The Mythology of All Races 6 : Indian and Iranian

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THE MYTHOLOGY OF ALL RACES Volume VI

INDIAN IRANIAN

Volume I.

Greek and Roman

William Sherwood Fox, Ph.D., Princeton University.

Volume II. Teutonic Axel Olrik, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen. Volume III. Celtic, Slavic Canon John A. MacCulloch, D.D., Bridge of Allan, Scotland. Jan Mächal, Ph.D., Bohemian University, Prague. Volume IV.

Finno-Ugric, Siberian

Uno Holmberg, Ph.D., University of Finland, Helsingfors.

Volume V.

Semitic

R. Campbell Thompson, M.A., F.S.A., F.R.G.S., Oxford.

Volume VI. Indian, Iranian A. Berriedale Keith, D.C.L., Edinburgh University. Albert J. Cärnoy, Ph.D., University of Louvain.

Volume VII. Armenian, African Mardiros Ananikian, B.D., Kennedy School of Missions, Hart­ ford, Connecticut. George Foucart, Docteur es Lettres, French Institute of Oriental Archaeology, Cairo.

Volume VIII. Chinese, Japanese U. Hattori, Litt.D., University of Tokyo. {Japanese Exchange Professor al Harvard University, 1915-1916) Masaharu Anesaki, Litt.D., University of Tokyo. {Japanese Exchange Professor at Harvard University, 1913-1915} Volume IX.

Oceanic

Roland Burrage Dixon, Ph.D., Harvard University.

Volume X. American (North of Mexico) Hartley Burr Alexander, Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Volume XI.

American (Latin)

Hartley Burr Alexander, Ph.D., University of Nebraska.

Volume XII. Egypt, Far East W. Max Müller, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania. Sir (James) George Scott, K.C.I.E., London.

Volume XIII. Index

PLATE I Durga

The wife of Siva, in her dread aspect, slays the Asura Mahisa. Standing in an attitude of triumph on the demon, who, as his name implies, is in the shape of a buffalo, she drags his soul (symbolized in human form) from him. From a Javanese lava sculpture, probably from Prambanan, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. See p. 118.

THE MYTHOLOGY OF ALL RACES IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES LOUIS HERBERT GRAY, A.M., PH.D., Editor GEORGE FOOT MOORE, A.M., D.D., LL.D., Consulting Editor

INDIAN

IRANIAN

BY

BY

A. BERRIEDALE KEITH

ALBERT J. CARNOY

D.C.L., D.Litt.

Ph.D., Litt.D.

BOSTON

MARSHALL JONES COMPANY M DCCCC XVII

Copyright, 1917

By Marshall Jones Company Entered at Stationers’ Hall, London All rights reserved

Printed in January, 1917

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESS CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS BOUND BY THE BOSTON BOOKBINDING COMPANY

CONTENTS INDIAN Author’s Preface...................................................................... Transcription and Pronunciation.......................................

5 9

Introduction.............................................................................. 11 Chapter I. The Rgveda— Gods of Sky and Air .... 15 II. The Rgveda — Gods of Earth, Demons, and Dead ................................... 41 III. The Mythology of the Brahmanas .... 73 IV. The Great Gods of the Epic....................... 103 V. Minor Epic Deities and the Dead 13 i VI. The Mythology of the Puranas................... 162 VII. Buddhist Mythology in India and Tibet . . 187 VIII. The Mythology of the Jains............................ 220 IX. The Mythology of Modern Hinduism . . . 230

IRANIAN Author’s Preface........................................................................... 253 Transcription and Pronunciation............................................ 257 Introduction................................................................................... 259 Chapter I. Wars of Gods and Demons................................ 263 II. Myths of Creation................................................ 275 III. The Primeval Heroes............................................ 293 IV. Legends of Yima . . 304 V. Traditions of the Kings and Zoroaster . . . 320 VI. The Life to Come................................................... 344 VII. Conclusion............................................................... 348 Notes, Indian .... 355 Notes, Iranian . . 360 Bibliography, Indian....................................................................... 371 Bibliography, Iranian................................................................... 395 v

ILLUSTRATIONS FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS PLATE

FACING PAGE

I II Ill IV V VI VII VIII

Durga — Photogravure ................... . Frontispiece 22 Idol Car. . 2Ô Surya ... Indra ■— Coloured....................... 34 60 Apsarases — Coloured Brahma — Coloured 78 82 Kala-Siva............... 100 A. Tortures of Hell 100 B. Tortures of Hell Trimurti . . .... . . . . 108 118 Marriage of Siva and Parvati Birth of Brahma — Coloured 120 122 Varahavatara . . Laksml — Coloured. 124 126 Krsna . 128 Hanuman . . Garuda . 140 Vasuki 154 Yaksl . 156 Kubera . ... .... 158 Visnu Slays the Demons — Coloured . . . 164 170 Laksml . 182 Ganesa . . . . . . The Great Buddha — Coloured .... .... 188 190 The Buddha and Sujata — Coloured . . . 192 The Buddha on the Lotus....................... 196 Temptation of the Buddha — Coloured . .

IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI

viii plate

XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX XXXI XXXII

ILLUSTRATIONS facing page

Avalokitesvara .............................................................. 202 Tirthakara .................................................................. 220 Dilwara Temple.............................................................. 226 Shrine of Bhumiya...........................................................234 Bhairon .......................................................................... 238 Iranian Deities on Indo-Scythian Coins........................ 260 1. Mithra 2. Apâm Napât 3. Mâh 4. Vâta or Vâyu 5. Khvarenanh 6. Atar 7. Vanainti (Uparatât) 8. Verethraghna XXXIII 1. Typical Representation of Mithra........................ 264 2. Scenes from the Life of Mithra XXXIV Iranian Deities on Indo-Scythian and Sassanian Coins................................................................... 272 1. Tishtrya 2. Khshathra Vairya 3. Ardokhsho 4. Asha Vahishta 5. Ahura Mazda 6. Fire Altar 7. Fire Altar 8. Fravashi XXXV Ancient Fire Temple near Isfahan 284 XXXVI 1. Mithra Born from the Rock . . . 288 2. Mithra Born from the Rock XXXVII The Simurgh — Coloured . ............... 290 XXXVIII Tahmurath Combats the Demons — Coloured . 302 XXXIX 1. Dahhak (Azhi Dahaka) — Coloured . 310 2. Jamshid on His Throne — Coloured XL Rustam and the White Demon — Coloured 328 XLI The Death of Suhrab — Coloured................................332 XLII Kai Kaus Attempts to Fly to Heaven — Coloured 336

ILLUSTRATIONS PLATE

ix FACING PAGE

XLIII Gushtâsp Kills a Dragon — Coloured........................ 340 XLIV Sculpture Supposed to Represent Zoroaster . . . 342

ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT FIGURE

1 2 3 4 5

PAGE

Agni..................................................................... 42 The Churning of the Ocean.................................................. 104 The Propitiation ofUmâ, or Devi............................................. 117 The Narasimha (“Man-Lion”) Avatar of Visnu 123 The Matsya(“Fish”) Avatar of Visnu....................................... 167

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY BY

A. BERRIEDALE KEITH, D.C.L., D.Litt. REGIUS

PROFESSOR OF

SANSCRIT AND

COMPARATIVE

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY

PHILOLOGY

TO THE MEMORY OF

Field Marshal The Right Honourable

EARL KITCHENER OF KHARTOUM K.G., K.P., O.M., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., LL.D. LORD RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (19I4-I916)

AUTHOR’S PREFACE HE mythology of India claims unique interest by virtue of its unparalleled length of life. It is true that not even the discoveries at Boghaz Kyoi render it prudent for us to place the Rgveda at an earlier period than 1500 b. c., and in part at least that collection may come from three centuries later, so that as contrasted with the dates of Egyptian and Babylonian records the earliest monument of Aryan mythology is comparatively recent. In mass of content and in value for mythology, however, these cannot compare with the Rgveda. Of still more importance is the fact that from the period of the R.gveda to the present day, a space of some thirty-five hundred years, we have a mythology which is in constant but organic development. The high mythic systems of Teuton, Celt, and Slav, of Greek and Roman, have perished before the onslaught of a loftier faith and survive in little else than folk-lore. In India, on the contrary, though foreign invasion has often swept over the north-west of the land, though Islam has annexed souls as well as territories, though Christianity (especially in the south) has contributed elements to the faith of the people, still it remains true that the religion and the mythology of the land are genuinely their own and for this reason have in them­ selves the constant potency of fresh growth. Moreover, amidst the ceaseless change which is the heritage of human things, there is relative stability in the simpler thoughts of the human mind, and as in many parts of India the peasant still labours with the implements and in the mode of his ancestors in periods far remote, so his mind frames the same hypotheses to account for those phenomena of nature which in India more than else­ where determine irrevocably his weal or his woe.

6

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

The rich variety of the mythology, despite its attraction for the student of the history of myths, renders the task of concise exposition one of peculiar difficulty. For the mythology of the present day available material is enormous: each part of the vast area of India has its own abundant store of myth and tradition, and to give detail for this period would be impossible. The same consideration applies with but slightly lessened force for the earlier epochs: the Veda, the epics, the Puranas, the literature of the Buddhists and of the Jains, each present data in lavish abundance. It has been necessary, therefore, to cir­ cumscribe narrowly the scope of the subject by restricting the treatment to that mythology which stands in close connexion with religion and which conveys to us a conception of the manner in which the Indian pictured to himself the origin of the world and of life, the destiny of the universe and of the souls of man, the gods and the evil spirits who supported or menaced his existence. Gods and demons were very present to the mind of the Indian then as they are today, and they are inextricably involved in innumerable stories of folk-lore, of fairy tale, and of speculation as to the origin of institutions and customs. The task of selecting such myths as will best illustrate the nature of the powers of good and evil is one in which we cannot hope for complete success; and the problem is rendered still more hard by the essential vagueness of many of the figures of Indian mythology: the mysticism of Indian concep­ tion tends ever to a pantheism alien to the clear-cut creations of the Hellenic imagination. The difficult task of selecting suitable illustrations has been shared with the editor of this series, Dr. Louis H. Gray, of whose valuable assistance in this and other matters I desire to express my most sincere appreciation; and my friend Pro­ fessor Charles R. Lanman, of Harvard University, has gener­ ously lent us valuable volumes from his private library. Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, with his wonted generosity and devotion to the cause of promoting the knowledge of Indian VI— I

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

7

art, not merely accorded permission for the reproduction of illustrations from his Rajput Paintings (published by the Oxford University Press), but placed at my disposal the resources of his admirable Fisvakarma, a kindness for which I am deeply grateful. To the India Society and the Oxford University Press I am indebted for permission to reproduce illustrations from Lady Herringham’s splendid copies of the Ajanta frescoes, published by the Press for the Society. Messrs. W. Griggs and Sons, of Hanover Street, Peckham, London, S. E., have been good enough to permit the reproduction of certain illustrations from their Journal of Indian Art; and I owe to the generosity of the India Office the photographs which Messrs. Griggs and Sons have made for me from negatives in the collection of that Department. Lieut.-Col. A. H. Milne, of Cults, Aber­ deenshire, Scotland, kindly permitted the photographing of one of the pieces of his rich collection; the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Peabody Museum in Salem, Mass., have been no less generous than he; and Mrs. Louis H. Gray placed her expert knowledge at our service in seeing the vol­ ume through the press. To my wife I owe thanks for help and criticism. A. BERRIEDALE KEITH. University of Edinburgh, 22 September, 1916.

TRANSCRIPTION AND PRONUNCIATION HE system of transcription followed is that used by the Royal Asiatic Society and accords closely with the one adopted in the Grundriss der indo-arischen Philologie und Altertumskunde. The pronunciation is much as in English, but c is pronounced as ch, and g is always hard; the characters repre­ sented by kh, gh, ch, jh, th,