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"Circa 3230 BCE! Dwapar Yug, the end of the Third Age after Satya Yug and Treta Yug, described in the Purans! It was midnight on Ashtami Tithi in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapad, corresponding to August of the Gregorian calendar. After six of the darkest nights in seven years when all of his six brothers were killed soon after their birth, there came another such night. Entire Mathura mourned with winds howling and dusk giving way to an appalling rainy night. Nature seemed to enlighten one and all about the birth of the eighth child specified in the prophecy. And a God was born on earth as a mortal. Because the rising evil had to be suppressed! He was Krishn. The seventh fetus was transferred to its step-mother’s womb at three months. This fetus, after completion of the gestation period, was born as the elder brother of the God. The incarnation of Sheshnag, the king of all serpents and serpent deities, became the brother of the incarnation of Vishnu! Fourteen years of twists and turns, one after another, in the life of Krishn! Who were his friends? What games did he play? How did he grow up? When did he start playing the flute? Who was his teacher? How did he become a hero by the time he became a teenager? Did he commandeer an army in the battlefield at fourteen? Who was Radha? Who was she married to? Krishn awaits you…"
The great myths of the world create meaning out of the fundamental events of human existence: birth, death, conflict, loss, reconciliation, the cycle of the seasons. They speak to us of life itself in voices still intelligible, yet compellingly strange and distant. World Mythology offers readers an authoritative and wide-ranging guide to these enduring mythological traditions, combining the pure narrative of the myths themselves with the background necessary for more complete understanding. Here, noted mythology expert Roy Willis, brings together a team of nineteen leading scholars navigate a clear path through the complexities of myth as they distill the essence of each regional tradition and focus on the most significant figures and the most enthralling stories. All aspects of the world's key mythologies are covered, from tales of warring deities and demons to stories of revenge and metamorphosis; from accounts of lustful gods and star-crossed human lovers to journeys in the underworld. All are told at length and are accompanied by illuminating and readable introductory text. Also included are summaries of important theories about the origins and meaning of myth, and an examination of themes that recur across a range of civilizations. Beautifully illustrated with more than 500 color photographs, works of art, charts, and maps, World Mythology offers readers the most accessible guide yet to the heritage of the world's imagination.
Animish belongs to the ashram of a mysterious Master in the forest of Naimisha whose antecedents, ideologies, and even name are shrouded in secrecy. When he visits the city of Mathura, along with his friend Asareer, he hears a voice from the skies warning the antagonist, Kamsa, that his nemesis would be born to his dear sister Devaki who was just married to the Yadava prince, Vasudeva. The mysterious voice claims itself as 'Akashvani', the celestial voice that can see the events of the past, the present, and the future. While everybody believes the foreboding, Animish is the only one to think he knows the truth. Set in the period B.K. 10, a decade before Krishna was born, this sets Animish in the lifelong quest of following Shri Krishna and the truth. The story of Animish runs parallel to the story of Shri Krishna and Pandavas and Kauravas.
Animals in Religion explores the role of animals within a wide range of religious traditions. Exploring countless stories and myths passed down orally and in many religious texts, Barbara Allen—herself a practicing minister—offers a fascinating history of the ways animals have figured in our spiritual lives, whether they have been Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or any number of lesser-known religions. Some of the figures here will be familiar, such as St. Francis of Assisi, famous for his accord with animals, or that beloved remover of obstacles, Ganesha, the popular elephant god in the Hindu pantheon. Delving deeper, Allen highlights the numerous ways that our religious practices have honored and relied upon our animal brethren. She examines the principle of ahimsa, or nonviolence, which has Jains sweeping the pathways before them so as not to kill any insects, as well as the similar principle in Judaism of ts’ar ba’alei chayim and the notion in some sects of Islam that all living creatures are Muslim. From ancient Egypt to the Druids to the indigenous cultures of North America and Australia, Allen tells story after story that emphasizes the same message: all species are spiritually connected.
Krishna is the single most beloved figure in Hinduism. Such is his popularity that he is considered a supreme god in his own right even though he is only an avatar. In this book, we journey through Krishna's life--spanning his birth, childhood, youth, and adulthood--and describe many of the delightful stories associated with him. We also examine the Mahabharata War in which he plays a major non-combat role. Krishna is the eight incarnation of Vishnu. Although the purpose of his incarnation was to end the life of the demon king Kamsa, he turned into a larger-than-life figure with his childhood pranks and adolescent romances. Starting with a miraculous birth—that has parallels to the birth of Jesus—Krishna grew up as an ordinary, but adorable child. In his youth, Krishna became the heartthrob of milkmaids and popularized the passionate romantic dance Rasa Lila, together with his childhood sweetheart Radha. The annihilation of Kamsa followed thereafter. By this time the purpose of his incarnation was accomplished, but he stayed back on Earth to play a major part in the Mahabharata War. His greatest gift to humanity—the Bhagavad Gita—was delivered at this time. Maybe he overextended his stay, because his extraordinary life came to an end in less than perfect circumstances. The Mahabharata occupies a significant portion of this book. With a complex plot and a myriad of characters, the epic has surprisingly no role models, only many heroes. Yet, the Mahabharata has been the inspiration for countless books, songs, and Bollywood movies. Although this book is centered on Krishna, the remaining avatars of Vishnu—particularly Buddha—are also explored at length.
MOVES & COUNTERMOVES Animish, the disciple teetering between scepticism and awe around Krishna’s divinity, inherits his Master’s mantle as the latter proceeds to Badari to pursue his self-realisation goals. Asareer's belief solidifies, and divine anecdotes about Krishna continue to enthral him. While the chasm between the viewpoints of both friends keeps widening, Krishna attains a God-like stature and comes to be feared by his opponents and revered by his devotees and sages alike. Meanwhile, rivalries explode between cousins. Kauravas, led by the determined Duryodhana, manipulate the king to their advantage while Pandavas fight for survival. Draupadi's entrance, forging a solid alliance between Pandavas and the powerful Panchala kingdom, adds a new twist to the story. And, through it all, the enigmatic Krishna emerges as the central figure, unfolding his own fascinating tryst with destiny. The game of one-up-manship between Kauavas and Pandavas, which resembled the opening stage of a chess game to Animish during the graduation ceremony of princes, moves into the next stage, the middle game. Kauravas and Pandavas were entangled in a prolonged fight over the chessboard of fate, with advantage shifting back and forth like in a bitter middle game of chess that does not produce a clear winner. Find inside the dramatic events of Krishna’s battles with Jarasandha, the setting up of the Dwaraka kingdom, Draupadi’s Swayamvara and her unconventional polyandrous marriage, the rise and fall of Indraprastha Empire, multiple marriages and battles of Krishna, the fortune-turning dice game where a wife was put on stake, and a host of other exciting events. Join Animish and Asareer, two good friends who disagree on matters of faith, to watch the enthralling moves and countermoves in the intricate middle phase of the story and analyse for yourself which moves are blunders and which ones are brilliancies. What did destiny ordain for the kings who thought they were players but were mere pawns on fate’s chess board?
How many avatars does Vishnu actually have? Is Buddha an avatar of Vishnu? What do Bodhisattva and Vishnu have in common? What do all of his avatars symbolize? Is there a connection between Vishnu’s avatars and Darwin’s theory of evolution? It is believed that Vishnu always comes to earth when Devi is suffering—Parashurama for Renuka, Ram for Sita. Another belief is that every time Vishnu takes an avatar, Devi too is born. A Vishnu avatar went on a rampage destroying all Kshatriyas, but also strives to protect the weeping earth goddess who appeared before him as a cow. Which of these many personas does Vishnu represent? Find out more about the rich symbolism of his multitude of personas in this short, sweet read from Devlok.
First published in 2001. Part of the Routledge Who's Who series, this is an accessible, authorative and enlightening definitive biographical guides to a range of subjects. Focusing on mythology, this book provides a uniquely comprehensive guide to world mythology beyond Greece and Rome with over 2,500 accessible and detailed entries. A complete historical and cultural context of each entry covering a wide geographical scope, from the Near East and Europe to Asia, the Americas, Australasia and Africa. Presented in an easy to use A-Z format this is the ideal reference resource for anyone interested in mythology.