Mythology

Mythology is a land of giants no matter which race or tradition it springs from.  Hinduism with its polytheistic Pantheon makes quantum leaps to the very limits of the cosmos. Its anchors are its cosmological assertions which have made several physicists compare Hindu cosmology to modern Quantum physics.  Books abound.  A fashionable genre of novels has sprung up, a form of magic realism which incorporate a parallel storyline that subsumes a classic text like the Mahabharata.  The tone is incantatory 


There are dissenters: like Nirad Choudhuri whose book "Hinduism" effectively and mercilessly and systematically deflates the anchoring balloons of Hindu mythology.

If one is addressing an English speaking audience it may be of some help  to read Joseph Campbell’s book on Mythology (The Hero with a Thousand Faces) which  foretells how the mythological archetypes of heroes and villains inform our culture.

See: Mythic Reflections, an interview with Joseph Cambell where he speaks his"thoughts on myth, spirit, and our times"  


Carl Jung in his Man & His Symbols mentions how deeply embedded these archetypal mythological  figures are in our mind and represent every quality we possess, like bravery, pride, stoicism,  as well as a host of negative qualities. It might help to keep this bigger picture in the mind whilst reading classic texts of Hindu mythology..

---

• "Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse" - Wikipedia – Read More>
• A colourful presentation of facts and listing of divine incarnations
• Hindu Mythology has a mind boggling array of characters that weave in and out of one anothers life and destiny, held together by a tenacious thread of Karma  and afterlife. Here is an encyclopaedic listing of  these characters.
• An introduction to Hindu Mythology beginning with The Mahabharata and a discussion of the major themes in that epic
• A collection of rare paintings depicting events in Mahabharatha and Ramanaya, and some mythical figures. Worth a bookmark.
• Illustrated Hindu Cosmology for Beginners with interesting multimedia pieces on Astronomy for beginners and advanced users.
• Interested in taking a Mythology quizz as a starter for your child?
• A brief and easy reference listing of names in Hindu Mythology