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MYTHSUNDERSTOOD
UNDERSTANDING
INDIAN
MYTHS
COLINHYNSON
Crabtree Publishing Company
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Author:Colin Hynson Photographs and reproductions:
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Title page:Durga—the many-handed Indian deity
This book was produced for Crabtree Publishing Company
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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition
as follows:
Hynson, Colin
Understanding Indian myths [electronic resource] / Colin Hynson, Colin.
Hynson. Understanding Indian myths / Colin Hynson.
pages cm. -- (Myths understood)
(Myths understood) Includes index.
Includes index. ISBN 978-0-7787-4524-2 (reinforced library binding) -- ISBN
Electronic monograph in multiple formats. 978-0-7787-4529-7 (pbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-4271-9058-1 (electronic
Issued also in print formats. (pdf) -- ISBN 978-1-4271-9112-0 (electronic (html)
ISBN 978-1-4271-9058-1 (PDF).--ISBN 978-1-4271-9112-0 (HTML) 1. Mythology, Indic--Juvenile literature. 2. India--Religion--
Juvenile literature. 3. Hinduism--Juvenile literature. I. Title.
1. Mythology, Indic--Juvenile literature. 2. Hindu mythology-
-Juvenile literature. 3. India--Religion--Juvenile literature. I. Title. BL2001.3.H96 2012
II. Series: Myths understood (Online) 294.5'13--dc23
BL2001.3.H96 2012 j294.5'13 C2012-906943-4 2012041359
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CONTENTS
WHAT ARE MYTHS?................................................4
What are myths and what types of myths developed
in Ancient India? How the beliefs of early Hinduism,
Buddhism, and Jainism influenced Indian myths.
ANCIENT INDIA........................................................6
The ancient civilization of India and its many creation
and morality myths. The gods Vishnu and Shiva and
myths about circular time and reincarnation.
RELIGION AND GODS...........................................10
The gods and goddesses of Ancient India and myths
about the creation of the world and its people. The
story of Rama and Sita and myths about marriage
and daily life.
THE NATURAL WORLD........................................18
The natural world of Ancient India and myths about
rivers, droughts, harvests, and the cycles of life.
DAILY LIFE................................................................24
The caste system of Ancient Indian societies, myths
about a person’s duties in life, and customs and
myths related to death.
TRADE AND WARFARE........................................34
The importance of trade in Ancient India and myths
about the struggle between royal families for
possession of riches and territory.
INDIAN LEGACY.....................................................40
How Ancient Indian myths have shaped our modern
ideas about architecture, sculpture, society, music,
food, and culture.
Time hart 45
Glossary 46
Learning More 47
Index 48
WWHHAATTAARREE
M Y T H S ?
M Y T H S ?
Myths are stories that were used in India has many sets of mythological
ancient times to explain the world in stories. This is because of the vast size
which people found themselves. Most and varied geography and climate of India.
were passed on by word of mouth, but Different religions, such as Hinduism,
some were written down. The myths Buddhism, and Jainism, divided different
told stories about the creation of the parts of the region and also played a factor
world, nature, family life, and about in the creation of multiple myths. All of the
the Sun, Moon, and the seasons. myths, however, have Brahmaas the
creator god and the most important figure.
Ancient Indian myths not only explained
the origins of the world, but also provided
guides on how people should live their lives.
This is especially important in India where, SOURCESOFMYTHS
for thousands of years, people have believed
Many of the Ancient Indian myths can trace
in reincarnation—the continuous cycle of
their origins to the Hindu epics known as the
birth, life, death, and rebirth, and how it
Ramayanaand the Mahabharata. Both of
is influenced by good and bad behavior.
these texts were written some time between
Unlike many other mythologies, the
500 B.c.e.and 100 c.e. At more than 50,000
stories that came out of Ancient India
lines long, the Ramayana is the world’s
still have an important role in India today.
longest poem. It tells the story of Rama—
The beliefs of modern Hindus, Jains, and
who later became the Hindu preserver god
Buddhists emerged during the Mauryan and
Vishnu—and his wife Sita. The Mahabharata
Gupta empires of Indian history, which
is a collection of stories such as the Bhagavad
lasted from approximately 500 B.C.e.to 500
Gitaand the Rishyasringa, which were
C.e.In modern India, Buddhism has declined
written and then gathered together in the
while Hinduism and Jainism remain
Mahabharata over several hundred years.
the faiths of millions of people: Islam,
Christianity, and Sikhism have all grown.
4
Below:This antique pottery tile shows the Hindu Below: Hindu priests worship and give offerings to
god Hanuman kneeling before the seated Lord the great goddess Durga. In Hindu myths, Durga is
Rama, his wife Sita, and her attendants. a goddess capable of defeating demons and
protecting gods and other goddesses.
LINKTOTODAY
Religion and myths have always been at the
center of the way of life in India. The main
religions in India are Hinduism, Buddhism,
Islam, Sikhism, christianity, and Jainism.
each of them has its own myths, houses of
worship, festivals, holy sites, and religious art.
5
AANNCCIIEENNTT
I N D I A
I N D I A
The history of Ancient India is divided India. It was during this time that India saw
into three main periods. The first is the rise of cities such as Ayodhya, Panchala,
known as the Vedic period. It lasted and Rajpura. These new cities became the
from about 1500 B.c.e.to 500 B.c.e.and birthplace of both Jainism and Buddhism.
saw the beginnings of the Hindu, Jain, The Mauryan empire was first established
and Buddhist faiths. The middle period by King Chandragupta Maurya and reached
saw the rise of the powerful Mauryan its greatest extent in about 260 B.C.e.under
empire that existed from about 321 Ashoka the Great. It extended across most
B.c.e.to 185 B.c.e.The last part saw the of India and much of modern Pakistan and
rise of the Gupta empire, which existed Afghanistan. early in his reign, Ashoka was
from 320 c.e.to 550 c.e. a cruel and violent king but he converted
to Buddhism and became a more just
The Vedic period is defined by a culture and peaceful ruler. In 260 B.C.e.,he made
that arose in northern India. It is referred Buddhism the state religion. This helped
to as “Vedic” because it was at this time that to establish Buddhism in Ancient India
the Vedas, the oldest Hindu scriptures, although there was some opposition from
were first composed. In this period, the his Hindu and Jain subjects.
foundations of Hinduism were first laid. India entered what is called the golden
Little is known about everyday life in the agewhen the Gupta empire conquered
Vedic period. People farmed in small much of the subcontinent. This empire,
communities and trade was done by founded by Maharaja Sri Gupta, saw great
exchanging goods. There was no money advances in technology, astronomy, science,
system so people did not buy and sell. and the arts. The whole period saw the
By about 1000 B.C.e.,several small teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism, and
kingdoms or city-statesknown as the Jainism develop. With the decline of the
Mahajanapadashad begun to emerge. Gupta empire, India broke up into smaller
In about 500 B.C.e.there were 16 of these states and was not reunited until the
kingdoms stretching right across northern Mughal empire in the 1500s.
6
cHINA
•
Rajpura
PAKISTAN
New Dehli
• PANcHALA
• •Agra •Ayodhya
Jaipur •
Varanasi BANGLADeSH
Arabian Sea Kolkata •
INDIA
N
Bay of Bengal
• Mumbai
Hyderabad
•
500 Miles
Buddhism
500 Kilometers
Hinduism
Islam
Mysore
•
Sikhism
SRI LANKA
Indian Ocean
Left:Throughout India are stone Above:A map of the Indian
pillars with four lions at the top subcontinent showing the
and spoked wheels at the bottom. key areas of the main
These are symbols of the Buddhist religions as they are today.
religion. The lions represent
strength; the wheels represent
the path to enlightenmentor
understanding of life.
7
HINDUROOTSANDBELIEFS Brahman, a spiritthat exists in everything.
Almost all Indian myths are based on the All of the creation myths of Ancient India
spiritual traditions of Hinduism. These are reflect these ideas and beliefs. Related
a mix of duties related to family, each stage myths refer to the preserver god Vishnu
of life, and the society in which each and the destroyer god Shiva, who plays
person is born. Hindus believe that people a role in the creation and destruction of
who carry out these duties well will be the Universe.
rewarded with rebirth into a good life.
Those that neglect their duties will be
reborn into a life of poverty and suffering. CIRCULARTIME
Although Hindus do not believe in one
Hindu creation myths are different from many
Supreme Being, all the gods and goddesses
others because of the way that early Hindus
are linked together through the idea of
viewed time. The creation of the Universe is
not the beginning of time and its destruction
Below: An Indian illustration of the Universe from
is not the end. Hindus believe that the
the 1600s. At the top, the god Vishnu rides on the
Universe is continually being created,
giant bird, Garuda, which is linked to creation.
destroyed, and made again. For Hindus,
Below, Vishnu sleeps on the serpent Ananta, which
time is circular and has no start and no end.
represents eternity. With him is the goddess Lakshmi.
8
