HINDU MYTHOLOGY PRIMER principal figures texts and festivals

HINDU MYTHOLOGY PRIMER principal figures, texts and festivals of hindu and vedantic traditions Shikha Kaiwar Ashneel Krishna Neha Mitragotri Anish Patel South and Southeast Asian Studies 98/198 University of California, Berkeley

Today. . . 1. 2. 3. 4. Lecture – Hindu Mythology Primer Introduction – Jai Santoshi Maa Film Screening – Jai Santoshi Maa Film Discussion

Introduction Though past and modern Indian society reflects an incredible amalgam of faiths and religions, Hinduism and its practices are especially prevalent throughout Bollywood films In addition to the “mythological” subgenre, films of all persuasions often highlight typical Hindu deities, traditions, texts and festivals.

Pronunciations Linguistic rules regarding pronunciation vary slightly between Sanskrit and modern Hindi An inherent “a” is present in the written form of both languages. It is pronounced in Sanskrit, but not in Hindi Devanagari Literal Transliteration rama Pronunciation in Hindi Raama Ram ga. Nao. Sa Ganesha maha. Baarta Mahaabhaarata Ganesh

Hindu Holy Sites Allahabad – Confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, “Prayag” – Kumbh Mela Badrinath – Established by Adi Shankara – Char Dham (along with Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnath) Dwarka – Abode of Krishna – Island off the coast of Gujarat

Hindu Holy Sites Haridwar – Hindi, Hari + dwar, gateway to God – Kumbh Mela Mathura – Birthplace of Shri Krishna, near Agra – Thousands of temples to Krishna Varanasi – Situated on the banks of the Ganga, one of Hinduism’s holiest cities – Also known as Kashi, Banaras

Sects of Hinduism Vaishnavism Saivism Shaktism VISHNU SHIVA SHAKTI Ganapatya GANESH Saura SURYA

Amba • An incarnation of Devi, the mother goddess • Considered a form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva • Name means “invincible” in Sanskrit • Bears weapons of Shiva and Vishnu

Ganesh • The elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati • Considered the “remover of obstacles” • Present, in addition to Hinduism, in Jainism, Buddhism as well as in Muslim traditions of Indonesia and Southeast Asia

Ganga • Deified personification of the Ganges River • Daughter of the mountain god, Himavat, and the apsara Menaka • Sister to Parvati • As told in the Ramayan, Ganga was originally a holy river that fell to earth • Major banks at Haridwar and Varanasi

Hanuman • Son of the wind god, Vayu, and the apsara, Anjana • Played a major role in the Hindu epic of the Ramayan • A paragon of devotion • One of Hinduism’s most popular and sacred chants – the Hanuman Chalisa – is devoted to him

Krishna • An avatar of Vishnu • Played a central role in the Mahabharat. He is also the subject of the Krishna Purana and Harivamsa • His birthplace in Mathura is one of Hinduism’s most sacred cities • His love affair with Radha, a gopi from Gokul, is among the most beloved stories of Hinduism

Lakshmi • The Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity • The consort of Vishnu, incarnates as Sita (Ramayan) and Radha and Rukhmini (Mahabharat) • Worshipped during the festival of Diwali (Deepavali) • Associated with the lotus and great regality

Narad Muni • Divine sage, referred to in many texts, principally the Bhagavat Puran and Ramayan • Cursed by his brother to forever wander, often causes mischief and stirs up trouble • Carries a vina, using which he sings songs praising his lord Vishnu

Parvati • Second consort* of Shiva, mother of Ganesh and Karttikey • Connected with fearful forms Durga, Bhadrakali and Bhairavi • Worshipped during the festival of Navratri • Ironically, known as both Gauri (light) and Kali (dark)

Radha • A cowherdress of Gokul, and the childhood sweetheart of Krishna • Considered to be an avatar of Lakshmi • Referred to in the Mahabharat and Bhagavat Purana • Despite being married to queens Rukhmini and Satyabhama, Krishna is always depicted beside Radha

Ram • An avatar of Vishnu, whose story is told in the Ramayan • His birthplace in Ayodhya is one of Hinduism’s most sacred sites (Bombay) • Often referred to as the Maryada Purushottam, Sanskrit for “perfect man”

Saraswati • The Hindu goddess of music and knowledge • Consort of the creator god, Brahma • Associated with the lotus, the swan and the sitar • Much simpler in representation than Lakshmi • “Lakshmi and Saraswati will never live in the same house”

Shiva • One of three principles deities of the Hindu tradition • Consort of Parvati, father to Ganesh and Karttikey • Also attributed with the dance, and known as Nataraj in his dancing form • Abode on Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas

Sita • Consort of Ram, and an avatar of the goddess Lakshmi • Kidnapped by the demon king of Lanka, Ravan and held captive • Underwent an “agnipariksha” as a test of purity • Also known as Janaki (daughter of Janak) and Maithili (princess of Mithila)

Vishnu • One of the three members of the Trimurti, the “preserver” • Depicted in great regality, as a king, • Incarnates numerous times to save the world from destruction, dasavatara • Considered the supreme god • Om Jai Jagadish Hare

Surya • Vedic India was home to a pantheon of deities associated with the elements, as told in the Rig Veda • Surya • Vayu • Indra • Agni • Kuber • Uma • Prithvi

Mahabharat • Ved Vyasa • The story of a civil war between the Pandavas and Kauravas • Contains the Bhagavad Gita • Serialized by B. R. Chopra, brother of Bollywood director Yash Chopra

Ramayan • Valmiki, Tulsidas • Tells the story of exile of Shri Ram, the crown prince of Ayodhya, and his defeat of the demon king Ravan • Ramchitramanas

Bhagavad Gita • One of Hinduism’s holiest and most revered texts • A philosophical discourse on dharma between Krishna and Arjun • Used as the equivalent of the Bible in Indian courts

The Vedas • Four parts – Rig – Yajur – Sama – Atharva • “Shruti, ” heard • Considered of divine origin

Ganesh Chaturthi • Birthday of Lord Ganesh • During Hindu month of bhadrapada • Most elaborate in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Diwali • Deepavali • Hindu festival of lights • Associated with the goddess Lakshmi • Celebrates the return of Shri Ram to Ayodhya from his 14 -year exile • Hindu New Year

Holi • Festival of colors • Bonfires are lit representing the burning of Holika • Dhuleti is the spraying of colors • Thandai, bhang

Karva Chauth • A fast held by married women during the Hindu month of Kartik • Ensures prosperity, longevity and wellbeing of husbands

Kumbh Mela • Hindu pilgrimage that occurs four times every twelve years, among four locations: Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik • The largest single gathering of people in the world • Drops of amrita

Janmasthami • Celebration of the birth of Krishna • Celebrated with particular pomp in west India (Gujarat, Maharashtra), Mathura

Navratri • Nine nights of celebration and worship of the goddess • Some sects consider the nine days divided between Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati • Others attribute each day to a form of the goddess • Garba raas

Raksha Bandhan • Literally, the bond of protection • A festival celebrating relationship between brothers and sisters’ • Marked by sisters tying a rakhi on their brothers’ wrist • Originated between Mughal emperor Humayun and Rani Karnavati of Chitchor

Jai Santoshi Maa Director Vijay Sharma Music C. Arjun Santoshi Maa Satyavati Birju Anita Guha Kanan Kaushal Ashish Kumar