HINDU MYTHOLOGY

Sources
The four Vedas, notably the hymns of the
Rigveda, contain allusions to many mythological
themes (see Rigvedic deities, Rigvedic rivers).

In the period of Classical Sanskrit, much

mythological material is preserved in the Sanskrit
epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Besides mythology proper, the voluminous epics
also provide a plethora of information about
ancient Indian society, philosophy, culture,
religion and ways of life.

The Puranas deal with stories that are "myth

logically" older than the epics (Purana is Sanskrit
for "ancient"). The date of the Puranic texts as
EPICS
The two great Hindu Epics, the Ramayana and
the Mahabharata tell the story of two specific
incarnations of Vishnu (Rama and Krishna).
The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana serve as
both religious scriptures and a rich source of
philosophy and morality for a Hindu.
The most famous of these chapters is the
Bhagavath Gita (Sanskrit: The Lord's Song) in the
Mahabharata, in which Lord Krishna explains the
concepts of duty and righteousness to the hero
Arjuna before the climactic battle.
These stories are deeply embedded in Hindu
philosophy and serve as parables and sources of
devotion for Hindus. The Mahabharata is the
world's longest epic in verse, running to more
Gods and goddesses
There are many deities in Hinduism. At the top
are the trimurti: Shiva (the destroyer), Vishnu
(the protector), and Brahma (the creator), and
their wives (goddesses in their own right).

Brahma is considered the ruler of the highest of

the heavens (the world called Sathya), so in one
sense, Brahma is not beyond the fourteen worlds
as Shiva and Vishnu are.

Other notable inhabitants of the heavens

include the celestial sages, and Naaradha the
messenger of the gods.

Yama (the god of death and justice) is said to

live in Kailash along with his master Shiva. He
Hindu mythological wars
While no Hindu Epic or scripture fails to describe
the horrors of war and its fallout, major wars are
fought with a religious purpose.The most
destructive wars in Hindu Lore are driven with the
mission of good triumphing over evil.

Hindu teachings prescribe war as the final

option, to be employed only after all peaceful
methods are exhausted. But when this time
comes, war is taught to be a matter of great
personal and religious importance, where every
man must do his duty as a warrior.
The Bhagavad Gita places duty above all gain
and loss, triumph and destruction, no matter how
terrible or personal it becomes.
The Avatars of Lord Vishnu
Matsya, Rama,
Kurma, Krishna,
Buddha,
Varaha,
Kalki,
Vamana, Narayanastra,
Narasimha, Vaishnavastra,
Parshuram, Kaumodaki.