DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0209
CHAPTER VIII
Divinities of the Epic Period
The Great Indian Epics—Utilized by the Brahmans—The Story of
Manu—Universal Cataclysm—How Amrita (Ambrosia) was obtained—
Churning of the Ocean—The Demon Devourer of Sun and Moon—Garuda,
the Man Eagle—Attributes of the God Shiva—Comparison with Irish Balor
—Rise of the Goddesses—Saraswati and Lakshmi or Sri—Fierce Durga and
Kali—Sati, the Ideal Hindu Wife—Legend of the Ganges—The Celestial
Rishis—Vishwamitra and Vasishtha—History in the Vedas—Wars between
Aryan Tribes—Kernel of Mahabharata Epic.
The history of Brahmanism during the Buddhist Age is
enshrined in the great epics Mahabharata and Ramdyana,
which had their origin before B.C. 500, and continued to
grow through the centuries.
The Mahabharata, which deals with the Great War
for ascendancy between two families descended from
King Bharata, has been aptly referred to as "the Iliad
of India". It appears to have evolved from a cycle of
popular hero songs, but after assuming epic form it was
utilized by the Brahmans for purposes of religious propa-
ganda. The warriors were represented as sons of gods
or allies of demons, and the action of the original narra-
tive was greatly hampered by inserting long speeches and
discussions regarding Brahmanic conceptions and beliefs.
An excellent example of this process is afforded by the
famous Bhagavad-gita, from which we have quoted in
the previous chapter. The narrative of the first day s
battle is interrupted to allow Krishna to expound the
w
Divinities of the Epic Period
The Great Indian Epics—Utilized by the Brahmans—The Story of
Manu—Universal Cataclysm—How Amrita (Ambrosia) was obtained—
Churning of the Ocean—The Demon Devourer of Sun and Moon—Garuda,
the Man Eagle—Attributes of the God Shiva—Comparison with Irish Balor
—Rise of the Goddesses—Saraswati and Lakshmi or Sri—Fierce Durga and
Kali—Sati, the Ideal Hindu Wife—Legend of the Ganges—The Celestial
Rishis—Vishwamitra and Vasishtha—History in the Vedas—Wars between
Aryan Tribes—Kernel of Mahabharata Epic.
The history of Brahmanism during the Buddhist Age is
enshrined in the great epics Mahabharata and Ramdyana,
which had their origin before B.C. 500, and continued to
grow through the centuries.
The Mahabharata, which deals with the Great War
for ascendancy between two families descended from
King Bharata, has been aptly referred to as "the Iliad
of India". It appears to have evolved from a cycle of
popular hero songs, but after assuming epic form it was
utilized by the Brahmans for purposes of religious propa-
ganda. The warriors were represented as sons of gods
or allies of demons, and the action of the original narra-
tive was greatly hampered by inserting long speeches and
discussions regarding Brahmanic conceptions and beliefs.
An excellent example of this process is afforded by the
famous Bhagavad-gita, from which we have quoted in
the previous chapter. The narrative of the first day s
battle is interrupted to allow Krishna to expound the
w