Myths of Ancient India

Indian mythology is a vast body of plots and images, immortalized in the monuments of ancient literature and encompassing millennia of history. The authors of this edition, like N. A. Kun in his «Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece», have presented the myths of Ancient India in an accessible form. Their main sources are the «Mahabharata», «Ramayana», Puranas, and other texts.

The plots of the myths of Ancient India partially resonate with ancient mythology. Here, there are tales of the creation of the world by Brahma and of the war between the gods and the asuras over the abduction of the beautiful Tara, as well as stories of the adventures of Indra. In Indian myths, the theme of asceticism prevails, through which cosmic power is attained. Demons often resort to asceticism in their struggle against the gods. Only through cunning are the gods able to defeat the treacherous asuras and regain their influence over all three worlds.

The publication is equipped with illustrations, an introductory article, and comments that provide a more complete understanding of the text.