Indian Pantheons: Crash Course World Mythology #8

Summary

In this episode of CrashCourse Mythology, Mike Rugnetta delves into the intricate pantheon of Indian mythology, highlighting key gods and stories. He explores figures like Indra, Vishnu, and Shiva, while touching on the deeper, philosophical concept of Brahman. The script also introduces Hinduism's trimurti and various avatars, notably Vishnu's avatars and the goddess Durga's fierce battle with the buffalo demon Mahisha. The episode emphasizes the complexity and depth of Indian myths, still deeply connected to the beliefs of over a billion people today.

Takeaways

• 😄 The Indian pantheon is complex, featuring gods with multiple forms and numerous stories across different languages and time periods.
• 🌏 Unlike other mythologies, Indian myths are part of a living belief system for about a billion people today, which makes discussing them more delicate.
• ☀️ Early deities like Dyaus (sky father) and Prithvi (earth mother) were eventually overshadowed by gods like Surya (sun god), Agni (fire god), and Indra (warrior god).
• ⚡ Indra, though powerful, is a flawed character with stories of oath-breaking and family conflict, and he wields a thunderbolt similar to Zeus.
• 🌌 The concept of Brahman, an all-encompassing essence of reality, evolved from Prajapati in the Vedas and represents the supreme cosmic spirit in Hinduism.
• 🌳 Brahman is embodied in the Trimurti—Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer), representing different aspects of creation and existence.
• 🦁 Vishnu’s avatars, like the fish Matsya, dwarf Vamana, and Krishna, protect the world from evil and are central to Hindu myths.
• 🔥 Shiva, known for destruction, yoga, and love, is also associated with the symbolic linga and depicted in the famous pose as the lord of the dance.
• 💃 Female deities like Parvati, Lakshmi, and Durga play vital roles, often complementing their husbands' powers, with Durga defeating demons like Mahisha.
• 🌀 Indian mythology is complex and interconnected, with gods taking many forms, often being versions of each other or embodying universal concepts like Brahman.

Q & A

What makes discussing Indian mythology tricky, according to the script?

Discussing Indian mythology is tricky for two reasons: it remains a living belief system for about a billion people, and there are many ancient and abundant religious and mythic traditions, with different sets of gods and multiple versions of stories.

How does Indian mythology compare to Egyptian mythology in terms of complexity?

Indian mythology is seen as more complex than Egyptian mythology due to India's many different languages and the varying versions of its stories. While Egypt had different sets of gods, India has even more variation, and its myths continue to be part of an active belief system.

Who were Dyaus and Prithvi in early Indian traditions?

In early Indian traditions, Dyaus was the sky father, and Prithvi was the earth mother. They were central figures in the mythology before being supplanted by other gods like Indra, the warrior king of the gods.

What was the significance of Indra in Indian mythology?

Indra was a warrior king of the gods, associated with thunderbolts and rain. He played a central role in stories like his battle with Vritra, a giant serpent or dragon, whose defeat created the sun, dawn, and sky. However, Indra was also flawed, committing acts like oath-breaking and adultery.

How does the concept of Brahman differ from traditional gods in Indian mythology?

Brahman is not a personal god but rather the all-encompassing essence of reality or the supreme cosmic spirit, making it more abstract than traditional gods. It is sometimes referred to as the 'world soul,' representing a universal, impersonal force.

What is the 'Trimurti' in Hindu mythology?

The Trimurti refers to the three key deities that embody aspects of Brahman: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. These gods represent the cyclical nature of existence in Hinduism, though Brahma's importance diminished over time compared to Vishnu and Shiva.

Why did Brahma's significance decline in comparison to Vishnu and Shiva?

Brahma's significance declined because once the universe was created, his role was considered complete. In contrast, Vishnu and Shiva remained central to ongoing stories and devotional practices. Popular religion in India often favored more personal and involved deities.

What are avatars in Indian mythology, and why are they important?

Avatars are the human or animal forms that gods, particularly Vishnu, take to protect the world from evil. These forms, such as Rama, Krishna, and the Buddha, are central to many important myths, each serving a specific purpose in restoring balance to the world.

What is the symbolic meaning of Shiva's dance?

Shiva's dance represents the balance between creation and destruction, and his steps are meant to enlighten devotees. In one of his iconic forms, Shiva dances on the back of a dwarf symbolizing ignorance, while holding symbols of creation (drum) and destruction (flame), signifying his power over both aspects of existence.

Who is Durga, and what is one of her key stories?

Durga is a powerful goddess associated with invincibility and warrior strength. One of her key stories involves her defeating the buffalo demon Mahisha, who terrorized the gods. She fought him as he transformed between different forms, finally beheading him in battle.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Introducing the Complex Indian Pantheon

Mike Rugnetta introduces the topic of Indian mythology, describing its complexity compared to other mythologies like Egypt’s. He points out the tricky balance in discussing a living belief system that holds religious significance for many today. The introduction humorously mentions the variety of gods in the Indian pantheon, including dancing dwarves, buffalo demons, and multi-armed figures, and teases the episode's challenge of respectfully exploring these stories.

05:03

🌍 The Diversity and Evolution of Indian Myths

Indian mythology is diverse and ancient, with stories spanning multiple languages and regions. The episode focuses on myths written in Sanskrit, the sacred language of Hinduism, and introduces early deities like Dyaus (sky father) and Prithvi (earth mother). Indra, the warrior king, later supplants other gods, battling figures like Vritra, a serpent whose death creates the sun, sky, and chaos. Indra’s complex character is explored, including both his heroic battles and controversial moral choices.

10:10

⚡ The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

This section explores the 'trimurti,' the trio of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer) as aspects of Brahman, the all-encompassing cosmic spirit. Brahma’s declining importance is contrasted with Vishnu and Shiva’s prominence. Vishnu’s role as protector and his many avatars, such as Rama, Krishna, and the Buddha, are discussed. Meanwhile, Shiva’s association with destruction, asceticism, and eroticism is highlighted, along with his symbolic form as the lord of dance.

🦁 Durga and the Buffalo Demon

The final part focuses on the goddess Durga, also known as Kali, who is powerful and invincible in battle. She rides a lion and defeats the buffalo demon Mahisha, a significant myth in Indian tradition. The vivid description of Durga’s battle against Mahisha, where he shapeshifts between various forms, showcases her strength and determination. The story culminates in Durga’s triumph, symbolizing her role as a fierce protector.

🌟 Conclusion: The Richness and Complexity of Indian Myths

Mike concludes by acknowledging the vastness and complexity of Indian mythology, emphasizing how it is intertwined with the living beliefs of many people today. The intricate relationships between gods, their multiple forms, and their significance make Hindu mythology a rich yet challenging subject to explore. The episode ends on a note of appreciation for the web of interconnected myths that continue to shape the worldview of a billion people.

Keywords

💡Pantheon

A pantheon refers to the complete set of gods and deities in a particular mythological or religious tradition. In the video, Mike discusses the Indian pantheon, highlighting the diversity of gods like Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, each with different roles, powers, and stories.

💡Sanskrit

Sanskrit is an ancient and sacred language in Hinduism, first appearing in written form around 150 CE. It serves as the medium for many of the religious and mythological stories in Indian tradition. The script emphasizes the complexity of Sanskrit poetry, which may sound unfamiliar to English speakers.

💡Trimurti

The Trimurti is the trio of major Hindu deities: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. These gods personify different aspects of the supreme cosmic spirit, Brahman. The video discusses how each god plays a significant role, with Vishnu and Shiva being the most prominent figures in the myths.

💡Brahman

Brahman is a concept in Hindu philosophy referring to the ultimate, all-encompassing reality or cosmic spirit. It is not a personal god, but the essence that connects all things. The script relates Brahman to the more anthropomorphic gods, particularly as the source of the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva).

💡Avatar

An avatar in Hindu mythology is the earthly incarnation of a deity. Vishnu is famous for his avatars, such as Rama and Krishna. These avatars appear to restore order or defeat evil, and they are central to the epic stories discussed in the video, like the Mahabharata.

💡Indra

Indra is a powerful warrior king of the gods, known for his battles with demons and his thunderbolt weapon, similar to Zeus in Greek mythology. The video highlights his complex role in Indian myths, from his creation of the sky to his morally questionable actions, including infidelity and deceit.

💡Durga

Durga is a warrior goddess who is invincible in battle and famously rides a lion. In the video, her myth involves slaying the buffalo demon Mahisha, showcasing her strength and unapproachability. Durga also represents a powerful aspect of the goddess Devi, embodying both destruction and protection.

💡Mahisha

Mahisha, the buffalo demon, is a significant antagonist in Indian mythology. In the story recounted in the video, he conquers the gods, only to be defeated by the warrior goddess Durga in a dramatic battle where Mahisha shifts between multiple forms before ultimately being slain.

💡Creation Myths

Creation myths in Indian mythology, as discussed in the video, often involve violent struggles between gods and demons. One example is Indra’s defeat of the serpent Vritra, which leads to the creation of the sun and sky. These myths explore how the cosmos came to be through divine battles.

💡Vedas

The Vedas are the oldest and most sacred scriptures in Hinduism, composed in Sanskrit. They contain hymns, rituals, and mythological accounts, including early depictions of gods like Indra and Prajapati. The video refers to the Vedas as a primary source of Indian mythological stories.

Highlights

Introduction to Indian pantheon with mentions of dancing dwarves, buffalo demons, and many-armed figures.

The complexity of Indian mythology is highlighted due to its deep roots in a living belief system followed by about a billion people.

Comparison of Indian myths with Egyptian myths, noting the diverse linguistic and regional variations in Indian mythology.

Sanskrit is identified as the sacred language of Hinduism, with its first written form appearing around 150 CE.

Early Indian traditions feature Dyaus the sky father and Prithvi the earth mother, later replaced by Surya the sun god, Agni the fire god, and Indra the warrior king.

Indra's famous myth involves the battle with Vritra, a serpent or dragon, resulting in the creation of the sun, dawn, and sky.

The concept of Brahman as an all-encompassing essence of reality, a shift from a creator god like Prajapati to a more philosophical and abstract idea.

Introduction to the Trimurti, the trio of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer), representing different aspects of Brahman.

Brahma's significance declines over time, as he is seen less involved in myths compared to Vishnu and Shiva, who have more dynamic roles.

Vishnu's avatars are introduced, highlighting key incarnations like Rama, Krishna, and the Buddha, as well as the future avatar Kalkin.

Shiva, the destroyer, is associated with asceticism, erotic love, and yoga, embodying contradictory yet powerful characteristics.

Durga, a powerful warrior goddess, is noted for her invincibility in battle and her symbolic lion mount, making her an iconic figure in Indian mythology.

Durga's battle with the buffalo demon Mahisha, where she uses multiple forms to defeat him in a series of harrowing transformations.

The complexity of Hindu mythology is emphasized, noting the interplay between gods, their forms, and their representation of universal concepts.

The discussion highlights how these myths are living traditions, unlike Egyptian myths, which are more historical and symbolic.

Transcripts

Hey there, I’m Mike Rugnetta and this is Crashcourse mythology.

Today, we’re going to tackle one of the most difficult and fascinating pantheons in

all of mythology.

It’s got dancing dwarves, buffalo demons, and some many armed folks.

Yessir there’s a lot going on in this pantheon!

Maybe even more than in the Egyptian pantheon.

Sorry Thoth.

In this episode, we’ll talk about the pantheon of deities in Indian myths.

Unlike myths from Egypt and the Ancient Near East, there are living people for whom these

stories have deep, personal, religious meaning.

Remember how it got a little uncomfortable when we discussed the Bible’s creation story?

Well, it’s gonna be a bit like that.

But we’re gonna try to minimize the awkwardness.

Just ask--wait, there’s no god of awkwardness?!

Ruh roh.

INTRO

Discussing the Indian pantheon is tricky for two reasons: first because it remains a living

belief system for about a billion people.

And second because Indian religious and mythic traditions are not only abundant but also

ancient.

As in Egypt, there are different sets of gods and goddesses that were worshipped at different

points in time.

But unlike Egypt, India was and is home to many different languages, which means we have

a lot of different stories, each with many different versions.

We are going to focus mostly on stories that have been written in Sanskrit, the sacred

language of Hinduism.

Sanskrit first appears in written form around 150 CE in a series of rock inscriptions that

look much more complex than what I’ve inscribed on rocks.

This probably doesn’t say “Parvati wuz here!

Vishnu + Lakshmi 5eva.”

Let’s remember that Sanskrit is a complex language and its poetry may sound unusual

to English ears.

But we can handle it.

Lead the way, Bragi, Norse God of poetry.

In the earliest Indian traditions, Dyaus the sky father, and Prithvi the earth mother were

central.

Hey, sky dad and earth mom!

Nice to see you over here, too!

Do you mind if I drop off some cosmic laundry?

Later, however, Surya the sun god, Agni the fire god and Indra the warrior king of the

gods took top God Billing from mom and dad, who were arguing all the time!

Sky dad, earth mom, knock it off!

Just stop the fighting!

We can all get along.

Indra was the child of the sky and the earth, and was responsible for keeping them separate,

but had his own beef with another god, Varuna, who may once have been the ruler of the gods,

but was supplanted by Indra.

Hey, even god’s got beef, right?

Wonder if one of them recorded a diss track...

Anyway, the most well-known myth about Indra is about his battle with Vritra, a giant serpent

or dragon, whom Indra kills, thus creating the sun, the dawn, and they sky.

(Yeah, I know – you thought we had sky covered but, mythology is tricky.)

The death of Vritra also gave form to chaos.

Which is nice.

So yup, it’s our old friend the creation story, but with violence instead of sex.

In a number of stories, Indra is described as battling and destroying hostile minor deities

and demons.

I mean, someone has to, right?

And so maybe, you’re thinking yay, Indra.

He fights the good fight.

But… he also breaks oaths,kills family members and commits adultery with Ahalya, the wife

of the sage Gvautama.

For which he lost his testicles.

Cherries emoji.

Scissors emoji.

Face Screaming in emoji.

But hey wait, it’s OK. in another myth he has them replaced with those of a ram.

Emoji.

So...um...guess that worked out.

Indra’s weapon of choice is a thunderbolt, similar to Zeus, and by India’s classical

age he becomes a god of rain.

And this changing function over time is generally emblematic of Indian myth.

Like the Egyptian pantheon, it’s difficult to pin down one canonical set of myths or

characters because they appear in so many forms, often with multiple names.

Here’s another version of how things get going: In the Vedas, which are the most ancient

Hindu scriptures, Prajapati was the creator god, but over time, and especially in the

Upanishads, another collection of important Sanskrit texts, the less anthropomorphic concept

of Brahman developed.

Brahman isn’t a GOD so much as the all-encompassing essence of reality, the supreme cosmic spirit.

Pretty cool, right Thoth?

It’s not something you can easily represent on a sandstone relief, but then again it’s

not that dissimilar from “god” in monotheistic religious traditions.

Brahman has sometimes been translated as the “world soul” and all individual souls

are one with it.

Don’t get too comfortable, though, because Brahman, in later classical Hindu mythology

and religion, is embodied and personified as three deities: Brahma, the creator, Vishnu,

the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer.

They are all distinct, with their own stories, and yet also represent aspects of the more

esoteric and universal idea of Brahman.

This triumvirate?

Trifecta?

Divine Hat Trick?

Hindus call it the trimurti and Vishnu and Shiva loom largest in Indian myths.

So then, why is Brahma third banana?

Well, once the universe is created, the work of the creator is done.

True, The concept of cyclical existence is central to the Hindu and Buddhist worldview,

so you’d think a creator would be considered among the most important gods.

Still, Brahma’s significance declined in comparison with that of Vishnu and Shiva,

perhaps because, according to John Brockington: Essentially he is a fusion of a creator deity

with the impersonal Brahman propounded in the Upanishads, which see the goal of religious

endeavor as some kind of union with the absolute, whereas the popular forms of religion attested

to in the epics prefer a more personal and devotional approach.

In other words, Brahma doesn’t really get involved in the juicy stuff-- battles and

quests and adultery.

So let’s turn to Vishnu, the preserver.

Stories of Vishnu often involve his consort Shri, also called Lakshmi, a goddess of prosperity

and good fortune, which is pretty terrific as dowries go.

Vishnu protects the world from evil, and he often appears in different forms called “avatars”.

Avatars are the human or animal form of a god on earth and they are very, very rad.

By the classical period, Vishnu had 10 or so avatars:

Matsya, the fish, who we’ll hear more about when we talk about floods

Kurma the tortoise, who played a role similar to the tortoise in the earth diver myth that

we saw Varaha, the boar who is a boar and does boar

stuff Narasimha the man-lion who kills the demon

Hiranyakashipu Vamana, the dwarf who defeats the demon Bai

through trickery Parashurama who kills the hundred-armed Arjuna

with an ax and probably has amazing biceps Rama and

Krishna who are central to the Mahabaratha, one of the great Sanskrit epics

The Buddha who is the Buddha.

You know.

From Buddhism.

Kalkin who is a future avatar and a millennial figure that will establish a new era.

But not like, a millennial millennial.

Kalkin is not on Snapchat.

Shiva, the destroyer, had his origins in the Vedic era as a storm god who was a “wrathful

avenger” and a “herdsman of souls,” which definitely sounds trickier than sheep.

Shiva is also associated with yoga, asceticism and erotic love.

Which definitely sounds contradictory.

Or maybe just flexible.

This erotic aspect manifests most concretely in Shiva’s symbolic form as a linga, which

is self-explanatory if you look at it, and might explain why Shiva has numerous female

deities as either wives or consorts, including Sati and Parvati, and sometimes Durga and

Kali.

Basically, Shiva has game.

One of the best known images of Shiva is his depiction asl the lord of the dance–no,

definitely not, yes.

According to one scholar: “His steps are intended to relieve by enlightenment

the suffrage of his devotees: hence he balances on the back of a dwarf who symbolizes ignorance.

His gestures and the attributes he is holding symbolize aspects of his divinity; the drum

in his back right hand [symbolizes creation], the tongue of flame in his back left hand

[symbolizes destruction], the gesture of protection [of his front right hand symbolizes] protection

and his raised leg symboliz[es] release.”

Has Michael Flatley ever balanced on the back of a dwarf?

I rest my case.

Now we’ve spent most of the episode discussing the three key gods of the trimurti and their

amazing dance moves, but Indian pantheons feature goddesses, too, who usually have qualities

that complement their husband’s powers.

I mentioned Parvati and Uma and Sati, the wives of Shiva, and Laskshmi, who is married

to Vishnu.

But other traditions describe the goddess Devi, which translates to “goddess” or

Mahadevi, the great goddess, who is occasionally associated with these other consorts and sometimes

seen as a world creator in her own right.

In some traditions Devi is essentially the same as Brahman.

Like many of the deities we discuss, Devi can be many things to many people.

We haven’t seen too many female warrior goddesses yet.

So let’s wrap up with a story that features one: Durga, also known as Kali, who is unapproachable

to her suitors and invincible in battle.

Also she rides a lion.

So clearly - no one is cool enough to date her.

Thoughtbubble, do your thing.

One of the main stories about Durga is that of her killing the buffalo demon Mahisha.

Mahisha conquered the other lesser gods, the Devas, and then the Devas went to Vishnu and

Shiva for help, who listened and grew angry.

And you wouldn’t like Vishnu and Shiva when they’re angry, because their anger takes

the form of Durga, who confronted Mahisha and the other demons.

“The demons rushed towards the goddess who killed them in hundreds, felling some with

her club, catching others in her noose, slicing others with her sword, and piercing others

with her trident.

Meanwhile, Mahisha himself, in buffalo form, terrorized her troops.

Then he attacked her lion, and Durga became furious.

She caught him in her noose, whereupon he quitted his buffalo shape and became a lion

himself.

She cut off its head and he emerged as a man, sword in hand.

As she pierced the man, he became a great elephant, seizing her lion with its trunk,

but she cut off his trunk with her sword as he resumed his buffalo form.

Lightly tossing aside the mountains he hurled at her, she leaped on him, pinned his neck

with one foot and pierced him with her trident.

Then she cut off his head with her mighty sword.”

Thanks, Thoughtbubble, that was... harrowing?

I guess it’s always the second beheading that sticks.

CONCLUSION This episode could only scratch the surface

of the complexity of Indian mythology.

Not only does it come from so many sources, but for many people these are living myths,

unlike the deeds of Egyptian gods that we saw last week.

These stories are complex because people associate one god with one or two attributes or phenomena,

like wisdom or storms.

And these gods take many forms and are often seen as versions of each other, or maybe of

a single universal god.

Hinduism is a fascinating religion and a rich source of myths, but it’s also quite the

web.

Emoji.

Thanks for watching. We'll see you next week.