Hindu Mythology a Short History

Hindu creation myths vary greatly due to the expansion and divergence of the empire.  There are numerous versions resulting in a mixture of folklore that has changed over time to be the most popular beliefs of the civilization. In one version of the story of creation Brahma is the creator of the universe, and the source from which all the individual deities come from.  Brahma transformed branched out without any exterior means. The human soul, according to the Vedas, is a portion of the supreme ruler Brahma.

He represents the three incarnate powers of creation, preservation, and destruction, which under the respective names of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva form the harmony of the Hindu gods. Indra, the god of heaven, of thunder, lightning, storm, and rain; Agni, the god of fire; Surya, the god of the sun.

According to the Rig-Veda, one of the oldest of Indian texts, the most common Indian creation myth, names Purusha, the being beyond all others, as the creator of the basic elements of the world. He is a part of all the features of the Earth.

His body formed the castes of Indian Hindu society. Castes were strict levels in society that members marry and live within in order to accomplish their purpose in life. When Purusha was sacrificed his mouth was the highest caste of Indian society, the Brahmans, the priests and leaders. His arms became the second highest castes, Kshatriyas, the warriors. And his feet created the Shudras, the lowest caste created to serve the higher castes. Vaishyas, farmers and merchants, were formed from Purusha's were created by his thighs.

Purusha's body formed the rest of the known universe. His mind was the moon, his eye was the sun, the storm and fire gods Indra and Agni were fire and his breath was the wind, his head was Heaven, his feet were the earth.

The accounts of creation have common themes and this is just one short version of the creation of the universe and world.  The themes in the myths of the world have a common thread through them and it is no different than the one found in the Hindu beliefs.