Essay name: Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas
Author:
Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas by exploring the significance of the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu as depicted in various ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The research also investigates the social, political, philosophical, and religious impact.
Chapter 4 - Significance of Vaishnava Myths
45 (of 234)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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K奴rma in the History of World Culture :
The tortoise occupies a more exalted position in the folk lore of
many races of Asia and America. Its worship obtains certain
primifire Indian tribes, and in western Bengal disguised tortoise
worship in the image of Dharma Thakur, is even now a living cult
amongst certain low caste people.
The available myths and legends, about the tortoise deity are
tabulated below and compared with the symbolisms associated with
Dharma Thakur image.
a) Both in Asia and America, the turtle is one of the mythical
animals on which the world rests. In the Iroquois myths the
world was at first covered with water and then Antaenstsic
fell from heaven, the animals held a conference to decide how
she was to be received and the turtle caught her on his broad
back, with the aid of mud or sand brought up by water fowl
the earth was formed.
b) In China the tortoise was used for the purpose of divination.
The arched shell represent heaven the flat nether plate, the
earth and the flesh mankind.92
In China, the tortoise has divine attributes. Tortoise shell is a
symbol of unchangeability and symbol of rank used for court girdles
During the reign of the chinese emperor Yao, a tortoise rose from
92. Martindale, The Religious of Mankind, Benn's Sixpenny Library, 1931, p.22.
