Indian Myth

INDIAN
MYTHOLO

INTRODUCTION
Indian Religion and Mythology cannot be separated.
Vedas are the earliest Indian texts. It is a series of sacred hymns in honor of the Aryan
Gods.

RELIGIONS IN INDIA
VEDIC RELIGION is materialistic, devoted to obtaining power, prosperity, health, and other blessings by means of ritual and sacrifice. HINDUISM is a modified polytheism with three major gods:

THE
MAIN
VEDIC
GODS

INDRA
The God of Storm and Thunder
The Main God of
Vedas
A hard-drinking and swaggering warrior

MITRA
The
Sun God

VARUNA
The Moon
God
Supervises the oaths

AGNI
The
God of
Fire

BRIHASPATI
The God of
Incantation
and Ritual

SOMA
A narcotic plant and a God
Gives inspiration
Liberates men
Represents the principle of life

SAVITAR
The God of Motion

USHAS
The
Goddess of the
Dawn

PUCHAN
Brings all things into relationship Blesses marriages
Provides food
Guides travelers

SIVA
The God of
Destruction
People must flatter him to avert calamity

KALI
Siva’s wife
The Goddess of
Fertility
Decorated with emblems of death

PRAJAPATI
The Master of
Created beings
The Father of
Gods and Demons
Protector of those who procreate DEVAS AND ASURAS
Gods and
Demons
Battle each other with magical powers.

RAKSHAS
Evil semidivine creature Practice
Black Magic
Afflict men with misfortune

HINDU GODS
AND
CONCEPTS

BRAHMA
Refers to Spiritual reality underlying all phenomena Emerged from a
Golden Egg created by the waters of Chaos and established every universe  Personified as a God

MAYA
The veil of
Illusion
Sensuous
Appearances
Delude human beings into materialism THE
TRANSMIGRATION
OF SOULS
Refers to the

propensity of souls to incarnate themselves in various material forms From mineral to the
Superhuman

KARMA
Refers to the debt of sin incurred in the past in this present life
A debt that must be paid before the soul is to reach perfection VISHNU
The Supreme
Hindu God
His worship is marked by affectionate piety