There’s an old adage about death and taxes being the only two certainties in life. Now, taxation is a function of government – death is a function… Read more “Who Wants To Live Forever? Markendaya and the End of the World”
Tag: Vishnu
Kalki, the Tenth Avatar of Vishnu, Hindu Cycles of Time, and the End of World as We Know It…
Hindu calculations of time are tricky business; they reckon units of time that are measured against a day of Brahma, the creator God. How long does a… Read more “Kalki, the Tenth Avatar of Vishnu, Hindu Cycles of Time, and the End of World as We Know It…”
B_, the Ambiguous Ninth Avatar of Vishnu
As we’ve seen earlier, there are two competing theories as to why mythic motifs keep recurring through the world; one is that they are archetypal, and therefore… Read more “B_, the Ambiguous Ninth Avatar of Vishnu”
Rama, the Seventh Avatar of Vishnu
At some 24,000 verses, the tale of Rama, the Ramayana, is tricky to summarize. To further complicate things, there are at least 300 distinct versions from all over… Read more “Rama, the Seventh Avatar of Vishnu”
There Will Be Blood: Parashurama, the Sixth Avatar of Vishnu
Who is Parashurama, the sixth Avatar of Vishnu? He’s different from his predecessors in many ways. The first two Avatars had cosmological roles (Matsya saving one good… Read more “There Will Be Blood: Parashurama, the Sixth Avatar of Vishnu”
One Small Step…Vishnu’s Fifth Avatar, Vamana
Now, if you recall the previous Avatar of Vishnu, Narasimha, you might remember that the crux of that story was a battle of wills between father and… Read more “One Small Step…Vishnu’s Fifth Avatar, Vamana”
Loopholes and Lions: Narasimha, the Fourth Avatar of Vishnu
Imagine this: your father is a powerful Demon king, made all the more powerful after being granted a magic boon from the creator God, Brahma. Now, your… Read more “Loopholes and Lions: Narasimha, the Fourth Avatar of Vishnu”
Got the Whole World On His Tusks: Varaha, Vishnu’s Third Avatar
Compared to the two previous Avatars of Vishnu, Matsya the Fish and Kurma the Tortoise, Varaha, Vishnu’s third “official” incarnation, isn’t given much backstory. Historically, there are… Read more “Got the Whole World On His Tusks: Varaha, Vishnu’s Third Avatar”
Rahu and Ketu: Hindu Eclipse Mythology
In Hindu mythology, solar eclipses are caused by the decapitated head (Rahu), or lifeless body (Ketu) of the demon Svarbhānu, otherwise known as: “He who darkens the… Read more “Rahu and Ketu: Hindu Eclipse Mythology”
The Nectar of Immortality: Kurma, Vishnu’s Second Avatar
As we saw in a prior post, Vishnu’s first manifestation was a fish named Matsya; that was a flood tale, where as in many a flood tale,… Read more “The Nectar of Immortality: Kurma, Vishnu’s Second Avatar”
Myth Crafts 