Hindu mythology

 1) Hindu mythology ...

 Primary sources: 

• Vedas
  • Rig
  • Sama
  • Yajur
  • Atharva
• Itihasa
  • Ramayana
  • Mahabharata
• Major Puranas
  • Agni Purana
  • Brahma Purana
  • Brahmanda Purana
  • Bhagavata Purana
  • Brahma Vaivarta Purana
  • Devi-Bhagavata Purana
  • Garuda Purana
  • Kurma Purana
  • Shiva Purana
  • Skanda Purana
  • Markandeya Purana
  • Matsya Purana
  • Narada Purana
  • Linga Purana
  • Padma Purana
  • Varaha Purana
  • Vayu Purana
  • Vishnu Purana
• Bengali literature
  • Mangal-Kāvya
• Tamil literature
  • Divya Prabandham
  • Tirumurai
  • Five Great Epics

Origins and development:

According to Joseph Campbell, the Indus Valley (2600-1900 BCE) may have left traces in the beliefs and traditions of Hinduism.

Vedic Period

A major factor in the development of Hinduism was the Vedic religion. The Indo-Aryan migration brought their distinct beliefs to the Indian subcontinent, where the Vedas were composed around 1500 BCE. The Indo-Aryans Vedic pantheon of deities included the chief god Indra, the sun deity Surya, Ushas, as well as Agni. 

Brahmanical Period 

This period saw the composition of commentaries referred to as the Brahmanas.

Upanishad Period 

According to Williams, from 900 - 600 BCE, the protests of the populace against sacrifices made towards the Vedic gods and rebellions against the Brahmin class led to the embrace of reform by the latter and the composition of the fourth Veda and the Vedanta texts. 

Sramanic movements 

Elements such as those emerging from Buddhism and Jainism made their “heteroprax” contributions to later Hindu mythology, such as temples, indoor shrines, and rituals modeled after service to a divine king. 

Epic Period

The era from 400 BCE to 400 CE was the period of the compilation of India’s great epics, the Mahabharata and Ramayana. 

Puranic Period

According to Williams, the mythology of the Puranas can be broken into three periods (300–500; 500–1000; 1000–1800), or the whole period may simply be referred to as the Hindu middle ages.

Tantric Period 

According to Williams, during the Tantric period from 900 - 1600 CE, the mythology of Tantra and Shaktism revived and enriched blood sacrifice and the pursuit of pleasure as central themes. 

Modern Period 

In the contemporary era, the mythologies of the dominant traditions of Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism prevail.

Deities :