Hinduism

Diversity of Narratives

The collection of Hindu narratives is vast. No single text contains all major mythologies and narratives. Many stories come from texts such as the Vedas, the great epics and devotional poetry. There are also myths about regional deities recorded in local texts. Hindu narratives tend to focus on gods and goddesses, genealogies, the concept of duty, ethical dilemmas, the creation, maintenance and destruction of the cosmos, and the struggle between chaos and order.

Rāmāyaṇa

The Rāmāyaṇa is one of the great epics of Sanskrit literature. The narrative details the life of Prince Rāma, who undergoes a 14-year exile that begins on the day of his coronation as king of Ayodhyā. The story then follows the abduction and rescue of his wife Sītā, and Rāma’s triumphant return to his rightful place as king. A mixture of myths, theology and ethics are interwoven into the narratives.

The narrative is one of the most well-known and widely disseminated throughout South, Southeast and East Asia. Popular gods and figures such as Rāma, Sītā and the monkey army commander Hanumān continue to be commemorated and venerated today. The Rāmāyaṇa is also a source of inspiration for particular celebrations and festivities. For example, the Festival of Lights (Divālī) celebrates, among other things, Rāma's return and coronation as king.

Mahābhārata

The Mahābhārata is one of the great epics of Sanskrit literature. The narrative tells the tale of jealousy and rivalry between the Pāndavas and the Kauravas, who are related as paternal cousins. Each party claims to be the rightful rulers of Kurukṣetra region. Their conflict culminates into a massive war eventually won by the Pāndava brothers. The main themes in the Mahābhārata are issues of kingship, kinship, loyalty, duty, ethics and theology. Many well-loved stories from the Mahābhārata have been rewritten in vernacular languages and expressed through countless dramatic performances, art and music.

Bhagavad Gītā

One section of the Mahābhārata that is particularly influential is the Bhagavad Gītā (‘Song of the Blessed’). In this section, the skilled warrior and Pāndava brother Arjuna throws his cherished weapon on the ground and refuses to fight in the war over Kurukṣetra. His guide and charioteer Krishna (known as Kṛṣṇa in Sanskrit) counsels Arjuna. This dialogue between the hesitant warrior Arjuna and Lord Krishna is the bulk of the narrative, discussing concepts such as reality, one’s duty according to their caste, the nature of violence, and various paths (‘mārga’) towards salvation.

Gods and Goddesses

In Hinduism, there are many stories related to various gods and goddesses. These stories are usually drawn from ‘remembered’ (smṛti) texts such as the Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata, the Purāṇas and devotional poetry. Each deity in the Hindu pantheon has an elaborate and detailed mythology. These stories are widespread, with people from all ages often able to recount some, if not many, of the narratives.

Trimūrti

In Hindu mythology, the ‘trimūrti’ (‘three forms') are the three male gods considered to be at the head of a hierarchy in the Hindu pantheon. Each god (Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva) has their own narratives that are often interconnected. The trimūrti are primarily known as the creator, sustainer and destroyer in the cycle of the universe. Iconographically, each god carries numerous objects that symbolise some of their abilities and functions. Each god also has a goddess consort.

• Brahmā: According to popular narratives, Brahmā’s function is to create a new universe when the previous universe has been dissolved. He is usually depicted with four heads and four arms. Sarasvatī (the goddess of knowledge, learning and music) is Brahmā’s female companion. She is portrayed either as his consort, daughter or granddaughter. Their vehicle is a goose, although it is often depicted as a swan.
• Viṣṇu: Viṣṇu (commonly spelt as Vishnu) is the god responsible for sustaining the created universe. He is said to have ten incarnations (including Rāma, Krishna and the Buddha). As the sustainer of the universe, Vishnu returns to the earth during troubled times to restore balance and order. Vishnu is typically depicted with blue-coloured skin and four arms. His female consort is Lakṣmī, the goddess of prosperity and well-being. Their vehicle is a garuda, a mythical creature with the body of a man and the beak and claws of a bird.
• Śiva: Śiva (commonly spelt as Shiva) is usually known for his function as the dissolver or destroyer of the universe before the next universe in the endless cycle of time. Śiva tends to be depicted in two forms, as a human and aniconically as a liṅga. In his human form, Śiva is depicted with four arms and matted hair that spouts a stream of water from the top, representing the Gaṅgā River. Śiva is also generally considered to be the original practitioner of yoga. When Śiva is not undertaking his role as the destroyer, he is depicted in meditation. His female consort is Parvatī, the goddess of fertility and love. Śiva’s vehicle is Nandi, who is usually depicted as a humped bull.

Śakti

Śakti (also spelt Shakti) is sometimes known as Devī meaning ‘Goddess’ or Mahādevī meaning ‘Great Goddess’. Śakti refers to the concept of divine female creative energy, which manifests in goddesses. Śakti is known under a wide variety of names or representations. She is typically either depicted as benevolent (such as Lakṣmī and Parvatī) or fierce (such as Kālī or Durgā). The mythology of Śakti and her various manifestations is extensive. Such narratives are generally found in the Purāṇas.

Krishna

Krishna (Kṛṣṇa in Sanskrit) is one of the major gods in the Hindu pantheon and is often considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu. He has an extensive mythology, spanning across different texts in different languages. Some of his most distinctive stories include his exploits as a child and flute-playing youth, his mutual romantic love with Rādhā, his identification with Vishnu, and his major role in the Bhagavad Gītā. In all his depictions, he remains an immensely popular figure.