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A Review of Shiva Legends in Hindu Holy Texts

Year 2022, Volume: 25 Issue: 63, 401 - 422, 15.12.2022
https://doi.org/10.15745/da.1192377

Abstract

Legends and mythological tales hold great importance in the Hindu religious tradition. Hindu scriptures have numerous mythical narratives. In general, the purpose of these narratives, decorated with many supernatural figures and elements, is to warn people, guide them to the right path by teaching the right behaviours, prevent wrong behaviours, praise the glory of the gods, and explain the creation of the universe and beings. Mostly, gods are the protagonists of the myths. There are many legends that Shiva, one of the great gods of Hinduism, who is described as the destructive god, is at the center. In addition to Shiva's majesty, being 'absolute truth' and kindness, his wrath, destructiveness and indifference to the world are also the subject of these narratives. These legends, reflecting Shiva's versatility, have a great place and importance in establishing the philosophical and theological foundations of Shivaism, the second largest sect of Hinduism. In addition to emphasizing the statue and importance of Shiva among the Hindu gods, interpreting and evaluating his extraordinary deeds in different ways, these legends, which have various purposes of conveying, are also useful examples in terms of understanding many elements that are important for Hindu belief and culture. In this study, some of the legends that are an inseparable part of the Hindu religious tradition, especially those related to Shiva, will be discussed objectively with a descriptive approach, and the purpose of transmission and interpretation of these legends will be analysed within the framework of the Shivaism sect. By understanding of the Hindu god Shiva under the of the legends, it is aimed to make a more robust analysis of the understanding of god and the meanings attributed to the concept of god in Shivaism and more generally in Hinduism.

References

  • Apte, Vaman Shivram. The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publications, 1985.
  • Bhagavata Purana. Trans. J. L. Shastri, G. V. Tagare. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidass, 1950.
  • Brahmanda Purana. Trans. G. V. Tagare. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Private Publishers 2000.
  • Chakravarti, Mahadev. Concept of Rudra-Siva Through the Ages. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 1994.
  • Coomaraswamy, Ananda. The Dance of Siva, Fourteen Indian Essays. New York: The Sunwise Turn Inc., 1918.
  • Danielou, Alain. Gods Of Love And Ecstasy: The Traditions Of Shiva And Dionysus. Vermont: Inner Tarditions International, 1992.
  • Dimmitt, C.- van Buitenen, J. Classical Hindu Mythology. Philedelphia: Temple University Press 1978.
  • Doniger, Wendy. Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit. New York: Penguin Classics, 2004.
  • Doniger O’flaherty, Wendy. Other Peoples’ Myths: The Caves of Echoes, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1988.
  • Doniger, Wendy. Siva: The Erotic Ascetic. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981.
  • Doniger, Wendy. The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1988.
  • Eroğlu, Ahmet Hikmet. Kavram Atlası/Dinler Tarihi II. Bülent Akot(ed.). Ankara: Gazi Kitabevi, 2020.
  • Grimes, John A. A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. New York: State University New York Press. 1996
  • Handelman, Don - Shulman, David Dean. Śiva in the Forest of Pines: An Essay on Sorcery and Self-knowledge. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2004.
  • Hopkins, Edward Washburn. Epic Hindu Mythology. Varanasi: Indological Book House, 1968.
  • Ions, Veronica. Indian Mythology. New York: Paul Hamlyn, 1973.
  • Jha, Dwijendra Narayan. Ancient India in Historical Outline. New Delhi: Manohar Publishers and Distributors, 2009.
  • Klostermaier, Klaus. A Survey of Hinduism. Albany: SUNY Press, 2007.
  • Kramrisch, Stella. The Presence of Siva. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1981.
  • Kurma Purana. Nilmani Mukhopadhyaya (ed.). Calcuta: Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1890.
  • Linga Purana. Trans. J.L. Shastri. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidass, 1951.
  • Lorenzen, David. The Kapalikas and Kalamukhas: Two Lost Saivite Sects. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1972.
  • Macdonell, A. A. Vedic Mythology. Strassburg: Verlag von Karl J., 1897.
  • Masatoğlu, Mehmet. "Dharma Kavramı ve Purushārthalar". Dinî Araştırmalar 23 / 57 (Haziran 2020): 195-208. https://doi.org/10.15745/da.709326
  • Moor, Edward. Hindu Pantheon. Delhi: Indological Book House, 1968.
  • Muir, J. Original Sanskrit Texts On The Origin And History Of The People Of India, Their Religion And Institutions. New Delhi: Oriental Publishers and Distributors, 1976.
  • Parameshwaranand, Swami. Encyclopedia of Saivism. (vol. I). New Delhi: Sarup and Sons, 2004.
  • Peterson, Indira Viswanathan. Poems to Siva The Hymns of the Tamil Saints. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing, 2007.
  • Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Elements of Hindu Iconography (vol. I-II). Madras: The Law Printing House, 1916.
  • Sehgal, Sunil. Encyclopedia of Hinduism. New Delhi: Sarup & sons, vol. 5, 1999.
  • Skanda Purana. Trans. G. P. Bhatt. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidass 1951.
  • Smith, David. The Dance of Shiva Religion Art and Poetry in South India. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
  • The Mahabharata. Trans. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, 1883-1896.
  • The Mahabharata. P.S. Sastri (ed.), Madras, 1931-1936.
  • The Satapatha Brahmana. Trans. Julius Eggeling. Sacred Books of the East (SBE). Oxford: Clarendon Press, 5 volumes, 1882-1900.
  • The Siva Purana. Trans. Joshi K. L. Shastri. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidas Publishers 2002.
  • The Varaha Purana. Trans. S. Venkitasubramonia Iyer. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidas Publishers 2003.
  • The Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita). Trans. Arthur Berriedale Keith. Cambridge, 1914.
  • Wilkins, W. J. Hindu Mythology Vedic and Puranic. New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 1900.
  • Williams, Monier. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1960.
  • Winternitz, Maurice. A History of Indian Literature (Vol I-II). Calcutta: University of Calcutta, 1927. Vayu Purana. Trans. G. V. Tagare, J. L Shastri, G.P. Bhatt. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers 1987. Vogel, J. Ph. Indian Serpent-Lore or The Nagas in Hindu Legends and Arts. London: Stephen Austin and Sons Ltd., 1926. Zimmer, Heinrich. Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization. Washington: Pantheon Books, 1946.

Hindu Kutsal Metinlerinde Geçen Şiva Efsanelerine Dair Bir İnceleme

Year 2022, Volume: 25 Issue: 63, 401 - 422, 15.12.2022
https://doi.org/10.15745/da.1192377

Abstract

Hindu dinî geleneğinde efsane ve mitolojik hikayeler büyük öneme sahiptir. Hindu kutsal metinleri sayısız mitik anlatı ile doludur. Birçok tabiatüstü figür ve unsur ile bezeli bu anlatıların maksadı ise genel anlamda insanları uyarmak, doğru davranışları öğreterek doğru yola yönlendirmek, yanlış davranışlardan alıkoymak, tanrıların yüceliğini övmek, evrenin, varlıkların yaratılışını açıklamak vb. hususlardır. Efsanelerin başkahramanları çoğunlukla tanrılardır. Hinduizm’in yok edici tanrısı olarak nitelendirilen, büyük tanrılarından biri olan Şiva’nın merkezde olduğu birçok efsane bulunmaktadır. Şiva’nın yüceliği, mutlak hakikat oluşu ve müşfikliğinin yanı sıra gazabı, yok ediciliği ve dünyaya karşı kayıtsızlığı da bu anlatıların konusunu oluşturmaktadır. Şiva’nın çok yönlülüğünü yansıtan bu efsaneler Hinduizm’in en büyük ikinci mezhebi Şivacılık’ın felsefi ve teolojik temellerinin oluşturulmasında büyük bir yer ve öneme sahiptir. Şiva’nın Hindu tanrıları içinde sahip olduğu yer ve önemin vurgulanması, onun gerçekleştirdiği olağanüstü fiillerin farklı şekillerde yorumlanması ve değerlendirilmesinin yanı sıra aktarılma maksatları çeşitlilik gösteren bu efsaneler, Hindu inancı ve kültürü açısından önem taşıyan birçok ögenin anlaşılması açısından da faydalı birer belge niteliğindedir. Bu çalışmada Hindu dinî geleneğinin ayrılmaz bir parçası olan efsanelerden özellikle Şiva ile ilgili olan belli başlıları ele alınarak deskriptif bir yaklaşımla objektif olarak aktarılacak, Şivacılık mezhebi özelinde bu efsanelerin aktarılma maksatları ve yorumlanış biçimleri ortaya konularak analiz edilecektir. Efsanelerin kılavuzluğunda Hindu tanrısı Şiva’nın anlaşılması ile Şivacılık’ın ve daha genel anlamda Hinduizm’in tanrı anlayışına ve tanrı kavramına yükledikleri anlamlara dair daha sağlam analizler yapılabilmesi amaçlanmaktadır.

References

  • Apte, Vaman Shivram. The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publications, 1985.
  • Bhagavata Purana. Trans. J. L. Shastri, G. V. Tagare. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidass, 1950.
  • Brahmanda Purana. Trans. G. V. Tagare. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Private Publishers 2000.
  • Chakravarti, Mahadev. Concept of Rudra-Siva Through the Ages. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 1994.
  • Coomaraswamy, Ananda. The Dance of Siva, Fourteen Indian Essays. New York: The Sunwise Turn Inc., 1918.
  • Danielou, Alain. Gods Of Love And Ecstasy: The Traditions Of Shiva And Dionysus. Vermont: Inner Tarditions International, 1992.
  • Dimmitt, C.- van Buitenen, J. Classical Hindu Mythology. Philedelphia: Temple University Press 1978.
  • Doniger, Wendy. Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit. New York: Penguin Classics, 2004.
  • Doniger O’flaherty, Wendy. Other Peoples’ Myths: The Caves of Echoes, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1988.
  • Doniger, Wendy. Siva: The Erotic Ascetic. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981.
  • Doniger, Wendy. The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1988.
  • Eroğlu, Ahmet Hikmet. Kavram Atlası/Dinler Tarihi II. Bülent Akot(ed.). Ankara: Gazi Kitabevi, 2020.
  • Grimes, John A. A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. New York: State University New York Press. 1996
  • Handelman, Don - Shulman, David Dean. Śiva in the Forest of Pines: An Essay on Sorcery and Self-knowledge. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2004.
  • Hopkins, Edward Washburn. Epic Hindu Mythology. Varanasi: Indological Book House, 1968.
  • Ions, Veronica. Indian Mythology. New York: Paul Hamlyn, 1973.
  • Jha, Dwijendra Narayan. Ancient India in Historical Outline. New Delhi: Manohar Publishers and Distributors, 2009.
  • Klostermaier, Klaus. A Survey of Hinduism. Albany: SUNY Press, 2007.
  • Kramrisch, Stella. The Presence of Siva. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1981.
  • Kurma Purana. Nilmani Mukhopadhyaya (ed.). Calcuta: Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1890.
  • Linga Purana. Trans. J.L. Shastri. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidass, 1951.
  • Lorenzen, David. The Kapalikas and Kalamukhas: Two Lost Saivite Sects. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1972.
  • Macdonell, A. A. Vedic Mythology. Strassburg: Verlag von Karl J., 1897.
  • Masatoğlu, Mehmet. "Dharma Kavramı ve Purushārthalar". Dinî Araştırmalar 23 / 57 (Haziran 2020): 195-208. https://doi.org/10.15745/da.709326
  • Moor, Edward. Hindu Pantheon. Delhi: Indological Book House, 1968.
  • Muir, J. Original Sanskrit Texts On The Origin And History Of The People Of India, Their Religion And Institutions. New Delhi: Oriental Publishers and Distributors, 1976.
  • Parameshwaranand, Swami. Encyclopedia of Saivism. (vol. I). New Delhi: Sarup and Sons, 2004.
  • Peterson, Indira Viswanathan. Poems to Siva The Hymns of the Tamil Saints. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing, 2007.
  • Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Elements of Hindu Iconography (vol. I-II). Madras: The Law Printing House, 1916.
  • Sehgal, Sunil. Encyclopedia of Hinduism. New Delhi: Sarup & sons, vol. 5, 1999.
  • Skanda Purana. Trans. G. P. Bhatt. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidass 1951.
  • Smith, David. The Dance of Shiva Religion Art and Poetry in South India. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
  • The Mahabharata. Trans. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, 1883-1896.
  • The Mahabharata. P.S. Sastri (ed.), Madras, 1931-1936.
  • The Satapatha Brahmana. Trans. Julius Eggeling. Sacred Books of the East (SBE). Oxford: Clarendon Press, 5 volumes, 1882-1900.
  • The Siva Purana. Trans. Joshi K. L. Shastri. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidas Publishers 2002.
  • The Varaha Purana. Trans. S. Venkitasubramonia Iyer. Delhi: Mothilal Banarsidas Publishers 2003.
  • The Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita). Trans. Arthur Berriedale Keith. Cambridge, 1914.
  • Wilkins, W. J. Hindu Mythology Vedic and Puranic. New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 1900.
  • Williams, Monier. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1960.
  • Winternitz, Maurice. A History of Indian Literature (Vol I-II). Calcutta: University of Calcutta, 1927. Vayu Purana. Trans. G. V. Tagare, J. L Shastri, G.P. Bhatt. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers 1987. Vogel, J. Ph. Indian Serpent-Lore or The Nagas in Hindu Legends and Arts. London: Stephen Austin and Sons Ltd., 1926. Zimmer, Heinrich. Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization. Washington: Pantheon Books, 1946.
There are 41 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Arzu Yıldız 0000-0001-5286-1089

Publication Date December 15, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 25 Issue: 63

Cite

ISNAD Yıldız, Arzu. “Hindu Kutsal Metinlerinde Geçen Şiva Efsanelerine Dair Bir İnceleme”. Dini Araştırmalar 25/63 (December 2022), 401-422. https://doi.org/10.15745/da.1192377.