Hindu Myths

Did you know that ancient Hindu texts comprise some of the greatest and most extensive collections of myths in the entire world?

The Hindu epic poem Mahabharata by itself is ten times longer than both the Iliad and Odyssey combined. Not only does the Mahabharata have tales of heroic exploits and derring-do, but it also contains complex and sophisticated philosophical writings. In fact, the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most important Hindu religious texts, is itself a section of the Mahabharata.

The Puranas are another collection of writings in Sanskrit. These texts preserve myths alongside works of philosophy and cosmology and writings about topics such as dance and yoga. One important source of stories about the Hindu god Krishna is the Bhagavata Purana, one of the Mahapuranas or greater Purana texts.

Tales from the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana make for lively reading. However, more than that, they also give us a window into important Hindu ideas about Dharma, a complex concept that involves law, custom, and both social and cosmic order, as well as philosophies of good and evil. In some of these stories, we learn that what we might think of as evil might not be quite as bad as we think and that even supposedly evil beings can have rich inner lives and sophisticated thoughts about the meaning of life and the places these beings have in the universe.

In this volume, you will discover:

• How the storm god Indra defeated the demon Vritrasura, and how Indra came to respect Vritrasura even though he had to kill him
• How King Yayati had to choose between honoring his oath to his father-in-law on the one hand and the Dharma on the other, and what consequences came of his decision
• How Krishna defeated the giant serpent-king Kaliya, and why cobras have markings on their hoods
• How Prince Devavrata made a terrible, solemn vow to renounce his throne and never have children, and how he gained the nickname "Bhishma"
• How Bhishma's rash actions in kidnapping brides for his brothers led to misery for one of the women he took, and how she waited through two lifetimes to get her revenge
• How Krishna and the hero Arjuna helped the fire god Agni consume the Khandava Forest, and how that act led to the feud between the Kauravas and Pandavas that is at the heart of the Mahabharata
• How the hero Bhima met the monkey-god Hanuman while he was on a mission to get flowers for his wife
• And much, much more!

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