My friend who is studying classical Greek mythology for fun shared her essay (in which she explores the relationship between humans and gods in classical Greek mythology) with me. I noticed some similarities/differences with Indian mythology.
Clearly (to me), the idea of “Gods” is an anthropocentric construct, where human created them (gods) as projections of themselves and of the societies of the time.
The myth of Gods was a tool to impose social hierarchy, patriarchy, and order – while helping to preserve the privileges of the ruling classes or social elites.
Some similarities and differences between Greek and Indian mythology. Both advanced systems for their time, and the mythology probably reflected the respective societies at that time.
In Indian mythology, the gender differences between Gods and Goddesses was less hierarchical and more syncretic. For example, in the idea of the Trinity (explained to me by Asha): Brahma (the Creator) was paired with Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge), Vishnu (the sustainer) with Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth), and Shiva (the destroyer) with Parvathi (Goddess of power). The roles of male and female gods were different, some subtle deference, but considered of equivalent importance. Many of the Goddesses were powerful creatures. Perhaps, reflecting greater matriarchy at that time. Another difference is that while Gods and humans occupied different spaces and time scales (for example, a year for a human was an hour for Gods – resulting in numbers that ran into billions), the Gods and humans occasionally shared the same space, notably, when Gods appeared on earth as “Avatars” (while in Greek mythology, humans and gods were always segregated and inhabited different spaces)
Overall, all this is very fascinating about how humans exert their imagination to create fiction to facilitate flexible cooperation and also social order.
Without such hierarchy and social order, we probably won't survive (or thrive) as a species. But with it, comes oppression and inequality. How do we reconcile the tension?
Venkat
