buddha is also said to have been an Avatar of Vishnu. Nine of these Avatars have passed; the tenth is to be called Kalki Avatara, where he will appear armed with a scimitar, and riding on a white horse, where he will end the present age. After that, he will sleep on the waters, produce Brahma, and inaugurate the new world. *
amnveer 20.10.10 - 03:44pm
Ayyappan:The Hindu god of growth, especially in Kerala. Ayyappan is also known as the son born of Shiva and of Vishnu in the form of Mohini. He is currently most popularly worshipped in Sabarimalai. .....2 ..hindu word wasnt given by the early people who practised the 'sanatana dharma' (eternal religion).hindu word was used by persians and other westerners who refered to indus river as sindhu river and people who lived east of indus came to be knwn as hindus (mispro nunciatd frm sindhus by persians).thus watevr religious ideas these people had was coind hinduism.thus the word hindu effectively meant people of bharat or india makin it a secular word.infact indians following any religion are all hindus by tat argument .but due to the british usin the word to refer to people believin in the sanatana dharma it got stuck *
