The largest and most internally diverse mythological tradition in the world — spanning 3,500 years, encompassing more deities than any other tradition, and holding genuine monotheism, philosophical monism, and full polytheism simultaneously without contradiction. This guide covers the mythological tradition that surrounds and embodies the philosophical teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads already in the library. Non-denominational reference. What the tradition says and how it works.
Recommended reading: Wendy Doniger's Hindu Myths (Penguin Classics). Devdutt Pattanaik's Myth = Mithya for accessible overview. C. Mackenzie Brown's The Devi Gita for goddess theology. The Ramayana (Valmiki, Goldman translation) and Mahabharata (abridged: Carole Satyamurti's verse translation).
The Trimurti and Tridevi — The Divine Pairs
Brahma
+ Saraswati
Creation
The Vedas
Vishnu
+ Lakshmi
Preservation
Dharma & Prosperity
Shiva
+ Parvati / Kali
Dissolution & Liberation
Moksha
The Dashavatara — Ten Avatars of Vishnu
1
Matsya
Fish
2
Kurma
Turtle
3
Varaha
Boar
4
Narasimha
Man-Lion
5
Vamana
Dwarf
6
Parashurama
Warrior
7
Rama
King
8
Krishna
Sage/Lover
9
Buddha
Reformer
10
Kalki
Future
Select a section
Where This Fits in the Library
This guide completes the Hindu section of the library. The Upanishads guide covers the philosophical foundation (Atman-Brahman, neti neti, the nature of consciousness). The Bhagavad Gita guide covers the practical ethics (karma yoga, bhakti, the discipline of action). This guide covers the mythological tradition — the stories, deities, and epics that embody those philosophical insights in narrative form and make them accessible to people who don't read philosophy.
The tradition's most unusual feature: it holds genuine monotheism (Vaishnavism's one supreme God), philosophical monism (Advaita's one Brahman), and full polytheism simultaneously — not as contradictions but as different levels of the same truth. The Rig Veda said it first: the wise speak of what is one in many ways.
ॐ
"They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni — the wise speak of what is One in many ways." — Rig Veda 1.164.46
Non-denominational reference guide · Read alongside the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads guides · Devdutt Pattanaik recommended for accessible entry