We speak of Hindu mythology, because in the beginning it contained a lot of gods representing the forces of nature, over time it evolved into a religion with an organized cult whose basis is manifested in epic stories, containing a moral teaching and a search for knowledge and perfection.
To organize the mythology of India, we will separate it into several parts:
Vedas are the four sacred texts that form the basis of the sacred scriptures of Hinduism.
The oldest writing of the Aryan race is the Rig-Veda or Book of Hymns. It follows the Sama-Veda or Book of Songs, the Yajur — Veda or Book of Liturgical Formulas, and the Atharva Veda or Book of Magic Formulas.
These hymns date back to a time when the Aryan race had not yet settled on the banks of the Ganges River.
At that time there was no organized worship, no Brahmanic system of government, only pastoral tribes ruled by heir princes.
This ancient Vedic religion consisted in the worship of the forces of nature personified as different gods.
From here on, Brahmanic mythology is to be constituted with a diversity of gods.
Aditi was the mother of the gods. Their children are called aditias which are the stars of the firmament.
One of these sons, born of an egg that Aditi believed was not fertilized, was thrown into space and walked through the sky in a carriage pulled by seven horses.
It's the Sun, called Suria.
Sun God, king of the stars, is in charge of giving life to souls and elements.
He's depicted as a red man with three eyes and four arms.
In two of his arms he carries water lilies and the other two uses them to bless his followers.
Mitra and Varuna are also sons of Aditi and were in charge of maintaining order in the universe.
Mitra presides over friendship and all kinds of contracts.
Varuna is responsible for ensuring that promises and words are fulfilled.
He is king of the physical and psychic world.
It is everywhere so it is said to be omnipresent. He witnesses everything that happens and can even read hidden thoughts.
Give rewards and punishments according to each other's intentions.
Regulates the celestial movement and the circulation of the waters.
Breath is his breath and the stars are scares.
Share with Yama the title of King of the Dead.
He's depicted as a white man on a sea monster.
It's the dawn. Lover, wife and daughter of Suria. Daughter of heaven sister of the night.
Uchas traverses the sky on a carriage drawn by cows or horses of red color.
As it ascends into the sky, it dispels the darkness prepares the way to the sun.
She is depicted as a young woman because she is born every day in the morning and dies when the sun's ayos appear.
The Acvinos are Nasatya and Dasdra. They carry the morning light opening the way of the Aurora goddess.
They are the protectors of the sick and helpless. They can heal the blind and the crippled. They're the doctors of the gods.
They also favor love and marriage.
Savitar is the son of Uchas.
It represents the principle of movement. It makes the sunlight shine, the waters circulate, and the wind blows.
Anything, being or god that has movement participates in the essence of this god.
Savitar has hands, eyes and tongue of gold.
Walk through the sky on a carriage drawn by white horses.
It also has the power to free from sins and lead souls to the place of the righteous.
Indra is the lord of heaven and lives on Mount Meru, north of the Himalayas. His parents were heaven and earth.
His wife, Indrani, is his own reflection and his son is called Citagoupta.
In this period manifested the supreme god Prajapati, Vishvakarma, etc.
From the sweat of Prajapati, an egg that was floating over the waters and from which the world came out later. The upper part of the shell formed the universe and the lower half the ocean.
Once the world was created, the first man named Manu was born. Manu was the son of the gods. An offering of Manu gave life to the woman. This one was called Ida or Illa.
Manu began pretending to Ida, and she became a cow to escape. Then Manu turned into a bull.
Then Ida became Goat and Manu became a goat. So on these transformations led to the existence of animals.
Manu was also the first legislator and is considered one of the seven mythical sages.
In this period Brahm appears as the supreme and only god. No beginning or end. Omnipotent and perfect.
Gradually belief in different deities led to the conviction that these manifestations were incarnated by a god who could come to have many names, called Brahman.
The word Brahman initially meant only the power of prayer. To this concept was added the idea of supreme knowledge.
From here we can recognize two phases of this religion:
1- Worship of the gods through sacrifices and moral behavior that ensures a place in paradise.
2-The pursuit of supreme knowledge. The knowledge of Brahm.
This stage was acquired before the appearance of Buddha.
The irradiations of Brahm make up the Trimurti or Indica Trinity.
This trinity is composed of Brahm, Siva and Vichnu.
Bibliography:
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhas,Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita.
Illustrated Universal Mythology, J. G. Noguín