Hindu Mythology - An introduction

By Drishti Rani



Nearly 16 years ago, my mom was watching TV. I sat with her and asked, " Ma, What are you watching ?". She said, "I'm watching Mahabharata."

 "What's that ?" I asked.

"It's our ancient Indian epic saga about two families - The Pandavas and The Kauravas who fight for the throne of the kingdom Hastinapur and represent struggle and truth about life," my mom answered.

And that's how my interest arises in my Sanatana Dharam. At that time, I was a mere child, but somehow it captivated me so much that I wanted to learn more about it.

At that time, I didn't know how to get sources for this, for I was just 7 years old, so I depended on serials as well as my mom's telling. 

Now, since I have numerous sources, I want to start my little journey of knowing and studying about my religion and sharing the same with you all.




Those who are accustomed to the Western thought process often consider Hindu Mythology a Myth or something irrational or false. 

So what is Myth? Myth is that truth that is subjective, intuitive, cultural, and grounded in faith. They are believed to be the truth seen through a frame of reference, are delusion, and are open to correction. These are the common understanding of the world that binds individuals and communities together. All Myths make profound sense to one group of people. They cannot be rationalized beyond a point, i.e., you either accept them or you don't.

Now coming to Mythology, it is the driver of Myth. It constitutes stories, symbols, and rituals that make a Myth tangible. Stories, symbols, and rituals are essentially languages- that are heard, seen, and performed. Together they construct the truth of culture.
For example, the story of independence, the symbol of the national flag, and the ritual of the national anthem reinforce the idea of a nation-state. From Myth come beliefs, from Mythology customs. Mythology influences behaviors and communication. Thus, both have a profound influence on culture.

So from where the concept of Hindu Mythology came? 
The Puranas or 'ancient lore' is an encyclopedic body of sacred literature that chronicles traditional legends of gods, demons, sages, and kings and dwells upon subjects like cosmology, theology, genealogy, and philosophy. 



Ascribed to varied sources and handed down orally for generations, they were recorded in writing roughly between 250 CE and 1500 CE, by numerous scholars who scripted and re-scripted these texts across centuries. Categorized into Mahapuranas and Upapuranas, they not only remain vital to Hindu culture but also bear testimony to the very evolution of Hindu thought. 






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