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| The term "'''Hindu mythology'''" refers collectively to a large body of Indian literature (essentially, the ]ology of ]) that detail the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and ] on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. |
The term "'''Hindu mythology'''" refers collectively to a large body of Indian literature (essentially, the ]ology of ]) that detail the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and ] on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. | ||
| Though they are often classified as 'Hindu' or 'Indian' 'mythology,' the label does not capture the centrality of religious and spiritual affiliations of the texts that ring true today for most Hindus. They are replete with long philosophical discourses and are often seen as sourcebooks for Hindu ethics and practice. Many Hindu stories seem mythological only because they have been passed down generation after generation. It is also to be noticed that many Hindu stories are not mythology, and historical evidences of many acts or places have been found recently. A parallel would be to term the Old Testament 'Christian mythology'. | |||
| ⚫ | The most important of these are a voluminous group of works known as the '']'', of which there are eighteen. The two great ], the '']'' and the '']'', are other major works of Hindu mythology although recent evidences are conclusively proving that both are accounts of real events, not merely mythological. | ||
| ==The Epics== | |||
| ⚫ | {{Hindu Culture and Epics}} | ||
| ⚫ | The most important of these are a voluminous group of works known as the '']'', of which there are eighteen. The two great ], the '']'' and the '']'', are other major works of Hindu mythology although recent evidences are conclusively proving that both are accounts of real events, not merely mythological. | ||
| The epics ''Mahabharata'' and ''Ramayana'' are very much ] scriptures. Their stories are deeply embedded in ] and serve as ]s and sources of devotion for ] into the present day. | The epics ''Mahabharata'' and ''Ramayana'' are very much ] scriptures. Their stories are deeply embedded in ] and serve as ]s and sources of devotion for ] into the present day. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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| *] | *] | ||
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| ⚫ | {{Hindu Culture and Epics}} | ||
| {{Hinduism}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 16:52, 21 November 2005
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| Hindu scriptures and texts |
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Vedas
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UpanishadsRig vedic
Sama vedic Yajur vedic Atharva vedic |
| Other scriptures |
| Related Hindu texts |
| Vedangas |
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PuranasBrahma puranas
Vaishnava puranas Shaiva puranas Shakta puranas |
| Itihasa |
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Shastras and sutras
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The term "Hindu mythology" refers collectively to a large body of Indian literature (essentially, the mythology of Hinduism) that detail the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse.
Though they are often classified as 'Hindu' or 'Indian' 'mythology,' the label does not capture the centrality of religious and spiritual affiliations of the texts that ring true today for most Hindus. They are replete with long philosophical discourses and are often seen as sourcebooks for Hindu ethics and practice. Many Hindu stories seem mythological only because they have been passed down generation after generation. It is also to be noticed that many Hindu stories are not mythology, and historical evidences of many acts or places have been found recently. A parallel would be to term the Old Testament 'Christian mythology'.
The Epics
| Hindu deities and texts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gods |  | |
| Goddesses | ||
| Other deities | ||
| Texts (list) | ||
The most important of these are a voluminous group of works known as the Puranas, of which there are eighteen. The two great Hindu Epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, are other major works of Hindu mythology although recent evidences are conclusively proving that both are accounts of real events, not merely mythological.
The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana are very much religious scriptures. Their stories are deeply embedded in Hindu philosophy and serve as parables and sources of devotion for Hindus into the present day.
See also
- Ayyavazhi mythology
- Indo-Iranian mythology
- List of Hinduism-related articles
- History of India
- Hindu scriptures
- List of Hindu deities
- Hindu deities
- Hindu Epics
- Vedic mythology
