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The Mythology of India Mrs. Kercher SANSKRIT • Historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism, and Mahayana Buddhism • Sanskrit was the classical standard language of ancient India • The oldest known stage of Sanskrit is Vedic or Vedic Sanskrit, because it was the language of the Veda, the most ancient extant scriptures of Hinduism. • The Veda probably date back to about 1500 or earlier, many centuries before writing was introduced into India. Symbols Alphabet Vowels VEDIC GODS • The Vedas describe a number of deities, most of whom are personified forces of nature. • The most often mentioned are: Indra, Agni, Soma, and Varuna. – – – – Indra is the chief deity and the god of war and rain Agni is the fire of sacrifice Soma is the hallucinogenic drink of the sacrifice Varuna is associated primarily with issues of morality, guilt and forgiveness • More information can be found at: http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/vedicgods.asp AGNI A CLOSER LOOK AT AGNI • Agni took three forms: celestial as the sun, atmospheric as lightening, and terrestrial as fire. • His three spheres are the Earth, Sky, and Space. • He is priest of the gods and the god of priests, and serves as liaison between gods and men. • His fire altar was oriented toward the East, the direction of the sunrise, the ever-new beginning. • In Hindu mythology Agni was born from a lotus created by Brahman, and as the god of fire is pictured red having two faces and seven tongues to lick up the butter used in sacrifices. • The Vedic fire sacrifice was personified as Agni; the crackling of the fire, with its oblations of ghi (a kind of clarified butter), was believed to be the voice of Agni. • He is the most important of all of the Vedic deities. VARUNA A CLOSER LOOK AT VARUNA • Varuna is the genius of the waters, the regent of the ocean and the creator and preserver of the heaven and earth. • He is also the governor of the night/darkness and the lord of punishment. • Varuna is all encompassing, ocean sun, king of the universe, the supreme divinity. • In later times he became lord of the sun gods, and still later he became the god of the oceans and rivers, a position he still occupies today. The Brahmanic Deities • The Hindu Trinity – Brahma – god of creation – Vishnu – preserver of the universe – Shiva – god of destruction http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/hindu_trinity.php