Classical Hindu Mythology

The Mahapuranas embody the received tradition of Hindu mythology. This anthology contains fresh translations of these myths, only a few of which have ever been available in English before, thus providing a rich new portion of Hindu mythology. In their introductions, the editors provide a historical setting in which to discuss Hindu mythology as well as a full analysis of its basic sources. The many names given the gods and goddesses in the Sanskrit texts have been retained since their multiplicity is an essential part of the richness of the original. The editors have provided a thorough glossary to make these names accessible.

The Mahapuranas embody the received tradition of Hindu mythology. This anthology contains fresh translations of these myths, only a few of which have ever been available in English before, thus providing a rich new portion of Hindu mythology. The book is organized into six chapters. "Origins" contains myths relating to creation, time, and space. "Seers, Kings and Supernaturals" relates tales of rivers, trees, animals, demons, and men, particularly heroes and sages. Myths about the chief gods are dealt with in three separate chapters: Krsna, Visnu, and Siva. The chapter The Goddess presents stories of the wives and lovers of the gods, as well as of Kali, the savage battle goddess. In their introductions, the editors provide a historical setting in which to discuss Hindu mythology as well as a full analysis of its basic sources. The many names are given the original. The editors have provided a thorough glossary to make these names accessible.

Fresh translations of the Mahapuranas, many available in English for the first time.

Recorded in sacred Sanskrit texts, including the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata, Hindu Myths are thought to date back as far as the tenth century BCE. Here in these seventy-five seminal myths are the many incarnations of Vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child Krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals including boars, buffalo, serpents and monkeys. Immensely varied and bursting with colour and life, they demonstrate the Hindu belief in the limitless possibilities of the world - from the teeming miracles of creation to the origins of the incarnation of Death who eventually touches them all.

After a brief introduction on the idea of culture, enculturation and acculturation in social anthropology, a theology of culture, symbol and language is treated in order to lead to the central subject-matter of the Christian theology of inculturation, which is articulated in themes such as revelation and culture, redemptive incarnation as an exemplary model of inculturation, Lay people and inculturation, missionary spirituality and inculturation. The final chapters deal with inculturation in the Indian Church, the meeting of the Gospel with Asian religions, cultures and aspirations for full humanity, and Asian Christian theology.

Giant monsters. Tales of eternal love. The beginning of creation. Pint-sized warriors. Long voyages and insurmountable heroics are only a small piece of the classic myths that have helped shape Japan

These Tales Of Hindu Gods And Demons Express In Vivid Symbols The Metaphysical Insights Of Ancient Indian Priests And Poets. This Selection And Translation Of Seventy-Five Seminal Myths Spans The Wide Range Of Classical Indian Sources, From The Serpent-Slaying Indra Of The Vedas (C. 1200 Bc) To The Medieval Pantheon&Mdash;The Phallic And Ascetic Siva, The Maternal And Bloodthirsty Goddess, The Mischievous Child Krishna, The Other Avatars Of Vishnu, And The Many Minor Gods, Demons, Rivers And Animals Sacred To Hinduism. The Traditional Themes Of Life And Death Are Set Forth And Interwoven With Many Complex Variations Which Give A Kaleidoscopic Picture Of The Development Of Almost Three Thousand Years Of Indian Mythology. &Nbsp;

An introduction to the mythological world of the Greeks and the Romans, combined with a chronology of myths and a dictionary of key characters, objects, and events. • A detailed timeline serves as a convenient "episode guide" chronicling events described in classical mythology • A comprehensive A–Z section offers a quick way to identify the gods, mortals, events, and objects that are key to specific myths

Hindu mythology can easily become a bewildering subject. There are a vast number of gods, demigods and supernatural beings (some writers refer to as many as 330 million deities). More than this, the beliefs concerning them, their roles in religious practice, and their manifestations in different texts vary according to time, place, and tradition throughout India's vast territory and long history. For anyone interested in the subject, or for anyone approaching an epic such as the Mahabharata, a good guide is needed, and none has equaled Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic by W.J. Wilkins for completeness and clarity.

Hindu and Greek mythologies teem with stories of women and men who are doubled. This text recounts and compares a range of these. The comparisons show that differences in gender are more significant than differences in culture.

This work deals at length with various theories about relgion prevalent at the time when Megasthenes visited India very interesting and scholarly views have been put forth regarding investigations of Megasthenes their reliability and the reliability of his reporters.

In the beginning, says the ancient Hindu text the Rg Veda, was man. And from man’s sacrifice and dismemberment came the entire world, including the hierarchical ordering of human society. The Head Beneath the Altar is the first book to present a wide-ranging study of Hindu texts read through the lens of René Girard’s mimetic theory of the sacrificial origin of religion and culture. For those interested in Girard and comparative religion, the book also performs a careful reading of Girard’s work, drawing connections between his thought and the work of theorists like Georges Dumézil and Giorgio Agamben. Brian Collins examines the idea of sacrifice from the earliest recorded rituals through the flowering of classical mythology and the ancient Indian institutions of the duel, the oath, and the secret warrior society. He also uncovers implicit and explicit critiques in the tradition, confirming Girard’s intuition that Hinduism offers an alternative anti-sacrificial worldview to the one contained in the gospels.

Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection is for you. Get 8 books with the price of 3 today! Greek Mythology: From the beginning of the Cosmos to the Odyssey, be ready to venture into an exciting world of love, loyalty, infidelity, vengeance, deception, and intrigue! Learn about: - Hear about the creation myth that started it all. - Travel to Mount Olympus and live among the gods and goddesses. - Tag along with the heroes and villains on their quests from high above on Mount Olympus to Earth and then beneath the surface to the gloomy world of Hades. - Learn about the fascinating Greek gods and goddesses and the rivalry between them. Celtic Mythology: In this all-inclusive guide to Celtic mythology, you will be able to follow the adventures of the Celts through history and understand the true meaning behind popular myths. This comprehensive Celtic mythology guide will allow you to embark on an epic adventure through: - Introduction to the Celts - The Mythological Cycle: The Children of Lir and The Wooing of Étain - The Ulster Cycle: The Life of Cú Chulainn - The Fenian Cycle: Stories of Finn mac Cúmhaill - The Kings' Cycle: Stories of Cormac mac Airt - Welsh Mythology: The Four Branches of Mabinogi and Classic Welsh Myths Norse Mythology: Norse Mythology: Classic Stories of the Norse Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters contains stories passed down from the ancient Norse religion, practiced by the Vikings and other northern people who live in modern-day Scandinavia, Iceland, and throughout the British Isles. Inside this book, you will find myths that answer the following questions: - How did Odin form the world from Ymir's body and make men and women from wood? - What are the names of the nine realms and who (or what) live in them? - Why does Odin have only one eye, and why does Tyr have only one hand? - Where the gift of poetry comes from? - Who are Loki's children, and why does Odin fear them? - Why do the gods fear the end of the world, and what will happen at Ragnarok? And 5 more similar audiobooks on Japanese Mythology, Hindu Mythology, Chinese Mythology, Mesopotamian Mythology and Egyptian Mythology! The 8 manuscripts included in this collection are: - Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters - Celtic Mythology: Classic Stories of the Celtic Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters - Norse Mythology: Classic Stories of the Norse Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters - Japanese Mythology: Classic Stories of Japanese Myths, Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters - Hindu Mythology: Classic Stories of Hindu Myths, Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Monsters - Chinese Mythology: Classic Stories of Chinese Myths, Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters - Mesopotamian Mythology: Classic stories from the Sumerian Mythology, Akkadian Mythology, Babylonian Mythology and Assyrian Mythology - Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Egyptian Myths, Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters

An engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the world's oldest major religions, The Hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds. Hinduism does not lend itself easily to a strictly chronological account: many of its central texts cannot be reliably dated even within a century; its central tenets karma, dharma, to name just two arise at particular moments in Indian history and differ in each era, between genders, and caste to caste; and what is shared among Hindus is overwhelmingly outnumbered by the things that are unique to one group or another. Yet the greatness of Hinduism - its vitality, its earthiness, its vividness - lies precisely in many of those idiosyncratic qualities that continue to inspire debate today. Wendy Doniger is one of the foremost scholars of Hinduism in the world. With her inimitable insight and expertise Doniger illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. Without reversing or misrepresenting the historical hierarchies, she reveals how Sanskrit and vernacular sources are rich in knowledge of and compassion toward women and lower castes; how they debate tensions surrounding religion, violence, and tolerance; and how animals are the key to important shifts in attitudes toward different social classes. The Hindus brings a fascinating multiplicity of actors and stories to the stage to show how brilliant and creative thinkers - many of them far removed from Brahmin authors of Sanskrit texts - have kept Hinduism alive in ways that other scholars have not fully explored. In this unique and authoritative account, debates about Hindu traditions become platforms from which to consider the ironies, and overlooked epiphanies, of history.