Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the SubcontinentAn exploration of 99 classic myths of India from an entirely non-Western paradigm that provides a fresh understanding of the Hindu spiritual landscape • Compares and contrasts Indian mythology with the stories of the Bible, ancient Egypt, Greece, Scandinavia, and Mesopotamia • Looks at the evolution of Indian narratives and their interpretations over the millennia • Demonstrates how the mythology, rituals, and art of ancient India are still vibrant today and inform the contemporary generation From the blood-letting Kali to the mysterious Ganesha, the Hindu spiritual landscape is populated by characters that find no parallel in the Western spiritual world. Indian Mythology explores the rich tapestry of these characters within 99 classic myths, showing that the mythological world of India can be best understood when we move away from a Western, monotheistic mindset and into the polytheistic world of Hindu traditions. Featuring 48 artistic renderings of important mythological figures from across India, the author unlocks the mysteries of the narratives, rituals, and artwork of ancient India to reveal the tension between world-affirming and world-rejecting ideas, between conformism and contradiction, between Shiva and Vishnu, Krishna and Rama, Gauri and Kali. This groundbreaking book opens the door to the unknown and exotic, providing a glimpse into the rich mythic tradition that has empowered millions of human beings for centuries. |
Contents
Mythology Studying Myth | 7 |
MYTH AND MYTHOLOGY | 9 |
EXPRESSIONS OF MYTH | 14 |
THE FUNCTION OF MYTH | 34 |
COPING THROUGH MYTHMAKING | 56 |
CONCLUSION | 62 |
Mythosphere Comparing Myths | 64 |
THE IDEA OF GOD | 70 |
THE ASCETIC IDEAL | 127 |
THE BIRTH OF GOD | 139 |
INVASIONS AND IMMIGRATIONS | 153 |
CONCLUSION | 157 |
Mythography Interpreting Myth | 160 |
HISTORY AND PREHISTORY | 161 |
STRATEGIC CHARTERS | 174 |
THIS IN TERMS OF THAT | 183 |
DEVILS AND DEMONS | 86 |
CREATION WITH A DIFFERENCE | 96 |
HEAVEN OR HELL | 104 |
CONCLUSION | 113 |
Mythopoesis Transforming Myth | 115 |
MARCH OF THE VEDIC HYMNS | 116 |
METAPHORS OF THE MIND | 189 |
CONCLUSION | 200 |
Glossary | 202 |
Bibliography | 205 |
Index | 209 |
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Common terms and phrases
animals Arjuna ascetic associated asuras believed Bhagavata Purana Brahma brahmana caste celestial chants chastity Christian common cosmic cosmos cowherd creation cursed cycle of rebirths Daksha death deity demons devas devotees dharma divine earth emerged epic existence father fertility following story forest Gauri Goddess gods Hanuman heaven Hindu Hindu mythosphere Hinduism household humans husband idea incarnation of Vishnu India Indra Kali Kandarpa karma Kauravas killed king known Krishna Lakshmi liberation living lotus Mahabharata manifestation Markandeya material reality moksha monastic Mysore painting myth mythology nagas narratives nature offered Pandavas paradigm Parashurama perfect priest rakshasas Rama Ramayana Ravana realized rishi rituals sacred sacrifice sages samsara Saraswati scriptures serpent Shakti Shiva Purana Shukra Sita Skanda society spiritual Sthala Purana symbols TABLE Tantra tantric tapasya temple tion tradition transformed twentieth century varna Veda Vedic Vedic culture Vishwamitra Vyasa warrior wife woman women worldly worldview worship yagna yaksha Yama yoga