Throughout its lengthy evolution, Hinduism has embraced numerous symbolic elements that play a significant role in its imagery, drawing their spiritual meanings from ancient scriptures or cultural customs. The importance given to these icons can vary based on the region, era, and specific sects of believers. Symbols like the Swastika have gained broader recognition over …
21 Essential Hindu Symbols (& the Stories Behind Them) Read More »
Opposed to the beneficent gods of Hindu mythology, the Devas and Suras, is a body of malevolent beings called by various designations. Asura is throughout the Hindu Vedic literature the name of the celestial demons who are regarded as the regular adversaries of the gods in their mythical conflicts and who only rarely appear as …
The meaning of Vidya Vidya is a Sanskrit term that is translated as knowledge, and is closely related with another Sanskrit word “jnana”. Most Hindu religious and philosophical traditions distinguish between two types of knowledge. The lower knowledge is informational, derived from study of texts or hearing of teachings; while it is useful, perhaps even …
Essentials of Vidya & Avidya: Hindu Knowledge and Ignorance Read More »
Aniruddha was the son of Pradyumna, himself the child of the Hindu gods Krishna and Rukmini. In Hindu mythology, he is usually seen as an avatar or form of Vishnu. The story of Aniruddha is that he married Asura Baza’s daughter Usha under strange circumstances. The story is a long one extending over twelve Adhyayas.
Apsaras are the dancing girls of Indra’s court. They rose from the milk ocean when it was churned, and are of resplendent and celestial forms. However, the Apasarases did not undergo purification and hence no god could wed them. So they became women of easy virtue and dwelt among the Gandharvas (Hindu class of mythological …
Apsaras: Hindu Mythology Fairies (Portrait, Origins, Roles) Read More »
The Hindu sage Atri took as wife Anasuya (or Anusuya), a name meaning the divine quality of Free-from-envy. She was so vigorous an ascetic, and producer of miracles, that she irrigated earth with the Ganges in drought and on another occasion “made ten nights one” because her friend was cursed to “become a widow tomorrow” …
Everything about Anasuya: Mythological Hindu Wife of Atri Read More »
Airavata is Hindu mythological king of elephants, produced from the churning of the ocean, and taken by Indra, who subsequently rode on Airavata in war and wherever he went. The name has been derived from Iravat “watery” and supposed to allude to the north, as the quarter whence rain comes, or to the original idea …
All about Airavata: Hindu Mythological Father of Elephants Read More »
Aditi has the honour of being almost the only goddess mentioned by name in the Rig-Veda (Hindu religious & mythological text), as the mother of any of the gods; but it is by no means an easy task to delineate her character, as the most contradictory statements are made concerning her. She was invoked as …