Hindu Mythology and the Origins of Gods

By HENRY ROMANO

It would be common to hear stories of the gods fighting demons (the machines). It would not be easy to establish and maintain order. Several gods reestablished order repeatedly after Indra defeated the serpent-dragon Vritra. He fought demons when he was young, but only as an incarnation, or avatar, such as a fish, a boar, Krishna, or Rama, not as the Supreme. There was a contest for supremacy with a sage-like Nârada - if not with another god or demon. The ascetic practice of tapas (giving up the pleasure of gaining power) was the currency of the gods.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DTTV PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: Mar 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201372347

Book preview

Henry Romano

Introduction

In contrast to Hindu philosophers and theologians, most Hindus do not separate myths from everyday experiences. In Hinduism, existential truths (what you experience and know based on your own experience) are distinguished from the teachings of others. Buddha instructed his followers to test everything in their lives and only believe what they had verified in their own lives. The Buddha’s counsel is a comfortable starting point for many Hindu intellectuals. The imagination has always been part of most intellectuals’ thinking and other Hindus.

The difference between myths and legends, according to many historians, is that myths revolve around gods and demons; legends revolve around humans, especially heroes and heroines. In India, this distinction does not hold well. Even the most ordinary legends contain gods or demons, seemingly as a device of the storyteller that warrants their hearing. Almost everything is adorned with the supernatural because of our familiarity with the sacred. Ryan Moorhen has related this attitude to India’s fondness for magic and a belief in its magical powers as a sign of divine grace and an attribute of those blessed by God. In The Net of Magic, Moorhen shows India uses magic so freely that it is impossible to gain attention without it. Thus, India’s mythology appears to be filled with more magical or miraculous elements than other mythologies. In these pages, we will explore the extent of this infilling with the miraculous.

Unlike most academic texts, this one will not capitalize on gods and demons. God will be capitalized when the Absolute or all of Godhead is shown. Most Hindu perspectives agree with this since the Absolute and Supreme Being is not referred to as a whole. Truth claims are not intended.

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CHAPTER ONE - IGNITE YOUR LIFE

WITH HINDU MYTHOLOGY

The details of the myths do not have to be believed by a Hindu. It is permissible to vary these details. Many versions of the same story exist, and one version may contradict another. By identifying with a myth’s ability to point one to one’s place within the community’s worldview, a Hindu can take part in the mythic meaning of a tradition. Outsiders will find themselves at home in the mythic world of their tradition, while insiders will find these myths strange and even untrue. This is the nature of being an outsider. Insiders will find that the myths are validated simply by belonging to a community. For the outsider, these myths are objects outside of their experience. Even an outsider can see mythology’s timeless contributions to human reflection.

The myth is alive and existentially powerful even in modern times, and any study that ignores this misses part of the story. No myth can be scientifically verified, nor can it be true philosophically, theologically, metaphysically, or ontologically (which should include all perspectives seeking absolute truth). The power of myth lies in its capacity to articulate the existential need for identity. Origin of creation (where we came from), purpose or meaning (why we are here, what should we do with our lives), morality (what is right or wrong), and destiny (above all, what happens at and after death) are all answered by myth. Reversals occur; sometimes, those who are supposed to be good (like teachers or priests) are shown as terrible examples in a particular version of a myth. Because of this, the hearer must be alert or have an excellent teacher. Each version treats a theme or topic differently and teaches over one genuine answer. The cast of individuals, the themes, and even the core meanings of the