Epics in Imprints-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY 8/11
R.N.DANDEKAR
Mythology is very aptly described as the
language of the primitive. If philosophy
attempts to discover the ultimate truth,
mythology must be said to represent the
human effort to attain at least to the
penultimate truth, of which all experience
is the temporal reflection. It is possible to
psycho-analyze a people by means of a
critical study of its Mythology. Through
their numerous legends of Cosmogony, of
gods, and of heroes, the Indians have given
expression fuller and finer than any other
people in the world—to their beliefs, ideals
and traditions.
a) Early Vedic Mythology has religion,
mythology and magic inextricably
interlaced. Asura-Varuna, Indra,
Soma, Maruts, Asvins, Agni, Solar
Divinities, Vishnu, Mitra Savitru,
Yama, Rudra, Gandharvas and
Apsaras, and Mythical sages such
as Manu, Angiras and Bhrgu belong
to this period.
b) Vedic religion, Brahmanas and
Upanishad have their own
mythologies, some of them at least
are historical and biographical e.g.
Harischandra and Sunahsepa,
Indra, Virocana, King Janaka,
Maitreyi, Katyayani, and
Yagnavalkya, figure in the
upanishadic Mythology. Taking
advantage of the favourable
conditions already created by the
Upanishads, through their nonacceptance
of the absolute validity
of the Vedas, non-Vedic religious
systems, such as Buddhism and
Janinism quickly spread. They
adopted from Vedic Mythology,
Brahmanic ritualism and
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Upanishadic spiritualism, whatever
was beneficial to them.
c) In the post-Upanishadic period,
popular Hindu Mythology, the
Krishna Religion of Western and
Central India is very important.
Emergence of Vishnu, Shiva, and
Devi as principal deities
worshipped, Bhakti as the means
of attaining God, a greater
emphasis on ethical teachings than
on metaphysical speculations,
mark this period. A life of activism
was specifically recommended as
against renunciation Loka
Sangraha, or social solidarity rather
than individual emancipation was
recognized as the goal of life and
synthesis rather than scholastic
dogmatism was made the watch
word of progress is the field of
knowledge.
d) In the later period, the
Mahabharata attained its present
form, with Krishna being identified
with Vishnu as an avatara; Vishnu,
Siva and Brahma, the trimurtis
came to be recognized as the most
important deities. The concept of
avatara, manvantara, yuga, and the
rise of female divinities marked this
period
(Extracted from the Culture Heritage of
India Vol.II The RKM Institute of Culture,
Calcutta 1893)