#Symbolism in Mahabharata

[recsspecs]

सुनो द्राैपदी ! शस्त्र उठालो अब गोविंद ना आएंगे... छोड़ो मेहंदी खड्ग संभालो खुद ही अपना चीर बचा लो द्यूत बिछाए बैठे शकुनि, ...मस्तक सब बिक जाएंगे सुनो द्राैपदी ! शस्त्र उठालो अब गोविंद ना आएंगे...

कब तक आस लगाओगी तुम, बिक़े हुए अखबारों से कैसी रक्षा मांग रही हो दुःशासन दरबारों से स्वयं जो लज्जाहीन पड़े हैं वे क्या लाज बचाएंगे सुनो द्राैपदी ! शस्त्र उठालो अब गोविंद ना आएंगे...

कल तक केवल अंधा राजा, अब गूंगा-बहरा भी है होंठ सिल दिए हैं जनता के, कानों पर पहरा भी है

तुम ही कहो ये अंश्रु तुम्हारे, किसको क्या समझाएंगे? सुनो द्राैपदी ! शस्त्र उठालो अब गोविंद ना आएंगे...

- पुष्यमित्र उपाध्याय

Listen Draupadi! Pick up your weapons, now Govinda will not come... Leave mehndi, hold the sword save yourself your own rip Shakuni sat down to play dice, ...all the heads will be sold Listen Draupadi! Pick up your weapons, now Govinda will not come...

How long will you keep hoping, what kind of protection are you seeking from the sold newspapers, from the courts of Dushasan, how will those who themselves are shameless save your honour, listen Draupadi! Take up arms, now Govind will not come...

Till yesterday the king was only blind, now he is also deaf and dumb. The lips of the people have been sealed and their ears are under guard. You tell me these tears of yours, what will you explain to whom? Listen Draupadi! Take up your weapons, now Govind will not come...

- Pushyamitra Upadhyay

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Arjun: *clenching his fists* Fight me!

Krishna, standing behind him, sudarshan chakra in hand: *mouthes* Do not.

[thepanvelite]

The Tale of Ganesha’s Broken Tusk: A Story of Wisdom and Sacrifice

Lord Ganesha's broken tusk symbolizes sacrifice, duty, and wisdom in Hindu mythology.

Have you ever wondered why Lord Ganesha, the beloved elephant-headed deity, has only one tusk? The story behind Ganesha’s broken tusk is as fascinating as it is symbolic. Let’s dive into this intriguing tale! The Battle with Parashurama Battle between Lord Ganesha and Parashurama One of the most popular stories comes from the Brahmanda Purana. It all started when Parashurama, a fierce warrior…

[wildharesandboundteeth]

A subtle and low energy form of worship inspired by Chaos Magick and Sigils

So this one's a bit of basic Chaos magick I've been using for years to charge my sigils. It's slow but steady form of charging sigils that also adds a more 'personal touch' compared to charging with the moon and/or sun. Basically you just put the sigil on a body part with the intention of it being worship.

I am not the first one to do this but I figured that it might be good to share this knowledge to more people.

The basic formula is your God's symbol/ a correspondence of them on or against your body with the intention to dedicate each action of that body part to them.

A choker with a bird pendant dedicating every word you say to Hermes. (Good for presentations and for shit talking with the boys.)

Some examples:

(helpol specific because I'm more familiar with them at this moment)

A rose on your chest,/shirt/bra/binder with the intention of dedicating every heart beat to Aphrodite. (Low energy, more consistent and makes you feel hotter than usual. ;) )

Athena's name written on your finger to dedicate each word written to Her. (Good for homework though try not too write anything too stupid (very difficult for me).)

Ares's symbol painted on the bottom of your exercise shoe's inner sole with the intent to dedicate workout to Him. (Who knows? He might join you (and put you to shame).)

Ways to mark yourself:

I used to use this method with the elemental alchemical signs as well back when I worshipped/drew power from them more often. Holy book versus, sacred numbers, ect. can also work. Heck, maybe even write the entire Mahabharata on yourself.

Non-toxic marker / pen

Water / soil / ash / powder of ground herbs or flowers (non-toxic)

Temporary tattoo / Henna / actual tattoo

Sewing / embroidery / iron-on patches / fabric marker / washable fabric crayons

Honey / milk / yogurt / lotion (all good for the skin)

Face paint / graphic eyeliner / make up (especially foundation you're going to blend)

Just tracing the symbol with a finger

Suggestions

Tip: if you're going with more subtle correspondence (like a drawing of their animal) as opposed to just writing their name or symbol, it's good to do a ritual/ a small prayer to inform them. Just telling them can work too if you're too exhausted for those.

The same effect can be achieved with key chains, stuffed toys, taglocks, ect but I personally like this method as it's something I'm familiar with. It's also harder to forget to do bring something along if it's on your body (yes, I am calling myself out). It also feels more personal.

Disclaimer: Please only do this for gods/entities you know and have a relationship with. I would also advise against doing this to a god that has rejected/not answered your requests to work with them. And please don't mark yourself with a god that you straight up do not know anything about.

I sometimes put wellness sigils for my loved ones on my pulse point(s) or along my chakras with henna. It's slow but with time, it's really builds up.

More rambling

Nowadays, I always make sure to always have the sigils for Lord Hermes and Lord Ares on my foot so I can dedicate each step I take to them. I usually dedicate longer walks to *runs to them but I feel like having a physical 'anchor' helps me concentrate the energy and intent. It also helps if I just plain forget to dedicate a walk to them.

*Disclaimer: author of this post only runs for the bus or because they're late. In no way are they healthy nor disciplined.

In addition to all the worship stuff, it also feels comforting to having something of my loved ones near me/ on me. It reminds me that I am (somehow) loved and that there's something to fight for. Though I might just be getting sentimental in my young age.

So that's my suggestion for you lovely people. I hope to helps inspire someone or something. If anyone has any other suggestions, ideas or constructive feedback, please let me know.

[jojolily]

I’m only getting around to posting about it now but as soon as Ankarna’s name was said in episode 11 I immediately started looking up to the origin and roots of it (because I’m a massive nerd) and I found some fascinating things. These won’t be particularly organized so enjoy my ramblings

So first things first I looked up just Ankarna and found out that it’s the name of a nature reserve in Madagascar which, while interesting, isn’t particularly relevant or helpful.

So after that I tried looking just just Karna, since the A seemed like it might have been added AND THIS IS WHERE IT GETS FUN.

So Karna is the name of the demigod featured in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. In it, he’s the son of the SUN GOD Surya and princess Kunti, which makes him royal too (that part isn’t super relevant but I do find it fun). There’s more to the epic with a few war stories and lots and lots of family drama, but in general he’s seen as symbol as someone who is rejected by those who should love him, but do not. Which feels incredibly relevant to the whole idea of a neglected god, of an idea that should have a following but doesn’t.

But yeah I find it extra fun considering how many connections Ankarna has to summer and the sun, being that his counterpart in the real world was a demigod of the sun.

One more fun detail is that one of his names (he’s referred to as a bunch of em) is Vrisha, which means “one who is truthful and keeps his vows” which could be nothing but j find interesting.

[talonabraxas]

Lord Vishnu Talon Abraxas Lord Vishnu and Vedic Astrology Vishnu is the primary Devata for the Sun in Vedic knowledge, notably Surya-Narayana. Narayana is the cosmic form of Vishnu who rules over the entire universe. The mantra – OM Namo Narayanaya! – is a mantra of sadhus and connects us with the supreme Consciousness. It can be used to draw in the Vishnu energy and harmonize all astrological and karmic influences. The Sun is Vishnu as the supreme Purusha, said to dwell in the Sun in the Upanishads (Aditye Purusha). Vishnu and Narayana are also related to the planet Mercury (Budha), particularly in its role as governing the Buddhi or higher intelligence and Dharma in general. Mercury is often regarded as the intelligence of the Sun.

Some Vedic astrologers may remember that the supreme Devata for the Sun in the traditional Jyotish list (Pratyadhi Devata) is Shiva. We have discussed Shiva and Vedic astrology in another article. Yet in Jyotish texts and Puranic symbolism, Vishnu is also commonly related to the Sun, while Shiva also has connections with the Moon. This is because such universal Devatas have many levels of influence according to their different qualities and expressions.

Rigveda speaks of the seven half-embryos that move according to the laws of Vishnu, suggesting Vishnu as ruling the seven visible planets (RV I.164.36). To Vishnu is attributed the supreme abode in the highest Heaven (Paramam Padam), which is the source of all bliss that the seers aspire to.

Vishnu as Dhruva relates to the Pole Star which is the central unmoving point beyond the celestial sphere ruling all cosmic movements. Rigveda speaks of the four times ninety or 360 Names of Vishnu (RV I.155.6) as a revolving wheel or chakra, indicating one name of Vishnu for every degree of the Zodiac. This means that Vishnu is not only the Sun but the guiding intelligence of the universe as a whole, responsible for the structure of the cosmos.

Many Jyotish texts are Vaishnava in orientation, like the key foundation text Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra which emphasizes him. Many Vedic astrologers recommend chanting the Thousand Names of Vishnu (Vishnu Sahasranama from the Mahabharata) for countering planetary afflictions and to develop skill in chart interpretation.

[noxsatvrn]

Wrekodara and the Sea Serpent.

Ink, watercolor & colored pencils on paper.

© noxsatvrn

The artwork depicts one scene from Serat Dewaruci, a narrative poem by Yasadipura I, the royal poet of Kasunanan Surakarta based on an even older text, Nawaruci, by a hindu priest Mpu Çiwamurti.

Wrekodara, also known by the name Bhima and Sena is a figure from the Hindu Epic Mahabharata. The 2nd eldest of the five Pandawa born ritualistically through the blessing of Lord Vayu, short-tempered yet kind and compassionate he's the strongest one among his siblings.

In the Pre-islamic Java, Wrekodara was adored by the common folk especially in the agriculture community as he was venerated as the symbol of masculinity and fertility, proven by many archaeological findings of ancient statues depicting Wrekodara. Traditions and myths surrounding Wrekodara persists to this day through the tradition of Wayang Kulit (Javanese shadow puppetry) telling stories about him during harvest festivals in several remote villages as well as the myth about the origin of a sacred spring near Dieng Highlands called Tuk Bima Lukar.

[maghamoon]

hi! i know you made a post about magha placements but can you tell me a little more about specifically magha venus? i have mine in the 8th and was curious how this would play out. thank you in advance if you choose to answer :)

Magha Nakshatra: Pitri Secrets

the magha nakshatra (early leo) is ruled by:

planet- ketu

sacred animal- male rat

body part- nose, lips and chin

deity- pitris, forefathers of humanity

it is ruled by ketu, who is the guardian of our past karmas. wherever you have magha in your chart is where the past karmas are ripe enough to be experienced in this present life.

michael jackson- sun in magha

one thing i have noticed is that magha natives can easily become very class conscious. the symbol of magha is the throne, they seek attention and can also observe who is on “the top” of the pyramid and why they belong there. it’s a way for them to gauge what behaviors will help them eventually get on the top.

magha is the type of nakshatra that isn’t accompanied alone. usually magha natives have other indicators of karma, ancestry or forefathers in their chart like: sun conjunct saturn, any planets in 10th house, rahu/ketu in significant aspects, saturn conjunction moon, the magha planet in house 4/8/10, etc.

to completely understand your magha nakshatra, you must check where it’s ruling planet (ketu) is. for example- someone with magha mercury may have their ketu in the 12th house. this could mean they get their knowledge from their forefathers in the form of dreams, intuition, etc.

eva green, magha asc

magha venus can “attract” their ancestry very easily. venus is utter fulfillment and contentment in astrology, hence why you can attract easily using your venus. seeing that your venus is in the 8th house, you may uncover ancestral secrets or gain money through the property/riches of your forefathers. doing any sort of ancestral prayer/acknowledgement will help you understand intimacy and gain shared wealth.

magha mars may have a lot of karmic work to do regarding anger, drive and power. especially if it is conjunction/square saturn or sun. these are very fatherly, masculine planets. it can show wrongdoing of the ancestors on their male part, so now it’s someone’s time to change the tide.

generally, whatever house your magha is in- if you are facing difficulties in it, honoring your ancestors will help you.

uma thurman, magha asc

helena bonham carter, magha moon

How to Honor your Ancestors:

in general, any sort of acknowledgment to the ancestors can work.

in mahabharata, karna’s soul transcended to heaven where he was offered gold and jewels as food. he asked indra, the lord of heaven, the reason for serving gold as food.

karna had never donated food to his ancestors in shradha, since he was unaware of his ancestry. to make amends, he was given the opportunity to return to earth so that he can perform shraddha and donate food and water in their memory. this period is known as pitru paksha (fortnight of paternal ancestors).

amavasya (new moon) is a great time for magha natives as well.

doing shadow work related to your paternal ancestry / generational trauma helps you connect with yourself

reading about your genealogy, finding more about your ancestry

meditating, making art inspired from your ancestors, etc.

[welldonekhushi]

Origin of Arjun's name

Arjun's name and respective codename itself came from the etymology of Mahabharata, the ancient epic of India.

Arjuna was the son of Kunti whose spiritual father was Indra Dev (the God of Lightning), but became the adopted son of King Pandu among his four sons (Yudhishthir, Bhima, Nakul and Sahadev). Arjun was depicted as a skilled archer from an early age, and played an important role throughout the campaign of the Mahabharata War.

Arjun's name means to be "crystal clear, shiny and lustrous". In relation, it's about always being stuck to your aim and knowing what has to be done to hit the bullseye. Once the Captain finds a target, he'll do anything to fulfill it, even if it risks everything he had before. His aim towards it is "clear". He'd pick the gun, and fight. He'll not hesitate nor back off. He will hit the target.

His patch symbol is denoted as a "bow and arrow", which targets its desired aim. The Captain won't leave a single target behind, he'll eliminate it, destroy it, no matter what the cost.

[as-the-stars-foretold]

रे दानवीर​—

कस्य धर्मम् अनुसरति?

भवान् कार्यं कस्य कृते करोति?

भवत: कर्तव्यं किम्? कर्तव्यं कस्य कृते?

O, generous one Whose path of life do you follow? For whom do you do your work? What is your duty? Who is your duty for?

(Alternate shots and thought process/explanation under the cut!)

(Click for better quality – Tumblr kills it </3) Free to use/save with credit and/or a reblog!

OKAY. YAP TIME. This is a Hindu mythology/Mahabharata AU, and this art specifically is of Wolfwood as Karna. I'll explain who Karna is first + give context about his role in the Mahabharata, and then explain the symbolism and everything.

Who is Karna and what is his role in the story?

Karna was the illegitimate son of Kunti and Surya, the sun god. Due to being unmarried and young at the time, Kunti put Karna in a basket of sorts and allowed the river to carry him away where he was later found by his adoptive mother and father.

Thanks to his divine heritage, Karna was born with a kavach and kundal— a chest plate and earrings. These were immensely strong, even to the point of being unaffected by celestial weapons, and, most importantly, they were inherent to his being. I mean that very literally: the chest plate and earrings were literally parts of him. Taking them off would leave him bloodied and vulnerable (cough cough).

Eventually, through his prowess with archery, he made his way to the Kaurava palace–the Kauravas being the corrupted, power-hungry side of the conflict (oversimplification, but the Mahabharata is way too long for me to summarize here)–and became fast friends with Duryodhana, the leader of the 101 Kaurava cousins. Now, the issue with that is that his half-brothers, the Pandavas, were technically the rightful heirs to the kingdom, Hastinapura. This is where Karna's conflict begins: who does he have a responsibility towards? The family that housed and loved and fed him, despite the wrongdoings they were committing, or the family that was his birthright?

In the Mahabharata, Karna chooses the family who raised him, hurt by the fact that his mother gave him up. While this seems like a perfectly logical decision, the fact is that the Kauravas were cruel and deceitful— adharmi, or straying from the path of righteousness. In enabling and aiding them, when he had a responsibility to his blood family AND to keep the Kauravas from committing evils, Karna damned himself.

That isn't to say that he was a horrible person, however— he was notoriously humble and generous (which is the epithet that I used in the title!), incredibly dedicated to his cause and his family, and burdened with the knowledge that his birth mother gave him up. Karna is a morally grey character: put into his shoes, we, too, would struggle with choosing a side.

Leading up to Karna's death, during the war, Lord Indra, disguised as a brahmin, asked for his kavach and kundal. Karna gave them away without hesitation, leaving himself bloodied and vulnerable. This tremendous, selfless display of generosity is the main sticking point for so many people; how can a person so devoted and so generous be wholly evil?

I'm sure that idea rings true for many of you, since it's a point of contrition in Trigun, too. This leads me to the next part:

Why is Wolfwood Karna? What does this imply?

If you're familiar with Karna or you read my explanation up there, I'm sure you can see the connections now. Both Wolfwood and Karna struggle with choice— who do they have a duty towards? Karna has to choose between the two sides of his family and, symbolically, between right and wrong. Wolfwood has to choose between his obligation to Hopeland Orphanage (and, by extension, Knives as his contractor) and the obligation he brought upon himself in regards to Vash's ideals/quest. The conflict is near analogous: he's stuck between the people who raised and loved him, and the people who are working for a better future.

Another important thing to consider is Karna's generosity and how he, quite literally, gave someone the skin off his back. Wolfwood, too, is unerringly generous— he posits himself as selfish and mean, but he gave up everything for the people he cared about: his adolescence, his morals, his basic nature, his life. They are both so, so generous, and it leads to their downfalls.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is that neither Karna not Wolfwood are inherently good or bad. They're humans making very human choices. They're both selfish, yes, but they're also generous and kind and caring. In the end, Karna recognizes his mistakes and regrets what he's done, and Wolfwood, similarly, is forced to make peace with what he did and how his life has come to an end.

Artistic choices!

Wolfwood's arm bands and bracelets are gold and mimic both the Eye of Michael's insignia as well as the sun(s), which is a nod to Karna.

He's shown holding his kavach instead of wearing it to symbolize both his dedication and generosity (again, a nod to the original story), as well as to serve as his cause of death. He's forsaken his protection for what he believes in and wants to protect. In my original planning, the kavach and kundal were actually way more analogous to the EoM juice lol.

I replaced the Punisher with a crossbow because a giant cross-shaped gun would, unfortunately, be even more idiosyncratic than a crossbow (apparently ancient mainland India didn't have crossbows! Assam did; however, the Kurukshetra War happened in Haryana so boo hoo). Despite that, I tried to keep the coloring similar to the Punisher from Trigun (1998) as well as including a skull motif under the bow.

The pose is referenced from Wolfwood shooting up at the rubble during Badlands Rumble! I just modified it for the drama lol.

Wolfwood is pointing the crossbow at the sun for a purely Wolfwood reason (meaning it is NOT a reference to the Mahabharata). Despite his best efforts, he ended up backstabbing both of the twins in one way or another; you can imagine the sun as either brother, but I'd probably imagine it as Knives, since he "remade" Wolfwood, so he'd step into the role of Surya (Karna's father).

[thealiveshadow]

So I was inspired by this post on @manstrans blog to create a flag for the term “shikhandic”. Here it is:

I’ll explain what the flag’s colours symbolize:

Blue: This colour is a nod to the colours of the transgender flag and the transmasculine flag. The name Shikhandi also means peacock feather, and those have tints of blue in them.

Red: The colour red has been associated with courage and rebellion, this is to depict how trans man and mascs have resisted against societal conventions and have fought to have their place.

Green: The meaning of green is also used in rebirth, this depicts a few things in the flag. Princess Amba was reborn as Shikhandi, and Shikhandi was sort of “given back” his life (because he was going to commit suicide) when he was allowed to have the body that he wants. Often when trans men/mascs discover their identity and who they are, they feel reborn as a new person.

Bow and Arrow: Shikhandi was a warrior and since the Mahabharata is set in ancient times, the common weapon at the time was a bow and arrow, so it is a nod to him and the story. This is also in line with my description of why I used red, to symbolize how trans men/mascs have battled for their rights as well.

Redesign and criticisms are welcome! I’m not a graphic designer, so I’m not sure if it looks that great. (If you will redesign it, please do give me credit).

Ironically, the same way trans men are erased, Shikhandi is erased in his own stories too. People either insist he was intersex, non-binary, or even a trans woman (in the traditional Mahabharata he is not). They either misgender him, or try to erase the fact that he was born female, by simply saying he was originally born male. I think that adds significance to the term as well.

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Hey Meat! Currently combing through Matt Clayton’s Hindu Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Hindu Myths, Hindu Gods, and Hindu Goddesses and I was wondering if you could give like a little introduction to the main concepts/gods/goddesses? I’m seeing many terms like “the Veedas” and “the Shastras” as I go through it and I’m picking up context clues and I could probably google them but I’d like to hear from actual people and especially those who know and care deeply about these Myths (like you <3). So… can you help me? /gen

Heyyy Neptune! First of all I apologize it took me so long to answer you dfnsfjfdjg forgive meeee

I love how ardently you're researching Hinduism. I haven't really read his book, but I'll help you with giving you an overview of it, so to speak.

Firstly lemme tell you about the Vedic knowledge system, which consists of:

Vedas

Vedangas

Upavedas

Vedas: These are the oldest known scriptures of Hinduism. The religion has four Vedas, namely the:

Rig Veda (RV): book of hymns to the deities.

Yajur Veda (YV): book of mantras and worship rituals

Sama Veda (SV): book of chanting songs

Atharva Veda (AV): book of procedures of everyday life

Each of them have four subdivisions:

Samhitas (mantras, hymns, prayers and benedictions)

Brahmanas (explanations and instructions on performing Vedic rituals)

Aranyakas (texts on the meaning and symbolisms of rituals and ceremonies basically). They were mainly composed by sages who meditated in the wilderness, hence the name of the texts (aranya means forest in Sanskrit).

Upanishads (texts on meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge)

Upasanas (additional). These are texts on worship.

Vedangas: These are the six auxiliary disciplines of Hinduism, and are heavily linked to the Vedas. They are:

Shiksha: Study of phonetics

Vyakarana: Study of grammar

Chhandas: Study of poetic metres and rhythm

Niruktas: Study of etymology

Jyotishya: Study of astrology and astronomy

Kalpa: Study of rituals and guide to ritual instructions

Upavedas: These are texts regarding certain fields of work like:

Ayur Veda: Study of medicine and life sciences

Gandharva Veda: Study of music, art and dance

Dhanur Veda: Study of archery and warfare

Arthashastra: Study of business and administration

Speaking of Shastras, they are kinda similar to Upavedas, and deal with certain fields of knowledge, like we saw in the case of Arthashastra. There are many shastras:

Bhautikashastra - Study of physics

Rasashastra - Study of chemistry

Jivashastra - Study of biology

Vastushastra - Study of architectural science

Shilpashastra - Study of mechanical arts and sculpture

Nitishastra - Corpus on ethics and policies

Alamkarashastra - Study of rhetorics

Kavyashastra - Study of poetics

Sangitashastra - Study of music

Natyashastra - Study of theatre and dance

Yogashastra - contains instructions and teachings on yoga

Mokshashastra - contains instructions and teachings on moksha

Nyayashastra - contains instructions and teachings on justice, laws and judgement

Dharmashastra - contains instructions and teachings on dharma

Kamashastra - contains instructions and teachings on love, desire and pleasure.

And so on.

Then we have the Puranas, which are texts on various topics, usually legends and lores. A few examples are:

Brahma Purana

Vishnu Purana

Matsya Purana

Kalika Purana

Vamana Purana

Shiva Purana

Agni Purana

Bhagavata Purana

And so on. The latest Purana ever written was the Kalki Purana, which was around 400-600 years ago. It is believed that Ved Vyasa (the author* of the epic Mahabharata) composed all these Puranas as well. But many disagree.

*some believe Ved Vyas got Ganesh (the God of wisdom, success and remover of obstacles, and the son of Shiva) to write the Mahabharata for him. While some believe Ved Vyas wrote it himself.

Then we have the Sutras which are aphoristic (concise expression of a general truth/principle) texts. Some examples are:

Brahma Sutras

Yoga Sutras

Nyaya Sutras

Kama Sutra

and so on.

Then comes Itihasa (historical texts), which include the two major epics of Hinduism, namely:

Ramayana (composed by Valmiki)

Mahabharata (composed my Vyasa/Ganesh)

Read the epics I'll not spoil it for ya heehee

Now, for the Gods. Oh man there are so many, but not 33 crore (1 crore = 10 million), contrary to popular belief, but rather 33 types.

In the very beginning of the pantheon, the main Gods were:

Indra (god of thunder and rain and the King of Gods)

Agni (god of fire)

Mitra (god of friendship, sun, daylight)

Varuna (god of waters, oceans, night time)

Vayu (wind god)

Soma (wind god, also sometimes called the moon god)

Ushas (goddess of dawn)

Ashwins (twin solar gods of medicine and sons of Surya)

Surya (Sun god)

Rudra (another wind/storm god who later became another form of Shiva)

Vishnu (bro doesn't have any specific assigned field tbh)

And a few others like Brihaspati (Jupiter god), Pushan (solar god of meetings, marriages, roads and cattle), Savitr (god of speed and cosmos) and many others.

Now there was this supreme vague deity in the Vedas. It's not Brahman yet. They (for the lack of a better set of pronouns) appear later. But it is some kind of supernatural force that let to the creation of this universe, and was initially mostly referred to as Prajapati (sometimes it wasn't one being though, rather a group), from what I can infer. Some may even called em Purusha. In the link you'll also get the First Creation Myth of Hinduism.

There is also an agnostic section in the Rig Veda, known as the Nasadiya Sukta. In this specific section we know there's some form of a supreme deity, but it's very vague as to what it is.

Moving on, in around mid-Vedic period, Vishnu became heavily popular, and two new deities came into being, namely Brahma (who soon got the title of Prajapati) and Shiva (from Rudra because previously Rudra had an alternative name called Siva. So Ig that's where 'Shiva' stemmed from. But again not sure).

Vishnu and Shiva became extremely popular, to the point that they got an entire sect of people dedicated to each of em, hence Vaishnavism and Shaivism (respectively) were born. Vaishnavs heralded Vishnu to be the Supreme God, while Shaivites heralded Shiva to be the Supreme God. (Soon Harihar or Vishnu-Shiva sect also emerged where both the Gods were considered the same, and hence both were the Supreme Gods, or Supreme God, if we consider them one entity) But in the future we can see Vaishnavism took over the spotlight, and finally during the age of the epics, Sanatan Dharma was born, which eventually became synonymous with Hinduism, and now almost everyone considers Vishnu is the Supreme Lord (while many others consider it to be the Brahman, who Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma are a part of).

Vishnu actually gained the most popularity from the two epics that I've mentioned, and the first one is almost entirely surrounded around his avatar, Ram (yes he has avatars now). His most popular avatars include Ram and Krishna, and the latter has an entire organization dedicated to him (ISKON or International Society for Krishna Consciousness), and this org considers THIS avatar as the Supreme Lord, and actually considers Vishnu as his avatar, not the other way around. Krishna also appears in the famous Bhagavad Gita, which is the prime philosophy book of guidelines for the Hindus today.

Buckle up, it's about to get more confusing cuz now Vishnu is our main character for a while (bro has HEAVILY influenced this religion atp there's no turning back for him now). His evolution is so interesting cuz who'd have thought in the Rig Vedic times that he'd grow up to be THIS popular TOT. Not Indra for sure xD.

Anyhoo so about Vishnu's avatars. He has ten main avatars that appear through the cycle of Hindu Yugas (eras):

Matsya: Big fishiee. Some paintings portray him as a merman tho.

Kurma: Giant tortoise go brrr.

Varaha: A boar-man :D. Pumba's gunna vibe with him fs.

Narasimha: Very angy lion-man. Will be besties with Sekhmet in a heartbeat i just know it.

Vamana: Cute "lil" dwarf (covered the universe in three steps)

Parshurama: Appears in the Mahabharata

Rama: Main character of Ramayana (hence the name), and is the younger brother of Balarama.

Krishna: One of the main characters of the Mahabharata

Balarama/Buddha (sources vary)

Kalki (future avatar)

Now Mohini is the female form of Vishnu. Whether or not she counts as an avatar is debated. She's the goddess of beauty and a seductress that lures bad guys (mostly Asuras) and then kills them, or atleast teaches them a lesson (but she also attracts the devas sometimes. Shiva for example). So yeah.

His wife is Lakshmi, who's the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity. She also has avatars btw.

Now the Second Creation Myth is pretty messy. Different sects have different takes on it. Usually it is considered that:

Brahma created the universe (or universes in case of the multiverse version).

Vishnu preserves the universe

Shiva destroys the universe

This process is considered cyclic and after the destruction Brahma creates a new universe, and it keeps repeating.

The origin of these three gods are also debated. Some say Brahma created Vishnu and Shiva, some say Vishnu created Brahma and Shiva, some say Lakshmi created Brahma, some say Shiva created Brahma and Vishnu. Some say Vishnu and Shiva are two of the Adityas (comprising of Indra, Agni, Mitra, Varuna, Surya etc.), and hence the children of Kashyap and Aditi.

Quick desc of Shiva is that he's the god of destruction, rebirth, time, benevolence etc. He also has avatars, plus a female form, called Shivani. His wife is Parvati, who ALSO has avatars, primarily Kali, Durya, Gauri etc. Sometimes Parvati and Lakshmi's avatars overlap. Sometimes, Vishnu and Parvati's avatars overlap (like Krishna-Kali).

He and his wife have two sons- Ganesha (god of wisdom, beginnings, remover of obstacles etc.), and Kartikeya/Murugun/Skanda (god of war). Who's the elder one is debated but usually Kartikeya is considered older.

Also Brahma's wife is Saraswati (goddess of wisdom, knowledge, music, flowing water, abundance etc.), who was born from him. Bro has faced some issues with falling for ppl (women) he has created actually lol, which is why he was cursed by Shiva and even lost one of his heads, hence ending up with four heads, when he initially had five. Check this site out as to why he was cancelled by Mahadev (another name of Shiva).

Now we have two Holy Trinities:

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva (However, Vishnu and Shiva are way closer to Indra, while Brahma's kinda like the dad of the group, yk)

Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati

Then we have the Devas and the Asuras, who can be compared to the Aesir and Vanir, in a way. The Devas are usually the benevolent one, who attained the amrit (elixir), while the Asuras are usually the antagonists. But tbh, in my opinion, both of these groups are morally grey as fock.

Parents of Devas (Rishi/sage Kashyapa and Aditi)

Parents of Asuras (Rishi/sage Kashyapa and Diti)

Diti and Aditi and daughters of king Daksha (one of the Prajapatis). The reason the Asuras turned out the way they did was cuz Diti approached Kashyap at an unholy hour, to put it shortly. Sources say she was also jealous of how Aditi's kids turned out, which might be another factor to how her kids turned out in turn (lot of 'turn's we're getting ahah)

They are described well in the Samudra Manthan, from the Vishnu Purana. Have a look.

Now see, this stark contrast between the Devas and the Asuras didn't quite exist back in the earliest Rig-Vedic period. In fact, some of the most prominent Devas were referred to as Asuras in the Rig Veda, most famously Varuna, who was actually referred to as the leader of the Asuras/Asuryas. Other Devas who got referred to as Asuras include Indra, Agni, Mitra, and a few others. So I have a feeling the concept of the modern-day Asuras didn't quite exist back then.

Now for the concepts of Hinduism, like Moksha, Dharma etc., I think I'll refer to actual practising Hindus to explain it to you, since they'd be able to explain them in a much better way. They can also add to my explanations of things, or correct me if I explained anything wrong. So I'mma tag em.

@kaal-naagin @zeherili-ankhein @inc0rrectmyths @randomx123 @ssj2hindudude @blue-lotus333 (idk if you're a Hindu but you still know a lot so) and anyone else who wanna join.

[13lunarstar]

A secret nakshatra

Did you know that in the rich tapestry of Vedic astrology, there is one nakshatra that holds a unique and quite mystical place?

Often overlooked, it is considered the 28th nakshatra, distinct from the traditional and well-known 27 lunar mansions. Revered as a symbol of victory and auspicious beginnings, Abhijit nakshatra is deeply connected to cosmic order, divine blessings and positive luck. Let's explore this lesser-known nakshatra, its significance, and how it can influence our lives.

What is Abhijit Nakshatra?

The name "Abhijit" translates to "the victorious one" or "the one who cannot be defeated." It is considered a highly auspicious nakshatra, symbolizing cosmic harmony, divine protection, and success in endeavours. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata (one of the major epics of ancient India), where it is recognized as a moment of great auspiciousness. As the nakshatra is connected to victory, it is believed to bring blessings for achieving goals and overcoming challenges.

Abhijit overlaps the zodiac signs of Sagittarius and Capricorn, marking a bridge between the expansive optimism of Sagittarius and the disciplined pragmatism of Capricorn. This duality reflects its role as a nakshatra of culmination and new beginnings.

While Abhijit does not have a specific planetary ruler like the other 27 nakshatras, it is often associated with Jupiter (expansion, wisdom) and Saturn (discipline, karma). Together, these energies make it ideal for endeavours requiring both vision and perseverance.

The meaning and importance of Abhijit nakshatra

Abhijit is highly auspicious for starting new ventures or undertaking long-term projects.

It is particularly favourable for activities like marriage, travel, and launching important initiatives.

The Abhijit muhurta—a brief period during midday—is named after this nakshatra and is considered one of the most propitious times of the day.

Key characteristics of Abhijit nakshatra

Represents victory, success, and achievement

Encourages resilience and determination in challenging times.

Promotes leadership qualities, long-term vision, and harmony.

Offers divine protection and cosmic alignment for significant endeavours.

Unsuitable for activities involving destruction, endings, or closure, as its energy focuses on preservation and creation.

In practical terms, using the Abhijit Muhurta during certain midday times is a simple way to harness the energy of this nakshatra in daily life. Whether it’s signing an important contract, starting a new job, or embarking on a journey, aligning with this time can bring cosmic support to your efforts.

NOTE: Abhijit nakshatra is NOT suitable for some weekdays (for instance, any ceremonies and new beginnings that must be successful and bring victory should not be initiated on Wednesdays).

[evolvingmonkey]

Shikhandi: The Gender-Defying Hero of the Mahabharata

Hindu philosophy holds a simple yet profound belief: within each person resides an everlasting atman (spirit or soul) that exists independently from the physical body, surpassing characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Stemming from a common divine origin, every atman forms a spiritual kinship, deserving of love, reverence, and fair treatment.

In the epic Mahabharata, there is a captivating tale that revolves around Bhishma's commitment to celibacy, which leads to a grand swayamvara (a ceremony or event where a bride chooses her husband from a gathering of suitors). This ceremony is where Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika are given the opportunity to choose their life partners. However, Bhishma's interference in Amba's love life sets off a series of events that ultimately culminate in her tragic destiny.

Amba's heartbreak is twofold - first, her intended husband Shalva rejects her, and then Bhishma, bound by his vow of celibacy, refuses to marry her. This leaves Amba in a state of despair, fueling her desire for revenge against Bhishma. Determined to seek justice, she pleads to the mighty god Shiva for assistance in her quest to end Bhishma's life. Miraculously, Shiva grants her wish, but tragically, Amba chooses to take her own life to expedite her ultimate goal.

There are various versions of the next part of the tale. According to certain narratives, Amba is born as the daughter of King Drupada. Upon learning from Shiva that she will eventually undergo a transformation into a man, Drupada names her Shikhandi and raises her as a boy. In this particular version, a formidable entity residing in the forest indeed bestows upon her the transformation into a man. However, in alternative accounts, Shikhandi is born as a male but develops a trans-identity due to Shiva granting them the ability to recollect their previous life.

As the Mahabharata unfolds, Shikhandi emerges as a formidable warrior who defies societal expectations of gender. Their participation in the battle of Kurukshetra serves as a powerful symbol of authenticity, challenging the conventional gender roles imposed on individuals. Shikhandi's strength goes beyond mere physical abilities; it stands as a testament to the immense power that comes from embracing one's true identity.

Shikhandi's character is truly captivating because of their personal quest for self-discovery. They challenge societal expectations of gender and proudly embrace a non-binary identity. This exploration of identity is a key theme, showcasing the intricate and ever-changing nature of being human.

As we come to the end of our journey through Shikhandi's story in the Mahabharata, we honor a figure whose legacy surpasses time, defies conventions, and forever marks the intricate fabric of mythology. Shikhandi, the ageless fighter, still instills bravery and self-exploration in the souls of those who come across their legend.

[proudhinduforever]

Lord Shiva Annihilates Jalandhara

The story of Jalandhara is a significant story in Hindu puranas, particularly in the context of the Mahabharata, and various other texts like the Shiva Purana. Jalandhara was a powerful asura(demon), and his story is intertwined with themes of power, devotion, and destruction.

Origin of Jalandhara:

Jalandhara's birth is attributed to the cosmic waters. According to the Shiva Purana, he was born from the union of Kashyapa and the ocean. The name "Jalandhara" is derived from "Jala" (water) and "Dhara" (stream or flow), symbolizing his origin from the ocean. Some versions suggest that he was created by Lord Shiva himself through his divine energy to perform a specific role in the cosmic balance.

Jalandhara was extremely powerful and had the blessing of Lord Shiva that made him nearly invincible. This blessing gave him immense strength and a kingdom that spanned the ocean. He grew powerful and ambitious, and with his growing might, he began to threaten the gods.

Rise to Power:

Jalandhara became the ruler of the seas and the oceans, and his power soon spread across the world. He married Vrinda, a pious and devoted woman who was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Jalandhara's reign was prosperous, and his devotion to his wife Vrinda was immense. However, he also became increasingly prideful because of the blessings he had received from Lord Shiva.

The Curse of Vrinda:

Vrinda's devotion to her husband was absolute. However, the gods and the sages feared Jalandhara's growing strength. To destroy him, Lord Vishnu devised a plan. He assumed the form of Jalandhara and tricked Vrinda, breaking her chastity. When Vrinda learned of the deception, she cursed Vishnu, and with her curse, she turned Jalandhara’s strength into weakness. Vrinda's chastity was broken in this way, and she cursed Vishnu to be separated from his wife Lakshmi for a period of time.

Vrinda, in her anger, also vowed to destroy Jalandhara, realizing that his powers had come from his own strength and her devotion to him. The curse also had a powerful consequence: Jalandhara was defeated when Vrinda renounced her devotion and chastity, weakening his invincibility.

Fight with Lord Shiva:

Jalandhara, not knowing that his downfall was linked to the curse of Vrinda, continued his reign. Eventually, he started to threaten the gods, and his arrogance grew. He challenged Lord Shiva himself, declaring war on the divine forces. However, he underestimated Shiva's power and his own vulnerability.

Battle and Death of Jalandhara:

As Jalandhara's evil grew, Lord Shiva decided to intervene directly. A fierce battle between Lord Shiva and Jalandhara ensued, and despite Jalandhara's immense power, he could not withstand Shiva's divine might. Lord Shiva, in his anger, used his powerful weapon, the Trishula (trident), and with it, he defeated Jalandhara.

However, before Jalandhara's defeat, a twist of fate occurred. Vrinda, in her grief and remorse over the curse she had placed on Vishnu, decided to sacrifice herself to purify her soul and undo the harm she had caused. When she died, her chastity was restored, and Jalandhara’s invincibility also ended. This was the final blow that led to his death.

After Jalandhara's death, Lord Shiva acknowledged that Jalandhara had been a victim of his own destiny, shaped by fate and Vrinda's curse. The story signifies the power of devotion, the consequences of deception, and the ever-changing nature of cosmic forces.

Conclusion:

Jalandhara was ultimately destroyed because of his own arrogance, but his death led to the restoration of Vrinda’s honor and Vishnu's purity.

His story is a reminder of how pride, even when empowered by divine blessings, can lead to downfall, and how devotion and truth have the power to change the course of events.

[kayleighthekoala]

(this theory is me either cooking or getting cooked :D)

So this has been question that has been bothering me for a while now which Bad himself pointed out during one of the ghostie following EGGS.

Significance of us holding the sugarcane?

So I tried to fine the answers in mythology as always (I hate mythology digging but when your streamer is a demon both in lore and irl what can you do *sigh*)

So after tons of researching till my eyes go square I got some answers in Hindu Mythology or atleast found a refrence to sugarcane in that one.

So there is an important event in Hindu mythology called Samudra Manthan or Churning Of The Ocean.

The Samudra Manthan, also known as the Churning of the Ocean, is a famous episode from Hindu mythology that appears in the Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, and other texts. In this mythological event, the gods and demons join forces to churn the cosmic ocean in order to obtain the nectar of immortality .To churn the ocean, the gods and demons use Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope. As they churn, various treasures and beings emerge from the ocean.

So one of the things that came out of the churning was Kalpavriksha (tree of life or w divine fulfilling tree)

The Kalpavriksha, or Kalpataru, is a mythical tree that is believed to grant wishes and fulfill desires. In Hindu mythology, the Kalpavriksha is often associated with the churning of the ocean and is said to have emerged from it. The Kalpavriksha symbolizes abundance, prosperity, and the fulfillment of wishes. Its branches are believed to bear fruit that grants whatever one desires, similar to the concept of the Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge found in other mythologies.

The event of churning the ocean itself was a symbol of the eternal struggle between good and evil, the quest for immortality, and the cyclical nature of creation and destruction.

So in short the symbol of sugarcane according to this+

1) abundance of blessings and the sweetness of life that the divine bestows upon devotee

2) symbolizes the fulfillment of desires and the granting of wishes by the divine

3) believed to offer spiritual nourishment to the soul, uplifting and purifying the devotee's consciousness

4) Sugarcane is a fast-growing crop that regenerates quickly after being harvested. In this sense, it symbolizes renewal, regeneration, and the cyclical nature of life and creation. It reminds devotees of the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in Hindu cosmology.

Now I don't know how deep does the lore significance of the sugarcane in hand go. But what I do know is that sugarcane has very less representations in mythology (almost close to none tbf) and Hindu mythology is the only one I could possibly find.

Another sugarcane representation in Hindu mythology is about Goddess Laxmi, who also was one of the three goddess that emerged from churning of the ocean event.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fortune, is often depicted sitting on a lotus flower holding sugarcane stalks in her hands. Sugarcane symbolizes the sweetness and abundance of blessings that Lakshmi brings to her devotees.