Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic

by W.J. Wilkins

This is a comprehensive study of Hindu mythology. Due to the huge number of gods and goddesses, and their changing role through centuries of Indian spiritual life, this is a complex subject. This book covers Hindu mythology during the Vedic and Puranic periods. Wilkins starts with the very earliest pantheon of the Vedas, such as Surya, the storm-god Maruts, Agni, Soma, Yama, and the dawn Goddess Ushas. From there he moves into the later, and very intricate, Puranic mythology. This includes detailed treatment of the central triad of Brahmâ, Vishnu and Shiva, along with dozens of other Gods and Goddesses, nature spirits, half-divine heros of the epics, and so on. Wilkins covers the dozen of so principal avatars of Vishu, including Krishna and (suprisingly) Buddha, and prophecies of the mysterious Kalki avatar, yet to come. The dozens of line drawings are good reference art for each of the major deities.

A great Indologist of his times,W.J.Wilkins is almost revered for this classic and authentic work on Hindu Mythology.

Genres: Mythology, Religion, History, India, Spirituality

493 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

1843-1902

Reviews

[Ezgi Şayan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bilim kurgu kitabı yazar gibi yazılmış, türkçe çevirisinden okudum ama okurken zorlandım. Kolay okunur değil. Yine de bilgilendirici. Belirli Tanrılara odaklanmış. Çok kapsamlı değil.

[Bella · Rating 2 out of 5]

First view is ok. Almost a good translated philosophy. But how the God's and Goddess are represented is purely literal. Without deep understanding this has been written and hence it will bore most of the readers. No deep meaning, everything is superficial.

[Surender Negi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2/5

Subject: Indology/ SA Religion/Hinduism.

Author: W.J.Wilkins

Year of Publish: 1990

"I Like It "

1. Well I would like to thanks writer that he has not try to be asshole during writing about Hinduism as another writer (Including Indian scholar) do. This is most honest book I ever written on Hindus ancient History or Ithihas. I am just not happy with title of This book" Hindu Mythology". Hindu ancient text is not novel of science fiction. Text like Mahabharata, Ramayana, Dharmasutra, Vedas, Upanishads, Smahitas and others are considered as authentic and history of India. Moreover, writer has same notion about Aryans while I don't support this theory cause its already debunked. But I cannot blame even writer also cause this book is based on old historical indologocal study on India.

2. Moreover, Writer has briefly described the story of Lord Rama from various point and accept that this piece of ancient text is full of human emotions. Writer has used his skill to compare, bifurcate and descriptive analogy of various text retelling same story. writer has taken lots of example from Griffith and Max mullar work (Personally, I consider that Max Mullar was hinduphobic and Griffith has very little knowledge about Non transferable word of Sanskrit Non Transferable SanskritWord- Top # 06 so his translation is although doubtful.

3. Writer also tried to explain different concept of vedas, stories from Vedas, Puranas and others folk tails of India. One side writer consider Buddha to be Lord Vishnu 9th incarnation but other side he also itself not agreed on this. May be he has confused about different story and idea of Buddhism. but for information, charwaka has same materialistic philosophy for god and few of them can be seen in Bhagwat Gita itself.

4. This book try to contain almost each deities from Vedas to Puranas and early era of 15 CE to 17 CE. This book also clearly transparent about the supreme and uniq character of God "Brahman" in Vedas. he also tried hard to define that how god of Vedas "Indra, Rudra, Vishnu" become Puranic god "Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh".

5. Writer also tried to broke down myth of 33 million God. he clearly distinct God into 33 Types

Twelve Ādityas (personified deities) – Mitra, Aryaman, Bhaga, Varuṇa, Dakṣa, Aṃśa, Tvāṣṭṛ, Pūṣan, Vivasvat, Savitṛ, Indra (Śakra), Vishnu.
Eleven Rudras, consisting of:
Five abstractions – Ānanda "bliss", Vijñāna "knowledge", Manas "thought", Prāṇa "breath" or "life", Vāc "speech",
Five names of Śiva – Īśāna "ruler", Tatpuruṣa "that person", Aghora "not terrible", Vāmadeva "pleasant god", Sadyojāta "born at once"
Ātmā "self"
Eight Vasus (deities of material elements) – Pṛthivī "Earth", Agni "Fire", Antarikṣa "Atmosphere" or "Space", Jal "Water", Vāyu "Wind", Dyauṣ "Sky", Sūrya "Sun",Nakṣatra "Stars", Soma "Moon"
"Things I don' t like it"

1. Few location writer explained that how itself Brahma has introduce cast system in Vedas but he clearly mentioned that this division was labor base. But in next page he itself forget and tried to separate the caste with Dravidian theory.

2. At last page of Book, writer tried show that hindus has show much god that its hard for them to even remember that. But within book, he clearly mentioned that Only vedic god and puranic, lord vishnu and shiva are worth of worshiped.

3. In Many places, writer tried to show that how bhagwatam puran try hard to under mine lord shiva. and he has mentioned 10 incrantaion of Vishnu but not wrote about shiva show much. He forgot to wrote about different incranation of lord Shiva. Like 11 Rudra avtaar: 1) Kapali 2) Pingal 3) Bheem 4) Virupaksha 5) Vilohit 6) Shastra 7) Ajapaad 8) Ahirbudhnya 9) Shambhu 10) Chand and 11) Bhav.

1. Ardhnaarishwar Avatar: Ardhnaarishwar form of the Lord Shiva includes half body of Lord Shiva and other half of the Mata Parvati. This form is very calm and peaceful, provides blessings to the devotees.

2. Nandi Avatar: Lord Shiva had taken lots of avatars on the earth according to the requirement for their devotees. Nandi avatar is one of all the avatars.

3. Sharabh Avatar: This form of the Lord Shiva was the 6th avatar of him.

4. Grihpati Avatar: Grihpati avatar of the Lord Shiva was the 7th avatar of him.

5. Neel Kanth Avatar: Neel Kanth avatar is also a main form of him. Once there was arisen a lot of Vish from the churning of the ocean. Lord Shiva had drunk all the Vish to prevent his beautiful world from the bad effects of Vish. Mata Parvati had stopped the Vish to fall below the neck by putting her palm on his neck. So, this form of him is known as the Neel kanth avatar.

6. Rishi Durvasha Avatar: It is considered as this avatar of the Lord is the main avatar. He has taken this avatar on the earth to maintain the discipline of the universe.

7. Mahesh Avatar: Mahesh avatar is also a peaceful form of the Lord Shiva which blesses his devotees.

8. Hanuman Avatar: hanuman avatar is considered as the supreme avatar of him. Lord Shiva has taken this avatar during the time Lord Rama to present a good example of the Lord and Bhakt in front of the people.

9. Brishabh Avatar: Brishabh avatar is the very significant form of the God Shiva.

10. Piplaad Avatar: Lord Shiva helps their devotees to get free from the Shani Dosha in this form. It is considered as the name of this avatar was given by the Lord Brahma.

11. Vaishyanath Avatar: This is the main avatar of the Lord Shiva to his devotees.

12. Yatinath Avatar: Yatinath avatar of the God Shiva represents a peaceful form of him to his devotees.

13. Krishna Darshan Avatar: Lord Shiva, in this form had represented the significance of the yagya and important religious rituals in Hinduism.

14. Awdhuteshwar Avatar: In this form Lord Shiva had crushed the ego of proud Indra.

15. Bhichhuwarya Avatar: In this form, Lord Shiva protects his all creatures from any difficulty.

16. Sureshwar Avatar: This form of Lord Shiva represents the love and care of him towards his devotees.

17. Bramhchari Avatar: Lord Shiva had taken this avatar to test the Mata Parvati. When Sati rebirth on the earth to the Himalaya’s house as his daughter, Parvati and started worshipping the God Shiva to marry him.

[Kalle Wescott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read /Hindu Mythology: Vedic And Puranic/, by W.J. Wilkins, which was a good review of the Hindu pantheon, their history, and some related scriptures and art.

[Joseph F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this classic when I was in India almost 20 years ago. Finally got around to reading it. I have to say, Wilkins covers much ground in this book. In almost 500 pages he just about covers every Indian myth I have come across before, as well as stories I never knew. He gives us these stories in either of 2 ways: direct quotes from the originals translated into English, or a quick retellings in one of 2 forms: either from an English translation of the Sanskrit original, or as a rather quick retelling. The translations are old and quaint, but charming nonetheless. There are even some interesting drawings of the Hindu gods and goddesses that were supposedly drawn by believers themselves (At least my edition, which has a different cover than the one above.)
There are probably those readers that feel Wilkins' book has been surpassed by more modern works by Hindus with a deeper understanding of the myths. ( In the beginning he seems to have to emphasize his method of neutrality In reporting his myths, perhaps in the face of his 19th century contemporaries who probably all scoffed at the Indians and their pagan ways.).
But Wilkins comes across as very respectful and knowledgeable. And if you want to read just one book on Indian mythology, with just about all the important stories crammed into it (as well as quotations from original sources such as the Vedas and the Puranas), I would strongly recommend this book.
I was disappointed though by the fact that on the cover of mine there is a pic of the goddess Kali and Sai Baba. He talks of Kali, but not the other figure. He does not talk at all concerning historical saints such as Sai Baba, but only mythological ones. A bit of false advertising.