List of mythological objects (Hindu mythology)

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Ancient objects encompass a variety of items (e.g. weapons, armor, clothing) found in Hinduism.

Armour[]

Containers[]

Kapala skull cup
  • Kalasha - the kalasha is considered a symbol of abundance and "source of life" in the Vedas. It is referred to as "overflowing full vase" in the Vedas. The Kalasha is believed to contain amrita, the elixir of life, and thus is viewed as a symbol of abundance, wisdom, and immortality. The Kalasha is often seen in Hindu iconography as an attribute, in the hands of Hindu deities like the creator god Brahma, the destroyer god Shiva as a teacher, and the goddess of prosperity Lakshmi.
  • Kamandalu, kamandal, or kamandalam - an oblong water pot made of a dry gourd (pumpkin) or coconut shell, metal, wood of the Kamandalataru tree,[2] or from clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. The kamandalu is used in Hindu iconography, in depiction of deities related with asceticism or water. It is, thus, viewed as a symbol of ascetism in Hinduism.[3] Adi Shankaracharya’s ashtotaram hymn praises Shiva whose hand is adorned with the kamandalu. Other deities like the fire-god Agni and the preceptor of the gods, Brihaspati, are depicted carrying the kamandalu.[4][5]
  • Kapala - (Sanskrit for "skull") or skullcup is a cup made from a human skull used as a ritual implement (bowl) in both Hindu and Buddhist Tantra.
  • Kumbha - a type of pottery in India. It symbolises the womb, thus it represents fertility, life, generative power of human beings and sustenance and is generally associated with devis, particularly Ganga.[6]

Dispensers[]

Surya gifts Yudhishthira the Akshayapatra
  • Akshaya Patra - Akshayapatra (means an inexhaustible vessel), is an object from Hindu theology. It was a wonderful vessel given to Yudishtira by the Lord Surya which provided a never-failing supply of food to the Pandavas every day.[7]
  • Akshaya Tunir - inexhaustible quiver of arrows of Arjuna.

Flags[]

Further information: Dhvaja
  • Garuda Dhwaja - The flag of Vishnu.
  • Indra Dhwaja - The flag of Indra. Also a festival of Indra.
  • Kakkai kodi - The flag of Jyestha, goddess of inauspicious things and misfortune.
  • Kapi Dhwaja or Vanara dwaja (monkey flag) - The flag of Arjuna in the Mahabharata, in which the Lord Hanuman himself resided.[8]
  • Makaradhvaja - The flag of Kama, god of love.
  • Seval Kodi - The war flag of Lord Murugan, god of war. It depicts the rooster, Krichi.

Flora[]

Further information:
Hanuman retrieves Sanjeevani by taking the entire mountain

Herbs & Plants[]

  • Ausadhirdipyamanas - Healing plants. Used for healing and rejuvenations in battles. These are used by the Ashvins.
  • Eraká grass - The grass that grew from the cast away powdered iron-bolt belonging to Samba. It was used to destroy the Yadu race, as it miraculously turned into an iron-bolt in the hands of its wielders.
  • Kusha grass/Darbha grass - The Kusha grass is specifically recommended by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as part of the ideal seat for meditation.
  • Padma - Padma (The sacred lotus) is an aquatic plant that plays a central role in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Hindus revere it with the gods Vishnu, Brahma and to a lesser degree Kubera, and the goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati. Often used as an example of divine beauty and purity.
    • Saugandhika flower was a lotus flower which was sought after by Bhima (for Draupadi) during the Pandavas exile. It was found in Kubera's pond.
  • Sanjeevani - Sanjeevani is a magical herb which has the power to cure any malady. It was believed that medicines prepared from this herb could revive a dead person.
  • Tulsi - Tulsi (or Tulasi, Holy basil) is a sacred plant in Hindu belief. Hindus regard it as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi; she is regarded as a great worshipper of the god Vishnu.

Trees[]

  • The Tree of Jiva and Atman appears in the Vedic scriptures, predating current Hinduism, as a metaphysical metaphor concerning the soul.
Sacred grove
See also: Kavu
Sacred Trees
Krishna and Satyabhama steal Indra's Parijata tree
  • Amalika - The veneration of the amla tree in particular is due to the belief that the god Vishnu resides in and near the tree, particularly on Amalaka Ekadashi.
  • Ashoka tree - The ashoka tree is closely associated with the yakshi mythological beings.
  • Atti/Gular Fig (Sanskrit: uḍumbara) - In the Atharva Veda, this fig tree is given prominence as a means for acquiring prosperity and vanquishing foes.
  • Bilva tree - Bilwa tree is a sacred tree and used to worship Lord Shiva.
  • Kadamba - The kadamba is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. In North India, it is associated with Krishna while in the south it is known as "Parvati’s tree". The kadamba tree is also associated with a tree deity called Kadambariyamman.
  • Parijata (also Nyctanthes arbor-tristis - The divine flowering tree with blossoms that never fade or wilt - taken to Indraloka by the Devas.
  • Sala tree - In Hindu tradition, the sal tree is said to be favoured by Vishnu. It is also associated with salabhanjika or shalabhanjika (also known as madanakai, madanika or shilabalika).
Tree of Life
  • Akshayavat or Akshay Vat (Indestructible Banyan Tree) - It is a sacred fig tree. The sage Markandeya asked Lord Narayana to show him a specimen of the divine power. Narayana flooded the entire world for a moment, during which only the Akshayavat could be seen above the water level.
Wishing tree
  • Kalpavriksha (also Kalpataru, Kalpadruma or Kalpapādapa) - It is a wish-fulfilling divine tree in Hindu history.
World Tree
  • Ashvattha (also Assattha) - A sacred tree for the Hindus and has been extensively mentioned in texts pertaining to Hinduism, mentioned as 'peepul' (Ficus religiosa) in Rig Veda mantra I.164.20. Buddhist texts term the tree as Bodhi tree, a tree under which Gautama Buddha meditated and gained enlightenment.

Gardens[]

Hanuman visits Sita in Ashokavatika

Forests[]

Jewelry and ornaments[]

Musical instruments[]

See also: Indian musical instruments

Substances[]

Further information: Entheogen § Asia
Sagar Manthan
  • Amrita - The nectar produced from the Samudra manthan, which upon consuming, granted the gods immortality.
  • Halahala (also called 'kalakuta') - The Samudra manthan process released a number of things from the Ocean of Milk. One was the lethal poison known as Halahala. This terrified the gods and demons because the poison was so powerful that it could destroy all of creation. Shiva consumed the poison in an act to protect the universe.
  • Soma (Sanskrit) or Haoma (Avestan) - It is described as being prepared by extracting juice from the stalks of a certain plant. In both Vedic and Zoroastrian tradition, the name of the drink and the plant are the same, and also personified as a divinity, the three forming a religious or mythological unity.

Treasures[]

  • Mahāpadma refers to a legendary treasure in Hindu history.
  • Navaratna - The sacred and royal "nine gems".
  • Nidhi (also called Nidhana, Nikhara, and Sevadhi) - In Hinduism, Nidhi, that is, a treasure, consists of nine treasures (nawanidhi) belonging to Kubera, god of wealth.
  • Ratnas - The 14 gems/treasures produced during the Samudra manthan.

Vehicles[]

Weapons[]

Balarama holding his famous halayudha
  • Anrita - The name of one of the mystical weapons delivered to Ráma by Viswámitra, as mentioned in the Rámáyana.
  • Ayudhapurusha - The anthropomorphic depiction of a divine weapon in Hindu art. Ayudhapurushas are sometimes considered as partial incarnates of their divine owners.
  • Indra's net - The net was one of the weapons of the sky-god Indra, used to snare and entangle enemies. The net also signifies magic or illusion.
  • Shiva Kaakam - An unconquerable weapon of Lord Shiva.

Shastra[]

  • Ankusha (also Elephant Goad) - An elephant goad is one of the eight auspicious objects known as Astamangala. Ankusha is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha.
  • Balachita - The Halayudha, is a plough used as a weapon by Balaram, brother of Krishna.
  • Chentu - A horse whip which looks like a crooked stick, and is a typical attribute of Aiyanar, Krishna in his aspect as Rajagopala, and Shiva with Nandi.

Miscellaneous[]

Rudraksha Beads
  • Ashtamangala - The Aṣṭamaṅgala are a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Symbols.
  • Chhatra - An umbrella, according to Hinduism, is the emblem of Varuna. A number of deities are depicted with chatra, and they include Revanta, Surya, and Vamana (the 5th avatar of Vishnu).
  • The Dharmachakra (IAST: dharmacakra; Pali dhammacakka; "Wheel of the Dharma"), is one of the Ashtamangala.
  • Devi-Gola of the Hindus, balls which are supposed to fall from the gods or the heavens. Most likely meteors.
  • Hiranyagarbha (World egg) - The source of the creation of the universe or the manifested.
  • Prana - All the cosmic energy, permeating the Universe on all levels. Prana is often referred to as the "life force" or "life energy". It also includes energies present in inanimate objects.
  • Rama Setu In the Ramayana, the vanaras named Nala and Nila construct a floating bridge (known as Rama Setu) across the sea, using stones that floated on water because they had Rama's name written on them.
  • Rudraksha, also rudraksh, ("Rudra's/Shiva's Teardrops"), is a seed traditionally used for prayer beads in Hinduism.
  • Stambha (also spelled as Skambha) - In the context of Hinduism, is believed to be a cosmic column. It is believed that the stambha functions as a bond, which joins the heaven (Svarga) and the earth (prithvi).
  • Vedic amulet - In Vedic literature, fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara fig tree having been deemed the "lord of amulets".
  • Wheel of time or wheel of history (also known as Kalachakra) is a concept found in several religious traditions and philosophies, notably religions of Indian origin such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, which regard time as cyclical and consisting of repeating ages.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Sarat Chandra Das (1902). Tibetan-English Dictionary with Sanskrit Synonyms. Calcutta, India: Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, p. 69
  2. ^ http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_sa/shankara108m_sa.html, Shankarachrya’s ashtotaram)
  3. ^ Jansen, Eva Rudy (1993). The Book of Hindu Imagery. Binkey Kok Publications. p. 158. ISBN 9789074597074. Retrieved 2008-08-21. p.52
  4. ^ Chaplin, Dorothea (2007). Mythlogical Bonds Between East and West. READ BOOKS. p. 160. ISBN 9781406739862. Retrieved 2008-08-21. p.117
  5. ^ Chakrabarti, Dilip K. (2001). Archaeological Geography of the Ganga Plain. Orient Longman. p. 301. ISBN 9788178240169. Retrieved 2008-08-21. p. 40
  6. ^ Darian 2001, p. 125 Quote: The Kumbha: After the Makara, Ganga's most distinctive sculptural feature is the full vase, first appearing with the river goddess on the same Varaha cave frieze from Udaygiri. Although not common in the early stages of the Ganga image, the full vase appears more and more frequently as the Ganga theme reaches maturity.
  7. ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 65.
  8. ^ Sri Ramakrishna Math (1985) "Hanuman Chalisa" p. 9
  9. ^ Website dedicated to the story of Karna
  10. ^ "4. Amba and Bhishma". Mahabharataonline.com. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  11. ^ Devdutt Pattanaik (8 January 2002). The man who was a woman and other queer tales of Hindu lore. Harrington Park Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-56023-180-6. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  12. ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 62.
  13. ^ Kinsley p. 63
  14. ^ Kinsley pp. 67–8
  15. ^ Kinsley p. 171
  16. ^ Kinsley p. 98
  17. ^ Kinsley p. 153
  18. ^ Kinsley p. 167
  19. ^ Kinsley p. 180
  20. ^ Kinsley p. 246
  21. ^ D Dennis Hudson (27 August 2008). The Body of God Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press. pp. 168–. ISBN 978-0-19-970902-1.
  22. ^ Prof. Shrikant Prasoon. Hinduism Clarified and Simplified. V&S Publishers. pp. 235–. ISBN 978-93-81384-72-5.
  23. ^ Rūpagosvāmī (2003). The Bhaktirasāmṛtasindhu of Rūpa Gosvāmin. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 575–. ISBN 978-81-208-1861-3.
  24. ^ Venkatesananda, Swami (1984). The Concise Yoga Vāsiṣṭha. Albany: State University of New York Press. pp. 346–353. ISBN 0-87395-955-8. OCLC 11044869.
  25. ^ "Syamantaka spelling". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  26. ^ "Syamantaka Story". Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  27. ^ Brown (October 2007). Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismansfirst=Richard Shaw. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 978-974-8102-29-0.
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