CREATION MYTH: HINDU BY ALEXIS B. AND ALEX H.. HINDUISM Is the religion of majority of people in India and Nepal. Has no single founder, no single scripture,

CREATION MYTH: HINDU

BY ALEXIS B. AND ALEX H.

HINDUISM • Is the religion of majority of people

in India and Nepal.• Has no single founder, no single

scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings.

• There have been many key figures teaching different philosophies and writing numerous holy books. For these reasons, writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a way of life' .

CREATION STORY

• In the beginning everything was silent and dark. The water washed up on the shore. In the ocean floats Shesha, a 1000nd headed cobra. In the coils of the cobra lays a sleeping Lord Vishnu.

Creation type: Emergence

Out of the darkness came a humming. It vibrated throughout the universe. Lord Vishnu awoke from his sleep. Out of his navel sprouted a lotus flower.

In the center of the lotus flower sat Lord Vishnu’s servant named Brahma.

Lord Vishnu tells Brahma to go and create all living things. Brahma starts by taking three pieces of the lotus flower. He stretches each petal out to make the Heavens, Underworld, and the space in between(Earth). Brahma puts all the creatures on the Earth and gives them all their senses.

To create men easier Braham created Shatarupa. She is his daughter and wife. She is the goddess of material reality and wisdom. Shatarupa was so beautiful to the point that Braham grew three more heads that point in all cardinal directions so he can always look at her.

THE TRIUMVIRATE

Brahma- The creator• Has four arms. Holding scepter,

water jug, Vedas, and lotus flower. Has four heads because he couldn’t stop staring at Shatarupa. Rides on lotus flower/goose.

Vishnu- The protector• Four arms that hold a conch, a

mace, and a discus. Rides on a 1000 headed cobra.

Shiva- The destroyer• Has a third eye in middle of

forehead. Lord of misery and compassion.

TODAYThere is only one temple dedicated to Braham in India. There are several for Lord Vishnu and Shiva.

SIMILARITIES

• In the beginning there is only darkness.

• Giant body of water.

• Involve some kind of plant.

• Creation of Heaven, Hell, and the space in-between.

• The number three

CITATION

WebsiteAnjali. “Hand gesture for lord Shiva.” Online Bharatanatyam. 12 Oct.2008. 6 Sept.2014.BBC Religions. 09 Sept.2009. British Broadcasting Company. 06 Sept.2014“Hinduism.” BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web.02 Sept.2014“HINDUISM:The Worlds Third Largest Religion.” HINDUISM: The Worlds Third Largest Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2014.

BooksArthur Cotterell & Rachel Storm, The Ultimate Encyclopedia Of Mythology. Anness Publishing Ltd, Blaby Road, Wingston, Leicestershire: Joanna Lorenz. 2012Phillip Wilkinson & Neil Philip, Visual Reference Guides Mythology. 387 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016: Jonathan Metcalf. 2007