The first known bilingual coins of the Indo-Greeks were issued by Agathocles around 180 BCE. 10 Homeric Hymns, http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns1.html In Greek, the word "pleiades" means "doves". The Indo-Greek may have initiated anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha in statuary, possibly as soon as the 2nd-1st century BCE, according to Foucher and others. The pillar was erected around 110 BCE in central India at the site of Vidisha, by Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas to the court of the Shunga king Bhagabhadra. If you read us, like us and want this positive movement to grow, then do consider supporting us via the following buttons. In Hindu Mythology, They generally represent great and common decency. Kailasha and Olympus are both real mountains that exist today; both are also deeply significant in their respective mythologies. Similarly, Ganga dipped all her children prior to Bhisma25. Their parents can also be directly compared between the mythologies, hence making the evidence of parallelism stronger. Hindus' god of war is Kartik - Shiva's son - who rides a peacock and holds a weapon (a spear) in hand. Both of them have children with mortal women, for example, Perseus and Theseus in Greek whereas Arjuna and Vali in Hindu stories. The earliest known image of the Buddha with approximate indications on date is the Bimaran casket, which has been found buried with coins of the Indo-Scythian king Azes II (or possibly Azes I), indicating a 30-10 BCE date,[19] although this date is not undisputed. Supposedly, around 2,000 BC, there was a great migration of the Indo-Europeans, most of whom went west to become the ancestors of most of the traditional European people. Gods & Human Relations Images of the Zoroastrian divinity Mithra - depicted with a radiated phrygian cap - appear extensively on the Indo-Greek coinage of the Western kings. In Hindu context, the name of the dog is Sharvara that is the dog of Yama, god of death. 28 http://hinduonline.co/HinduReligion/Gods/Varuna.html All these depictions were shaped by a place that confounds unitary nationalist imaginations: Greater Gandhara. So, none of them was born the regular way, but from the heads of two prime Gods of their respective religions. What is the significance of the Hajj in Islam? Another conspicuous similarity is their weapons. In early religious texts, Indra plays a variety of roles. Both of them slay a sea-monster: Indras opponent is the serpent Vritra; Zeus fights andvanquishes Typhon. Similarly, Indra is also known for his virility and has been unfaithful to his wife Indrani on several occasions32. [12] This usage was adopted by Strato I, Zoilos I, Heliokles II, Theophilos, Peukolaos, Menander II and Archebios. Kleisobora and Jobares may correspond to Krishna Pura and Yamuna respectively. Ganga had forced Shantanu to take a vow that he would never question his actions. They might be angry, vain, and envious. Both Apollo and Helios10, 11 are often associated with a flying golden chariot which is driven by steeds. No bird or beast would go near it and just one solitary Kadamba tree grew on the riverbank. Rhea is the mother of Gods including prominent gods like Zeus and Poseidon and also the goddess of female fertility, motherhood and generation. 6 Page 5, http://books.google.co.in/books?id=0z02cZe8PU8C Although the name Hinduism is relatively new, having been coined by British writers in the first decades of the 19th century, it refers to a rich cumulative tradition of texts and practices, some of which date to the 2nd millennium bce or possibly . Greek too have similar gods for every kind. In striking similarity in Greek mythology, Hera sent two serpents to kill baby Hercules as he lay in his cot. They were happily married to seven sisters, named Krittika. A nice comparison. Aditi is also considered mother of many gods including Indra (Indian counterpart of Zeus) and Varuna (Indian counterpart of Poseidon) 35. The capital has been found with a reliquary and a coin of, "The beginnings of Buddhist Art" Alfred Foucher, Plate I, Text and photographic reference: Terre Lontane > O2, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indo-Greek_religions&oldid=1142880372, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 21:06. These "Greek-looking foreigners" are also described in Susan Huntington, "The art of ancient India", p. 100, "They (the niches) were intended to hold a figured panel, relief-work, or something of the kind" Domenico Facenna, "Butkara I", Also "The Buddhist art of Gandhara", Marshall, p101. There are twelve significant Greek gods they are known as Olympians. Like Yama is the god of netherworld in Hindu and Hades in Greek. These kings included: Demetrius, Eucradites, Appolodotus, Strato I, Strato II, Zoilus, Menander, and Dionysius. The main difference is that Greek divine entities appear to live on the planet, which includes mountains. They also acted like people from time to time. They flew into the sky to become the cluster of stars that today has their name. Kaliya immediately rose up with his numerous hoods, but a fearless Krishna jumped on top of Kaliya's head and danced, the dance being known as Kaliya Mardana. Good souls are sent to Elysium and Swarg in Greek and Indian mythology respectively, while the bad ones are sent to Tartarus and Naraka respectively. This page is not available in other languages. When Hercules was born, Zeus tricked Hera into nursing the infant. 34 http://www.pitarau.com/nd/Girl/aditi For millennia humans have followed different cultures and have practiced diverse religions. Both the religion have the mention of the netherworld and there is a special dog that watches the gate of it. Messenger Source Hindu Gods seem to occupy some specific world that isnt the Earth,Just God Shiv lives in the Himalayas with his Goddess Shakti. Hera sent poisonous snake to kill Heracles when he was a child but Hercules killed them. On the other hand Saraswati is shown carrying a book, mala (rosary), water pot and veena (a musical instrument) in her fours hands. The Greek Gods in contrast are in a few hundred excluding those Gods and Goddesses responsible for specific aspects of human affairs. Also, after the reign of Menander I, several Indo-Greek rulers, such as Agathokleia, Amyntas, Nicias, Peukolaos, Hermaeus, Hippostratos, Menander II and Philoxenus depicted themselves or their Greek deities forming with the right hand a benediction gesture[11] identical to the Buddhist vitarka mudra (thumb and index joined together, with other fingers extended), which in Buddhism signifies the transmission of the Buddha's teaching. In similar fashion, Kronos becomes aware of a prophecy that he will be overthrown by one of his children. In Indian mythology Narada is considered as the first Indian postman/journalist/messenger. While in Greek mythology it is Zeus. In Hindu mythology, King Kamsa of Mathura is foretold that the eighth son of his sister Devaki will kill him, hearing which, King Kamsa not only imprisons both Devaki and her husband Vasudeva, he also goes about systematically killing all new babies born to his sister, till the eighth - Bhagwan Krishna - is born. The Sage reviled Indra that his body would be covered. Quoted in "Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythian and Indo-Parthian coins", Bopearachchi, p.19. Krishna also killed a demon Trinavarta by strangling him to death while in air. The first known statues of the Buddha are also very realistic and Hellenistic in style and are more consistent with the pre-50 BCE artistic level seen on coins. Kailasha, the home of Shiva, isdescribed asone of the pillars of the world. Foucher especially considered Hellenistic free-standing Buddhas as "the most beautiful, and probably the most ancient of the Buddhas", assigning them to the 2nd to 1st century BCE during the reign of Menander, and making them the starting point of the anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha: "Never, in truth, were the circumstances more favourable than during [Menander's] reign (between 150 and 100 B.C.) Hercules killed earth-born giant Antaeus by holding him in air and squeezing the breath out of him. It is one of the oldest mythologies known. Mythology says her milk formed a smear across the sky that can be seen to this day and known as The Milky Way. The word for father in Latin is pater. The future Buddha Maitreya, usually represented seated on a throne Western-style, and venerated both in Mahayana and non-Mahayana Buddhism, is sometimes considered as influenced by Mithra. Stupa constructions of the time of Menander, such as the Butkara stupa, incorporated niches which were intended to place statue or friezes, an indication of early Buddhist descriptive art during the time of the Indo-Greeks. Menander I, the "Saviour king", is documented to have converted to Buddhism, and is described in Buddhist texts as a great benefactor of the religion. Hercules wrestled and captured Cretan Bull, whereas Krishna wrestled and killed a demon called Arishta who attacked Vrindavan in the form of a monstrous bull. Well, this one is not really a comparison but a suggestion/theory that the legend of Heracles is actually a result of Balarama and Krishnas legend incorporated in Greek mythology. Greek mythology has a pantheon of 12 main gods, while Hinduism has a trinity of three principal deities. Before theKurukshetra War, Arjuna is reluctant to fight. Rhea secretly gives birth to Zeus and arranges for him to be brought up in exile. Please read these FAQs before contributing. In Hindu religion, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwor are three gods considered the most important of all gods. Like Hermes, he also plays tricks on others triggering a bigger event making his role significant in a great many Indian stories. From around 180 BCE, Agathocles and Pantaleon, probable successors to Demetrius I in the Paropamisadae, and the earliest Greek kings to issue Indian-standard square bilingual coins (in Brahmi), depicted the Buddhist lion together with the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. The representation of the Buddha may also be connected to his progressive deification, which is usually associated with the spread of the Indian principle of Bhakti (personal devotion to a deity). The geometric period from 900 BC to c. 800 BC forward. It is essential to improve your grip for better health & well-being. After several years, Zeus intervened and transformed the women into doves to help them escape. 32 http://www.ancient.eu/Indra/ The inscriptions were found on a vase inside a stupa, dated to the reign of Menander or one of his successors in the 1st century BCE (Tarn, p391): "The meridarch Theodorus has enshrined relics of Lord Shakyamuni, for the welfare of the mass of the people". 5 Dos for a Better Fertility and Healthy Pregnancy, Phlebotomy: The Art and Science behind Blood Draws, Best Golf Practice Equipment From FORB Golf seems nice, Top 8 Grip Strength Exercises for Beginners, 5 Reasons Why People Are Working Out at Home, 4 Benefits of Using a Kettlebell During Your Workouts, How to Incorporate Mirrored Wardrobe Designs in Your Home Dcor, Beach Trip Essentials: What to Pack for the Beach, 5 warning signs your home needs a makeover, 7 Interesting Facts About the Pinyon Pine Tree in New Mexico. Thus, their domains are nearly overlapping. Not only their powers but their weapons these two are also almost the same. Similarly, the Greeks have a goddess of wisdom, who is Athena. There are definitely connections between Indian culture and European culture. Immediately, I thought with that the name might be related to Zeus, but then It really came together when I read that that Indian god was sometimes called Dyaus Pitar which means Sky Father which sounded very similar to Jupiter. By using the power of constructive journalism, we want to change India one story at a time. Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. His name may be related to that of the sky god Dyaus of the ancient Hindu Rigveda. [5] 3. Later, a grown-up Zeus comes back to take care of Kronos. These seven sages are said to be those who made the Sun rise and shine. The Migration of the Tandoor: A 5000-YO Cooking Secret Behind a Global Phenomenon, At 62, This Artist Is On a Mission to Help TN Women Earn By Upcycling Coconut Shells, 64-YO Hunter-Turned-Saviour Dedicates Life to Save 60+ Species of Rare Birds & Animals, Click here if you want to make a contribution of your choice instead. Likewise, Zeus is the Greek God of Thunder. This is how they comprehended the world. There is a presence of hell and heaven in both of the mythologies and also similarities in the functions of gods, But there are many differences between Hindu Gods and Greek Gods. The amazing similarities between the Hindu and Greek mythologies frequently crops up in comparative mythology - or the comparison of myths from different cultures in an attempt to identify shared themes and characteristics. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. In my opinion Yes definitely. In fact, it is commonly known that Greeks easily incorporated things he liked from other cultures and called them their own. Hindu gods; Devi; Japanese deities; Comparison. Conversely, the bull is probably associated with Shiva, and often described in an erectile state as on the coins of Apollodotus I. If you're looking for a way to spice up your workouts, you should consider using a kettlebell. 6 similarities between Greek and Hindu mythology. In German it is wasser. He is prayed to on Thursdays. The Greek God of love is often depicted in the pictures or statues as a young, handsome male with wings. The main Hindu gods are the Trimurti, which consists of three Devas who Cooperate in general for the universe. 7. In Hindu mythology the Gods are a separate population inhabiting some part of the Cosmos outside the earth's atmosphere. Hinber (2000), pp. Next comparison is between Poseidon and Varuna. What is the main belief of Anglicanism, established by the Church of England? 36 http://www.hinduhumanrights.info/goddess-aditi-the-primal-creatix/. No matter the thousands of miles distance between the two, the parallelism is certainly striking and some fuel to the thoughts. However, the divine baby soon sucked the life out of the demoness. Stylistically, Indo-Greek coins generally display a very high level of Hellenistic artistic realism, which declined drastically around 50 BCE with the invasions of the Indo-Scythians, Yuezhi and Indo-Parthians. In a manner similar to Hermes, Narada was proficient in music and invented musical instrument called Vina. Hinduism has its three Supreme Gods - Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Protector and Shiva, the Destroyer. 173179. Haphaestus is their God of design and manufacture. bramhagodsgreekhinduindraramaShivavishnuVishwakarmaYama. Stupavadana, Chapter 57, v15. 10 strange similarity between Hindu and Greeks religious understanding. This Zeus-Mithra is also the one represented seated (with the gloriole around the head, and a small protrusion on the top of the head representing the cap) on many coins of Hermaeus, Antialcidas or Heliokles II, or possibly even earlier during the time of Eucratides I, on whose coins the figure is identified as the patron divinity of the city of Kapisa. On the contrary, Indian Buddhist art was traditionally aniconic (the Buddha was only represented with symbols), and the Iranian tradition (represented by the 1st century Indo-Parthians) also did not represent their deities in human form. The planet Pluto is called Yama in Hindi21. Just like Hindus have each god for wealth, power, knowledge, wisdom, etc. Hinduism Gods Vs Greek Gods; Hinduism Gods Vs Greek Gods. Popular Greek legends incorporate the mythical beings Hercules, Theseus, and Achilles. Whats more, in their history is that the Greek gods and goddesses are connected with individuals frequently. [su_note note_color=#efefef]Also read: 2 Greatest Human Inventions That Should Never Have Been: Religion And Politics[/su_note], 1 http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Eros.html Just as philosophers were routinely represented in statues (but certainly not on coins) in Antiquity, the image of the Buddha would naturally have occurred on statuary only. They guard the gates of their respective netherworlds. Greek gods are mainly based on human personality traits likes love, hate, honor and dignity, and myths related to them are shaped by these traits. "Contrary to Iran, the Greco-Bactrian cults often employ representations of their deities". BEST HEALING, EVEN CONQUEROR OF DEATH MANTRA, "The Mahamrityunjay Mantra" from the Rig Veda, 16 Practices of Self-Compassion, " Meditating on Self-Love". The Hindus have a dedicated goddess of learning, and that is Ma Saraswati. Heracles killed man-eating Stymphalian birds with bronze beaks (sixth labor), very similar to Krishna killing Bakasura, a man-eating crane with sharp beaks. Both the religions believe these gods rule the heaven, earth, and the netherworld. Also, theres a famous story according to which Hermes invented a string instrument called Lyre to quench Apollos anger. His name means both "Lord of the People" (gana means the common people) and "Lord of the Ganas" (Ganesha is the chief of the ganas, the goblin hosts of Shiva). The clothing too is Greek, complete with tunics, capes and sandals. Since Surya is not associated with music or prophesies like Apollo, it would be safer to compare Surya with Helios than Apollo, who is the Titan god of Sun. Orion fell in love with Pleione and her charming daughters. So, even miles apart both cultures named a planet after the similar Gods, a little strange, isnt it? The dancing girls on some of the coins of Agathocles and Pantaleon are also sometimes considered as representations of Subhadra, Krishna's sister. Both of them were heroes in the biggest wars of their respective mythologiesAchilles in Trojan War and Bhisma in Mahabharata. Also, he is known to travel real fast and show up almost anywhere. Both are regarded as the king of gods and rains in their respective religion and both gods are related to similar actions. BothIndra and Zeus are the kings of the gods. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, there are some tried-and-true ways to improve your game. The water of the Yamuna became poisonous because of the snake. How did Lord Rama travel from Lanka to Ayodhya in Just 18 days? While the Hindus believe in an uncountable number of gods and goddesses, the ancient Greeks believed in only twelve major gods and goddesses. Mention of Greeks is found in the Vedic Literature, Puranas, Tamil Sangam . 5 outstanding haldi outfit designs you should know that were worn by celebrities, Feel and look younger as under eye filler boosts your confidence, 2 Greatest Human Inventions That Should Never Have Been: Religion And Politics, 8 Amazing Overnight Beauty Tips to look pretty as a Princess, Incredible Clothing Options for the Kids on Formal Occasions, Maximizing Your ULIP Returns: Tips and Tricks for Using a ULIP Calculator Effectively, The benefits of personalized learning through education apps, Revolutionizing the Dental Industry: Cosmetic Dentistry and Its Impact. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. Such as Mount Olympus in Greek context and Mount Meru in Hindu context. As king, he leads cattle raids against the dasas, or dasyus, native inhabitants of the lands over which his people range. And for that reason his wife Hera is jealous of him. Next in our comparison are the two Gods who are so much alike that many believe that they can even be the same person, I mean same God. In Hindu gods, The relationships are beautiful with tragic endings For Hindu gods, like Lord Shiva and Parvathi or Lord Krishna and the cow housekeepers. And, yes, youre right about both cultures getting mixed. On the other hand, a demon Putana was sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna.