An attempt for a non-judgemental and non-indoctrination look at Indian mythology
The thread of intertwined tales on mythology we were working through together, on this blog has reached an interesting point. The number of versions of the tales are so many, that to truly appreciate the same we would need a lot of cross-referencing and footnotes.So, I was thinking that I would (perhaps) convert a refined … Continue reading 29 – Exploring the Myths Behind The Festival of Colors
While some of you wait for the continuation of our mythoscopical dive into the mythological tales, bear with me as I slightly lengthen the hiatus with some things that are known (maybe) but rarely appreciated. Namely a few well-known rituals and festivals, with stories behind them. These may not get covered in the main thread … Continue reading 28 – Mythoscopy Decodes #01 – Finding Truth in a Ritual for Truth
Hi Friends! Today let's try to close our excursion into the names of the days ("vaaras"), and the planets - real or unreal - they are named after ("grahas"). So let's strike out into the forest of stories, and seize the day! Interestingly the word "graha" means the one's who hold or seize. And the … Continue reading 27 – Counting Out Days! Part Four.
Hi Friends! Today let us take forward the twisting-turning tales we started quite some time back, about the weekday names, and the divine/semi-divine entities they are named after. As usual, there are stories that are new, and some which are repeated. Those that are new, let's discover together; and those that are repeated, let's rediscover … Continue reading 26 – Counting Out Days! Part Three.
Hi Friends! Today let us continue the meandering tales we started last time, about the names of the days, and the individuals they are named after. Some repetitions may be expected. And as usual, as we are trying to connect various tales, there is some pick-and-choose, and some inconsistencies. I promise, I will try and … Continue reading 25 – Counting Out Days! Part Two.
Hi Friends! I have been quite irregular in posting, the past few days (and months)! So, I thought that it would be a good idea if we look at a few stories about days. Or the names we know them by, and see where it takes us. Fair warning, this may take longer than usual! … Continue reading 24 – Counting Out Days! Part One.
Hi Friends! Today let us finish the story about the (first) battle between Taraka-Asura ("The Strong Saviour") and the Devas ("The Bright One's"), fought to avenge the disrespect to Taraka's mother by Indra Deva in the form of a monkey. As mentioned earlier, the Deva army was led by eight of the dasa-dikpalas ("Guardians of … Continue reading 23 – When The Victorious Saviour Spared The Bright Monkeys
Hi Friends! Today let us explore some background stories that would help us understand the further stories better. Let us (for the time being) leave the Saviour Strong-One (Taraka-Asur) and his army facing the King (Indra) and the other Guardians of various Directions, and the various Devas, with the support of the Preserver (Vishnu). In … Continue reading 22 – Of Mountains, Rivers and Stars
Hi Friends! Today let us take the story forward from where we left the action last time. Two battle-ready armies stood in front of each other, to fight for respect and supremacy. Let us learn a little more about their leaders, and champions. The Asura Army - The Saviour and Other Strong Ones The Asuras … Continue reading 21 – When The Divine Guardians Fought The Strong Saviour
Hi Friends! Today let us continue from where we ended last time. Vajranga fulfilled his promise to his mother, Diti, by defeating Indra. He had also obeyed his father, Sage Kashyapa, by sparing the life of Indra. On the suggestion of his great-grandfather, Lord Brahma, he started an intense penance, while submerged in a huge … Continue reading 20 – The Tale of the Saviour and the Disrespectful Monkey
Hi Friends! Today let us continue the tale of the underdogs, the one’s everyone expects to lose. Last time we looked at the story of the powerful unborn son of Diti. We saw how (as an embryo) he got broken before his birth, from a single daitya (“son of Diti”) who was pre-destined to defeat … Continue reading 19 – The Unbreakable One and his Unbroken Promises
Hi Friends! Today let us explore a story of the underdogs, the one’s everyone expects to lose. How would that affect their families? When a son or daughter wins, the happiest is their mother. What happens when the son or daughter loses? How does she cope with it? Keeping that in mind, let us talk … Continue reading 18 – Please Don’t Cry Brother Mine
Hi Friends! Today let us explore the story of the Moon (Chandra) and his descendants, the dynasty called the Chandra-Vansha, with few of the most interesting characters in the Indian mythological tales. Last time we covered the initial part of the story of the Dynasty of the Sun, or Surya-Vansha. Let us try and take … Continue reading 17 – The Moon and his Son
Hi Friends! Today let’s start the stories of the major dynasties covered in Indian Mythology, and sometimes in the Indian History. You may have noticed that rulers, in our country as well as other regions in the world (in the past as well as the present) claim descent from divinity (or as close to divinity … Continue reading 16 – The Sons of the Sun
Hi Friends! Today let us look at Daksha Prajapati, the Skillful Master of Creation, and the story of a famous yagna of his. Daksha, the Skillful One, was one of the sons of Lord Brahma. He along with his nine brothers, together the Prajapatis, was entrusted with the work of creation. Daksha with his wife … Continue reading 15 – When Creativity of Skill and Ferocity of Nature Fought
Hi Friends! Today let us take the story of the Fourth Incarnation of Vishnu forward, and see what we can learn from it. We continue from the last post, with the almost “un-killable” Hiranyakashipu with his boons from Lord Brahma, and his “un-burnable” sister Simhika, with her fire-proof garment from Agni Deva, and their enmity … Continue reading 14 – The Story of the Scary One’s
Hi Friends! Today let us take the tale of the Dashavataar’s forward. Last time we covered the Third Incarnation of Vishnu. We also talked about the first mortal life of one of the Cursed Gatekeepers of Vishnu. This time we will be starting the story of the first mortal life of the other Cursed Gatekeepers … Continue reading 13 – Be Careful What You Wish For
Hi Friends! Today let us look at the Third Incarnation of Vishnu, which is another of the Genesis Myths, and amalgamation of another mythology. Like the Story of the Saviour Fish and the Story of the World-Fathering Turtle we discussed earlier. Interestingly the villain of this story is one of the cursed gatekeepers, who loved … Continue reading 12 – The Interesting Story of an Immense Boar
Hi Friends! Today let’s take a look at a story about the King of gods, who was a son of Aditi, and how he went about his most famous accomplishment, killing an Encircler, sometimes mentioned as his half-brother being a Daanav (son of Danu). For a quick review of the various sons of Sage Kasyapa … Continue reading 11 – The King Fought Tooth and Nails and Bones
Hi Friends! Today let us look at a story which involves the first maanasputras or mind-born-sons of Lord Brahma, and what happened when they were stopped by two divine Gatekeepers, and the far-reaching consequences of that. As we covered in an earlier post, the first four mind-born sons of Lord Brahma were the Four Kumaras. … Continue reading 10 – Who Kept The Gatekeepers Out
Tales from Indian Mythology from a Story Keeper 