Sacred Texts Hinduism Index Previous
Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic, by W.J. Wilkins, [1900], at sacred-texts.com
A.
Adikavi, a name of Brahmā, 107
Aditi, character and attributes of, 17; resorted to for pardon, 17; origin of, 18; the mother of Vishnu in the Dwarf incarnation, 18
Ādityas, the, 18; various lists of, 19; probably sun-gods, 19
Agastya, a son of Varuna, 44
Agni, description of, 21; cause of his superiority, 10; Vedic attributes of, 22; a Rākshas, 27; the father of Nila, 27; the reputed father of Kartikeya, 337; cursed by Bhrigu, 36
Ahalyā, wife of Gautama, seduced by Indra, 60; released from her husband's curse, 177
Airavata, Indra's elephant, 448
Ambikā, a name of Umā, 285
Amburāja, a name of Varuna, 44
Ananga, a name of Kāmadeva, 261
Ananta, a name of Vishnu, 127
Anasuyā, wife of Atri, 371
Anginas, a son of Brahmā, 369
Anila, a name of Vāyu, 67
Animals, sacred, 448 ff.
Annapurnā, a name of Durgā, 318
Ansumān, a son of Sagara, 463
Antaka, a name of Yama, 86
Apava, a name of Brahmā, 99
Apsaras, the, 482
Ardhanārishwara, a form of Siva and Parvati united, 318
Arjuna, son of Indra, 414; character of, 416; fights with Siva, 421
Asuras, the dispute between them and the gods, 158; description of, 437; word used in different senses, 438 ff.
Asvamedha, or horse sacrifice, 463
Asvins, the, 35; description of, 44; marry Surya, 45; physicians of the gods, 45; legends of cures wrought by, 45; unclean because practising as physicians, 47
Ātmabhu, a name of Brahmā, 107
Atri, a son of Brahmā, 371
B.
Bajri, a name of Indra, 62
Balarāma, incarnation of Vishnu, 220 ff.; also of Sesha, 221
Bali, a Daitya king, slain by Vishnu, 156 ff.; a monkey chief, the son of Indra, 175
Bāli, a monkey king, the usurper of Sugriva's throne, 395
Bhadrakāli, a name of Durgā, 306
Bhagavata, a name of Siva, 283
Bharata, a brother of Rāma Chandra, 175
Bhāskara, a name of Surya, 35 Bhīma, a son of Vāyu, 414; character of, 415; conflicts of, 426 ff.
Bhishma, a son of Gangā, 414; commander-in-chief of the Kuru army, 413; death of, 428
Bhrigu, a son of Brahmā, 363; origin of, 364; priest at Daksha's sacrifice, 364; curses Indra, 364; also Agni, 366; changes a Kshattriya into a Brāhman, 367
Bhutanāth, a name of Siva, 487
Bhuteshwara, a name of Siva, 283
Brahma, the supreme deity, 93; derivation of the name, 95; hymn to, 95
Brahmā, the creator, 99; called Nārāyana, 99; formation of his five heads, 100; why he lost his fifth head, 101; worships Siva, 105; his worship now ceased, 106; cursed by his son Nārada, 384
Brāhmana, a, defined, 4
Brahmanaspati, a name of Agni, 28
Bridge, building of the, to Lanka, 398
Brihaspati, a name of Agni, 28;
explanation of attributes, 28
Buddha, incarnation of Vishnu, 225 ff.; Was this Buddha the founder of Buddhism? 226; Puranic account of, 227 ff.; Lalita-Vistara, account of, 231 ff.; relics of Buddha preserved, 244
Budha, one of the planets, 433
C.
Chaitanya, incarnation of Vishnu, 253 ff.
Chanchalā, name of Lakshmi, 133
Chanda, a demon slain by Durgā, 312
Chandi, a form of Durgā, 309, 312
Chandra, one of the planets, 432. See also Soma.
Chandrashekara, a name of Siva, 283
Chhāgaratha, a name of Agni, 28
Chinnamustakā, a name of Durgā, 317
Chitragupta, son of Indrāni, 63
Chyavana, a sage cured by the Asvins, 46
Civilization, origin of, 16
Cow of plenty, the, 167
Creation, the, Vedic account of, 343; Manu's, 346; Puranic, 347
D.
Daksha, a son of Brahmā, 372
Damodara, a name of Vishnu, 127
Dandadhara, a name of Yama, 86
Dasabhujā, a name of Durgā, 307
Dasaratha, the father of Rāma Chandra, 172
Dasyas, the, a tribe who assisted in building Rāma's bridge, 192
Devaki, mother of Krishna, 201
Devasenā, wife of Kartikeya, 337
Devi, a name of Umā, 284
Dhananjaya, a name of Agni, 27
Dharmarāja, a name of Yama, 86
Dhātā, a name of Brahmā, 107
Dhenkī, the vāhan of Nārada, 479
Dhenuka, an asura slain by Balarāma, 222
Dhritarāshtra, the father of the Kurus, 412
Dhūmketu, a name of Agni, 27
Digambara, a name of Siva, 283
Discus, the, of Vishnu, how made, 34
Diti, the wife of Kasyapa, 67
Divakara, a name of Surya, 35
Divapati, a name of Indra, 62
Divodāsa, King of Benares, misled by Vishnu as Buddha, 228
Draupadi, the wife of the Pandus, 418
Drona, the preceptor of the Kurus and Pandus, 416
Durgā, a demon slain by Durgā, 296
Durgā, various accounts of her origin, 297 ff.; when worshipped, 300; names of, 301; her great conflict, 302
Durvāsas, a sage, 413
Duryodhana, the ruler of Hastināpur, 414, 421
Dyaus and Prithivi, the most ancient of the Vedic gods, 13; Dyaus superseded by Indra, 14; Puranic account of Prithivi, 15
E.
Ekadanta, a name of Ganesa, 327
Ekāvirā, a name of Kāli, 314
F.
Flood, the, account of, from the Vedas, 134; the Mahābhārata, 136; and from the Bhagavata Purāna, 137
G.
Gandharvas, the, 483 Gandhavaha, a name of Vāyu, 67
Ganesa, 323; birth of, 325; object of his birth, 329; hymn to, 331; writer of the Mahābhārata, 331; recent incarnation of, 332; he outwits Kartikeya, 341
Ganesajanani, a name of Durgā, 320
Gangā, the daughter of Himālaya, 460; brought to earth by Bhagirath, 466
Gangādhara, a name of Siva, 283
Garuda, Vishnu's vehicle, acts as a disciple of Vishnu, 228; birth of, 449; antipathy to snakes, 454; assists Rāma, 453; encourages Ansumān to seek his uncles, 453
Gautama, Indra's spiritual guide, 60; a name of Buddha, 230, 232
Gāyatri, the, quoted, 30; praise of, 31; a wife of Brahmā, 111
Girisha, a name of Siva, 283
Gods, the, how they became superior to the asuras, 10; they and the goddesses cursed by Savitri, 112
Gopāl, a name of Krishna, 200
Gopinath, a name of Krishna, 200
Grahapati, a name of Surya, 35
Guardians of the world, the, 390
H.
Hanumān, the ally of Rāma, 66; his birth and work, 401
Har-Hari, a form of Siva and Vishnu united, 276
Hari, a name of Vishnu, 127
Haripriyā, a name of Lakshmi, 133
Harischandra, 41
Hayagriva, a demon who stole the Vedas, 138
Hiranyagarbha, a name of Brahmā, 107
Hiranyakasipu, a demon slain by Vishnu, 149; a son of Kasyapa, 371
Hiranyāksha, a demon slain by Vishnu, 147; a son of Kasyapa, 371
I.
Indra, attributes of, 53; appearance of, 55; Vedic account of birth of, 54; invited to drink of the Soma, 56; his conflict with Vritra, 57; legend of a mortal raised to the position of, 59; conflict with Krishna, 60; immorality of, 60; heaven of, 61; quarrels with Tvastri and Visvarūpa, 76; outwitted by Krishna, 207; cursed by Bhrigu, 364
Indrajit, a son of Rāvana, 192
Indrāni, the wife of Indra, 63
Isāna, a name of Siva, 283
Ishwar, a name of Siva, 283
J.
Jagaddhātri, a form of Durgā, 308
Jagadgauri, a form of Durgā, 317
Jagannāth, an incarnation of Vishnu, 248 ff; Is the worship of this deity disguised Buddhism? 251
Jain deities, the, 488
Jaladhija, a name of Lakshmi, 133
Jalandhara, an asura, 441; his conflict with Indra, 442; overcomes Vishnu, 444; assumes the form of Siva, 445; is robbed of his wife by Vishnu, 446; slain by Siva, 447
Jalapati, a name of Varuna, 44
Jamadagni, the father of Parasurāma, 165
Jamadagnya, a name of Parasurāma, 165
Janaka, father-in-law of Rāma Chandra, 177 ff.
Janārddana, a name of Vishnu, 127
Jatāyus, a vulture who fought with Rāvana, 456
Jaya, a name of Durgā, 306
Jivalana, a name of Agni, 27
K.
Ka? 480
Kabandha, a giant slain by Rāma, 186
Kaitabhajit, a name of Vishnu, 127
Kāla, a name of Yama, 86 Kālanemi, a demon attacked by Hanumān, 404
Kālarātri, a name of Kāli, 314
Kāli, a form of Durgā, 309; her form assumed by Krishna, 211; and by Sita, 310; regarded as a distinct deity, 313; a production of Lakshmi, 314; human sacrifices offered to, 315
Kāli Yuga, description of, 246
Kalki Avatāra of Vishnu, 245
Kalpa, explanation of, 354
Kālyāyani, a name of Durgā, 306
Kāmadeva, 256; consumed by Siva, 257
Kāmdhenu, the cow of plenty, 339
Kandarpa, a name of Kāmadeva, 302
Kansa, an asura slain by Krishna, 199
Kapāli, a name of Durgā, 306
Kapila, a name of Durgā, 306
Kapila, a form of Krishna, 464
Karāli, a name of Durgā, 306
Karmasākshi, a name of Surya, 35
Karna, a son of Surya, 35; character of, 416
Kartikeya, 334 ff.
Kārttavirya, a Kshattriya king, slain by Parasurāma, 166 ff.
Kasyapa, the father of Garuda, 450
Katyayini, a name of Durgā, 306
Kesava, a name of Vishnu, 124
Ketu, the descending node, 436
Kratu, a son of Brahmā, 369
Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, 197; reason of this incarnation, 199; saved by Vasudeva, 202; destroys Putanā, 204; releases the sons of Kuvera from a curse, 205; destroys the Bakāsura, 206; outwits Indra, 207; restores the jewel Syamantaka, 207; beloved by the Gopis, 209; protects Rādhā, 211; slays Arishta, Kesin and Kansa, 211; relieves Mathura, 213; conquers Naraka, 214; fights with Siva, 215; destroys Fever, 215; overcomes a rival Krishna, 216; his death, 217; references to him in the Mahābhārata, 218; a deceiver, 219
Krishnakrorā, a name of Durgā, 320
Kritārita, a name of Yama, 86
Kumāri, a name of Durgā, 306
Kumbhakarna, a Rākshas, 486
Kurma, an incarnation of Vishnu, 141 ff.
Kurus, the sons of Dritarāshtra, 422 ff.
Kushumesu, a name of Kāmadeva, 261
Kuvera, the god of wealth, 388
L.
Lakshman, a brother of Rāma Chandra, 175
Lakshmi, origin of, 127; description of, from the Vishnu Purāna, 130; and from the Rāmāyana, 132
Lokamāta, a name of Lakshmi, 133
Lokesha, a name of Brahmā, 107
M.
Madan, a name of Kāmadeva, 261
Madhava, a name of Vishnu, 127
Madhusudana, a-name of Vishnu, 127
Mahābhārata, the heroes of the, 411
Mahādeva, a name of Siva, 275
Mahākāla, a name of Siva, 283
Mahāmāri, a name of Kāli, 316
Mahāmāya, a name of Durgā, 306
Mahendra, a name of Indra, 62
Maheshwara, a name of Siva, 283
Mahisha, a demon slain by Durgā, 308
Mahishamārdini, a name of Durgā, 308
Manasa, the snake goddess, 474
Mangala, a planet, 432. See also Kartikeya.
Manmatha, a name of Kāmadeva, 261
—, author of the Institutes quoted, 4
Manvantara, 353
Mara, a name of Kāmadeva, 261
Maricha, a hermit who assisted Rāvana, 184
Marichi, a son of Brahmā, 370
Mārtanda, a name of Surya, 35
Mārut, a name of Vāyu, 67
Maruts, the, 12, 67; origin of name of, 68
Mathuranāth, a name of Krishna, 200
Matsya Avatāra, the, 134 ff.
Meghavāhana, a name of Indra, 62
Mihira, a name of Surya, 35
Mitra and Varuna, 37; hymns descriptive of, 39
Mritunjaya, a name of Siva, 283
Muktakesi, a name of Durgā, 317
Mukunda, a name of Vishnu, 127
N.
Nakula, a son of the Asvins, 415
Nala, the builder of Rāma's bridge, 406
Nanda, the foster-father of Krishna, 202
Nandi, Siva's bull, 448
Nārada, a son of Brahmā, 382; his appearance at the court of Yudhisthira, 420; his advice to Jalandhara, 444
Nārāyana, a name of Brahmā, 99; also of Vishnu, 118
Nilmādhava, a name of Vishnu, 252
Nisumbha, a giant slain by Durgā, 305
Nrisingha Avatāra, the, 149 ff.
O.
Ocean, the churning of the, 128
Om, explanation of the word, 95
P.
Padma, a name of Lakshmi, 128
Padmālaya, a name of Lakshmi, 128
Panchānana, a form of Siva, 283
Pāndu, the father of the Pāndus, 413
Pāndus, heroes of the Mahābhārata, 413 ff.
Panyakirti, a name of Garuda, 228
Paramesthi, a name of Brahmā, 107
Parasakti, a name of Durgā, 312
Parasurāma Avatāra, the, of Vishnu, 162 if.
Parijātā tree, the, 60
Parjanya, a storm deity, 63
Pārvati, wife of Siva, 289; how she became fair, 290; Puranic account of her origin, 291; why she visited the earth, 292
Pasī, a name of Varuna, 44
Pātala, the infernal regions, 161
Pavan, a name of Vāyu, 66 Penance, forms of, 123, 339
Pisāchas, the, 487
Pitamvara, a name of Vishnu, 127
Pitripati, a name of Yama, 86
Planets, the, 431
Prachetas, a name of Varuna, 44
Prāchetasas, the reputed parents of Daksha, 374
Pradyumna, a name of Kāmadeva, 261
Prahlāda, a son of Hiranyakasipu, 150 ff.
Prajāpati, the term explained, 96, 373
Pratyangirā, a name of Durgā, 318
Prithi, the wife of Pulastya, 368
Prithivi. See Dyaus.
Prithu, the father of Prithivi, 16
Pulaha, a son of Brahmā, 369 ff.
Pulastya, 368 ff.
Purānas, the, 89
Puranic deities identified with Vedic, 97
Purus, the, heroes of the Mahābhārata, 411 ff.
Purusha, a name of Vishnu, 127
Purusha Sūkta quoted, 94
Purushottama, a name of Vishnu, 127
Pushan, a sun-god, 36; Puranic, account of, 37
R.
Rāhu, the ascending node, 435; an ambassador of Siva, 445
Rāji, an earthly king who became Indra, 58
Rākshasas, the, cloud demons, 64; description of, in later books, 171, 485
Rāma Chandra Avatāra, the, 170 ff.; worshipped Durgā; superiority acknowledged by Parasurāma, 168; the saviour, 197
Rāmāyana, the gods of the, 170 ff. Rati, wife of Kāmadeva, 258
Rāvana, a Rākshas, 171; his destruction foretold by Sitā, 179; slain by Rāma Chandra, 193
Ravi, 432. See also Surya.
Revati, wife of Balarāma, 223
Ribhus, the, 75
Richika, grandfather of Parasurāma, 163
Rivers, the sacred, 468
Rudra, 12; his quarrel with Brahmā, 102; origin of, 266. See also Siva.
Rukmini, the wife of Krishna, 200
S.
Sāgara, asvamedha, or horse sacrifice of, 463
Sahadeva, a son of the Asvins, 415 Sakambhari, a name of Durgā, 306
Sakra, a name of Indra, 62
Saktis; the, 320
Salya, a leader in the Pāndu war, 413, 427
Samana, a name of Yama, 86 Samavurti, a name of Yama, 86
Sāmbhu, a name of Siva, 272
Sampati, 456
Samvara, a demon who carried off Kāmadeva, 259
Sangnā, wife of Surya, 33
Sanhita, definition of a, 4
Sani, a planet, 435
Sankara, a name of Siva, 280
Saptajihva, a name of Agni, 28
Sarasvati, the wife of Brahmā, 107
Sastī, the goddess, 477
Sati, a name of Umā, 285
Satrughna, a brother of Rāma Chandra, 175
Satyavān, a hermit restored to life by Yama, 84
Savitri, identical with Surya, 32;
wife of Satyavān, 85; name of
Sarasvati, 111. See also Surya.
Savitripati, a name of Brahmā, 107
Sesha, the serpent deity, incarnate in Balarāma, 221
Shalgrāma, the, 478
Shitalā, 473
Siddha-Senāni, a name of Durgā, 306
Singhavāhini, a name of Durgā, 308
Sitā, origin and previous birth of, 178. See Rāma Chandra.
Sivā, the Destroyer, 263; worshipped by Brahmā, 105; foretells the destruction of Rāvana, 187; overcome by Krishna, 215; identified with Rudra, 263; and with Agni, 266; marries Umā, 267; slighted by Daksha, 267; reason for living an ascetic life,
[paragraph continues] 267, 274; why called Mahādeva, 275; origin of third eye of, 277; represented by the Linga, 280
Skanda, a name of Kartikeya, 335, 338
Smarahāra, a name of Siva, 283
Soma, description of, 69; how the soma-plant was brought to earth, 71; his marriage, 72; identified with the moon, 73; seduces Tārā, 74. See also Chandra.
Sparsana, a name of Vāyu, 67
Srāddhadeva, a name of Yama, 86
Sri, a name of Lakshmi, 127, 128
Sri Kanta, a name of Siva, 283
Sthānu, a name of Siva, 283
Subhadrā, sister of Krishna, 420
Subramanya, a name of Kartikeya, 341
Sugriva, king of the monkeys, 35, 394; a son of Surya, 175
Sugriva, a messenger of the demons, sent to Durgā, 304
Sukra, preceptor of the asuras, 122, 442; a planet, 434
Sumbha, a demon slain by Durgā, 304 ff.
Superiority of one god, the, 11
Supernakhā, sister of Rāvana, 182 ff.
Superna, a name of Garuda, 449
Surya, 9; an Āditya, 32; hymns to, 32; Puranic account of his origin, 33; marriage, 33; becomes a horse, 34; names of, 34, 35; his children, 35. See also Ravi.
Suryā, wife of the Asvins, 45
Sushena, 408
Sushna, a name of Vritra, 58
Swarga, Indra's heaven, 61
Swargapati, a name of Indra, 62
Swayambhu, a name of Vishnu, 127
T.
Taittiriyas, origin of the, 7
Tārā, a monkey leader, 175
Tārā, wife of Vrihaspati, 74; a name of Durgā, 317
Taraka, a demon, 257
Tarika, a demon, 338
Tārini, a name of Durgā, 306
Time, divisions of, 353
Trees, sacred, 469
Trident of Siva, the, how produced, 34
Tryambaka, a name of Siva, 283
Tulsī, a sacred plant, 470
Tvastri, or Visvakarma, 74; quarrels with, and is slain by Indra, 77; the builder for the gods, 77
U.
Umā, wife of Siva, 285 ff.; a compound of two distinct deities, 286; early meaning of her later names, 288; earlier account of her origin, 289
Ushas, the, origin and attributes of, 48; Vedic hymns addressed to, 49
V.
Vāch, the goddess of speech, identified with Sarasvati, 109, 110
Vāhans, or vehicles of the gods, the, 448
Vahni, a name of Agni, 27
Vaikunthanātha, a name of Vishnu, 127
Vaisrāvana, a name of Kuvera, 388
Vaisravas, a name of Pulastya, 388
Vaivasvata, a name of Yama, 86
Vaka, an asura slain by Bhīma, 417
Vaman incarnation, the, 155 ff.
Vānars, the monkeys who assisted Rāma Chandra, 187
Varāha incarnation, the, 144 ff.
Varuna and Mitra, 37; characteristics of, 38; human sacrifices offered to, 41; the god of the ocean, 42; worshipped in seasons of drought, 41; assists the gods, 43; refuses to accede to Rāma's prayer, 406
Vasishtha, a son of Brahmā, 380
Vasudeva, the father of Krishna, 201
Vāta, a name of Vāyu, 66
Vāyu, a storm-god, 9, 64; description of, 65
Vedas, the, 3 ff.
Vedāvati, a name of Sitā, 178
Vedic deities, the; how they obtained superiority over the asuras, 10
Vijayā, a name of Durgā, 306
Virabhadra, an emanation of Siva, 445
Viradha, a giant slain by Rāma Chandra, 182; cursed by Kuvera, 392
Vishnu, the preserver, 116; superior to other gods, 118; this admitted by Siva, 119; reason for his many incarnations, 121; benefit obtainable by his worship, 123; his pre-eminent position not acknowledged in Vedic age, 125; conquered in battle by Jalandhara, 444; his identity with Brahmā affirmed, 145
Vishvamvara, a name of Vishnu, 127
Visvakarma. See Tvastri. The maker of Jagannāth's image, 251
Visvamitra, a hermit, 176 ff.
Visvarūpa, a son of Visvakarma, 76
Vītihotra, a name of Agni, 27
Vivaswat, a name of Surya, 35
Vrihaspati, the preceptor of the gods, 228; one of the planets, 433
Vritraha, a name of Indra, 62
Y.
Yādapati, a name of Varuna, 44
Yadus, heroes of the Mahābhārata, 411 ff.
Yajneswara, a name of Vishnu, 127
Yakshi, wife of Kuvera, 392
Yama, origin of, 78; his kingdom, 80; hymns addressed to, 81; marriage, 83; interview with Savitri, 84
Yoganindra, the energy of Krishna, 201
Yudhisthira, a son of Dharma, 414; character of, 415; ruler of Hastinapur, 417 ff.
Yugas, the four, 357
Click to enlarge
PIPAL LEAVES.