ENGLISH REVIEWER 4THQ

• Hindu mythology dates back as early as 7200 BC.
• Hindu mythology was the time when Rig Veda was composed.
• Rig Veda - anthology of 1028 hymns.
• Rig Veda - celebration of natural elements (water, air, fire)
• VEDIC GODS - Agni, Vayu, and Surya
• Agni (Fire) - Vital spark in the earth, lightning in the sky, Surya the sun. She is a sap in the plants. Has 7 tongues and uses it for licking up butter.
• Vayu (Wind) - drives horses,

  God of Wind, rapid motion, Father of fleet - footed.

  Father of Hanuman, associated with Indra.

  Other names: Pavana, Gandha-Vaha, Satataga
• Surya (Center of the Spheres) - Other names: Savitri (brilliance)

  Married to Sanjana and Chhaya

  Abode is called Suryaloka
• Brahma (Creator)

  • Born of golden egg and Hiranyagarbha
  • Have sprung from Vishnu's navel, on a lotus
  • uncreated creator (Svayambu)
  • Lord of Scholarship
  • 4 vedas came from his mouth
  • 4 castes of hindu came from his body.
  • priests - mouth, Kshatriyas
  • soldiers - arms, Vaishyas
  • traders - thigh, Sundras
  • menial workers - feet
• Vishnu (Preserver)

  • The Preserver
  • Vehicle: garuda (bird)
  • incarnated nine times (born as animal or human)
  • Main god of Vaishnavism
• Shiva (Destroyer)

  • The Destroyer/Transformer
  • Vehicle: Bull
  • Often worshipped in featureless lingam form
  • Main god of Saivism
• PURANIC GODS - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
• FEMALE ASPECTS - Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati
• Saraswati -

  • God of knowledge, music, and arts
  • Vehicle: Swan
  • Wife of Brahma
  • sits on a white lotus; playing veena
• Lakshmi

  • Goddess of wealth and prosperity
  • Vehicle: owl
  • Wife of Vishnu
  • shown bestowing coins and flanked by elephants
• Parvati

  • The Divine Mother
  • Vehicle: lion
  • reincarnation of Shiva's first wife
  • Often shown together with Saraswati and Lakshmi; they called tridevi (triple goddess)
• Ganesh

  • God of Intellect and remover of obstacles
  • Vehicle: mouse
  • son of Shiva and Parvati
  • has an elephant head
• Murugan

  • God of War
  • Vehicle: peacock
  • Son of Shiva and Parvati
  • popular on Tamil areas
  • also known as Skanda
• Durga

  • Fiercer form of Parvati
  • Vehicle: tiger
  • has 10 arms and have many weapons
• Kali

  • Goddess of time and death
  • Vehicle: donkey
  • portrayed as dark and violent
• Rama

  • 7th avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu
  • central figure in the epic story Ramayana
• Krishna

  • The 8th avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu
  • portrayed as child and prankster; playing flute
• Hanuman

  • ape-like god; known for assisting Rama