Hindu Mythology

Introduction

At the outset let me clarify that this is not a course on Religion but on Mythology. There will be no proseletysing nor would the course offend any religious sensibilities.

Driven by the primeval forces of love and passion, greed and ambition and valour and sacrifice mythologies have always fascinated us. They are the basis of much of our literature and other cultural pursuits. While they weave a web of hauntingly beautiful tales at one level, at another level they delve into the psyche of a nascent society. Just as astronomers study the birth of stars in order to gain insights into the universe, we can study mythologies to gain insights into the birth of social structures.

Hindu society has existed in an unbroken manner, without any radical change, since its initial formation. Hence we can trace the effect of and relation to Hindu mythology at each stage of the development of the society. The Hindu society is no longer restricted to the Indian subcontinent. Quest for a better economic life has taken them to all corners of the world. In addition, international travel and media exposure has brought western society face to face with the completely alien Hindu society. Let me give you two examples. The images of the Kumbh fair, the largest religious gathering in the world, and the immersion of garishly painted, and often huge, idols in seas and rivers has a profound impact on those unacquainted with these scenes. This course aims to explore and even recreate the larger environment that is responsible for such rituals.

Before briefly outlining the course content I would like to highlight an important facet of the course. It is neither only about the past nor only about Hindu society. The course will be peppered with discussion of how mythological events relate to contemporary social and political issues. Wherever applicable, comparisons and contrasts will be made with other mythologies, with other societies and even with scientific development.

The first two lessons will be introductory in nature. We will begin with a brief history and sources of Hindu mythology. Said to have originated over fifteen thousand years ago these tales were originally passed down by word of mouth and were ultimately put to writing about two thousand years back. An overview of the principal characters in the Hindu pantheon will be given. The creation of the universe and the creation of man are important aspects in any mythology. These make for an interesting cross-mythology comparison. In the latter part of the second lesson we will briefly change our modus operandi. We shall first look at some crucial issues and then see how they are dealt with in mythology. The issues covered will be the Cycle of Karma, the Caste System and how belief in a formless God is consistent with idol worship.

The third and fourth lessons cover the mythology of the two principal Gods Shiva and Vishnu. Linked with Shiva is the concept of Shakti, the Female Force, which is simultaneously creative and destructive. Through Vishnu, we will discuss the concept of incarnation of God. A surprising feature of the incarnations of Vishnu is that they reflect the theory of evolution. The eternal battle between good and evil has its origins in mythology and we shall explore how Hindu mythology deals with this aspect.

Each of the fifth and sixth lessons will deal with one of the major epics of Hindu mythology. A condensed and easy-to-read version of the epic has been recommended. Web sites that carry an even more condensed narration will be indicated. The Ramayana, the story of Rama will be covered in the fifth lesson. Rama is descended from the Sun and this lineage will be traced. The importance of dynasties in Hindu mythology and society will be discussed. There are many versions of the Ramayana and this will be illustrated through the episode of Ahalya. Rama is renowned as the ideal man. Issues relating to moral uprightness will be discussed in this context. We will briefly look at the female characters in this epic. Finally we will apply Campbell’s archetypical structure to the Ramayana.

The other epic is the Mahabharata, the longest poem in the world. Here the Lunar dynasty will be traced. A comparison between the Ramayana and the Mahabharata will show a society in evolution. Three issues of contemporary relevance will be discussed. These are polyandry, the treatment of women as property and the concentration of power.

In the seventh lesson we will discuss the life of Krishna, particularly his childhood, before he became the master strategist of the Mahabharata. We will cover his birth, his relationship with Radha and his ascension to heaven.

The final lesson will deal with the purpose of mythology. Stout lists six purposes and we shall see how and to what extent Hindu mythology fulfils these.

Knowledge of Hindu mythology is not a prerequisite. The knowledge of other mythologies, though not a prerequisite, might be helpful because it will provide a benchmark. What is required is a passion to trace the origins of a culture, whether one’s own or an alien one.

At the end of the course you can expect to have a working knowledge of the overall environment of Hindu mythology. You will understand how contemporary rituals, beliefs and social behaviour are linked to mythological events. You will get an idea of the immense amount of literature and culture that has its genesis in mythology. Finally you will get acquainted with sources that will fulfil your desire to learn more on this topic.

Introduction to Hindu Mythology is an extremely informative, entertaining course. The author is well versed in Hindu literature, religion, and mythology. Thus, he is able to present, in easy to understand summaries, various important aspects of this topic.Tami Brady

Lessons

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