Talk:Hindu mythology

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Hemmingweigh (talk) 19:35, 6 July 2026 (UTC)

Global influence and Pop culture section

I don't see how this section is directly related Hindu Mythology - it seems more about global influence of Hinduism in the West. Should it be removed or rewritten with content that is relevant to Hindu Mythology? Asteramellus (talk) 23:29, 7 June 2026 (UTC)

Agree. Joshua Jonathan - Let's talk! 06:40, 8 June 2026 (UTC)
@Joshua Jonathan I got a new source for Polytheism and Monotheism by - Daniélou, Alain — The Myths and Gods of India. I hope this works. I'll update the content in 2 days. Thank you. VerdictByLogic - Let's Discuss 08:46, 9 June 2026 (UTC)
Originally published in 1964... Joshua Jonathan - Let's talk! 10:01, 9 June 2026 (UTC)
atleast better than 1882! VerdictByLogic - Let's Discuss 14:23, 9 June 2026 (UTC)
@VerdictByLogic Daniélou (1964) may be ok for descriptive mythological details, but interpretive claims should have attribution and may be WP:UNDUE if his interpretations are minority views. Wilkins / Hume have a bit different concern other than just being century-old sources - they are colonial era sources that, as Joshua mentioned in another topic, may possibly reflect Christian assumptions in their interpretations, and modern scholarship has specifically discussed their work. Hope this helps. Asteramellus (talk) 22:52, 9 June 2026 (UTC)
Also, I see that you removed "pop culture" from section heading, but I think concern remains - is the content relevant to Hindu Mythology - if not, I think section should be removed or replaced with content that is relevant to Hindu Mythology. Asteramellus (talk) 22:54, 9 June 2026 (UTC)
@Asteramellus@Joshua Jonathan,I have removed the information and added new information on - influence of Hindu Mythology around the world, along with the reliable sources. Thank you, Regards. VerdictByLogic - Let's Discuss 16:45, 11 June 2026 (UTC)
@VerdictByLogic thanks. I removed some of the new content - details in the first paragraph did not seem directly related to Hindu mythology. Also, for the "Ganesha ...Western artistic and popular consciousness" - need more relevant academic sources. Asteramellus (talk) 23:51, 11 June 2026 (UTC)

Myth ?

@Joshua Jonathan @Asteramellus Lets just not talk about the single topic! my question is - do we really need this page? as "The word myth derives from the Greek mythos, which has a range of meanings from “word,” through “saying” and “story,” to “fiction”; the unquestioned validity of mythos can be contrasted with logos, the word whose validity or truth can be argued and demonstrated. Because myths narrate fantastic events with no attempt at proof, it is sometimes assumed that they are simply stories with no factual basis, and the word has become a synonym for falsehood or, at best, misconception." stated here.Also, Within the Hindu tradition, many practitioners and traditional scholars reject the Western classification of these texts as 'mythology'. Instead, texts like the Ramayana and Mahabharata are traditionally classified as Itihasa (literally meaning 'thus it happened' or history), and are regarded as factual records of ancient historical events, dynasties, and geographies rather than allegorical fiction. VerdictByLogic - Let's Discuss 10:48, 12 June 2026 (UTC)

Been here before many times; it's telling that you skip the first part:

myth, a symbolic narrative, usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that ostensibly relates actual events and that is especially associated with religious belief. It is distinguished from symbolic behavior (cult, ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons). Myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman beings involved in extraordinary events or circumstances in a time that is unspecified but which is understood as existing apart from ordinary human experience. The term mythology denotes both the study of myth and the body of myths belonging to a particular religious tradition.

See also Hindu mythology#Meaning of "myth" and note a. Within the Hindu tradition, many practitioners and traditional scholars reject the Western classification of these texts as 'mythology'. Instead, texts like the Ramayana and Mahabharata are traditionally classified as Itihasa (literally meaning 'thus it happened' or history), and are regarded as factual records of ancient historical events, dynasties, and geographies rather than allegorical fiction. would be a welcome and even necessary addition. Joshua Jonathan - Let's talk! 12:28, 12 June 2026 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: HUM 202 Summer 2026

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 5 May 2026 and 24 July 2026. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Juxtaposer1 (article contribs). Peer reviewers: Catalinasoccer87world.

— Assignment last updated by Catalinasoccer87world (talk) 02:05, 23 June 2026 (UTC)

Peer review

Hindu mythology

Article (edit | visual edit | history) · Article talk (edit | history) · Watch • Watch peer review


I've listed this article for peer review because I'd appreciate fresh eyes on the article and feedback on how it can be improved. What needs to be added about Hindu mythology from the perspective of a reader that is not familiar with the topic? Comments on its coverage, organization, sourcing, neutrality, prose, readability, and overall adherence to Wikipedia's content standards would be especially helpful. I'm also interested in hearing whether there are any important topics, scholarly perspectives, or aspects of Hindu mythology that could be covered more effectively, as well as any other suggestions that would strengthen the article.

Thanks, Hemmingweigh (talk) 19:44, 6 July 2026 (UTC)

Hi @Hemmingweigh! This is my first peer review, but I have some comments and questions that came up when reading, that I hope will be helpful (for reference I have little familiarity with Hindu mythology).

1. The article was pretty sparse with links to other Wikipedia articles, I went ahead and added some, though that's something to keep in mind for future edits, things like deities, scriptures, and concepts should be linked. MOS:UL

2. Mythology is defined twice in the article, both times are unnecessary. WP:OFFTOPIC

3. A lot of the subsections for Origins and Development don't say when these periods took place (the Brahmanical period, Upanishads, Classical period).

4. Second Urbanisation - Sramanic movements, was there a first urbanisation?

5. Were there significant events in the development of Hindu mythology from 1600 CE to the late 20th century?

6. Global influence doesn't seem to fit in the Modern period sub-section, maybe it could have its own section.

7. The cosmology section appears lacking, are there differing views of Creation and destruction outside Puranic cosmology and Shri Vidya theology? It might could be worthwhile to briefly explain the several forms of pralaya and the four yugas.

8. The mythical themes and types are mainly about the themes that appear in the Epic Mahabharata and the Epic Ramayana, maybe instead there could be a separate section on noteworthy Hindu texts and have the themes and types section talk about themes that appear in a variety of texts such as karma and atman, and explain what the various texts say about them.

9. There is too much explanation of the trifunctional hypothesis, WP:OFFTOPIC. It is worth noting the interpretation of Hindu mythology under this hypothesis, and could be worthwhile to add interpretations under other comparative mythology frameworks.

10. I looked at some articles for other types of mythology and think that the following sections could also strengthen the article:

  • philosophy
  • major deities/spirits/heroes
  • symbols
  • mythological realms (the article mentions that Indra, Agni, and Surya were moved to lower heavens in the Puranas, is there a ranking of heavens and hells in Hindu mythology?)

I hope this is helpful! --Wytenoise (talk) 17:52, 11 July 2026 (UTC)

@Wytenoise this is all very helpful, thank you! I agree with a lot of what you have here especially that the trifunctional hypothesis is off topic. I wanted to ensure that I was not being too severe in deleting things, since I already deleted a lot off of this article that was completely off topic. Your suggestions for sections to add is a good one. I'll look into it further and see what can be added. Thanks again. Hemmingweigh (talk) 20:52, 11 July 2026 (UTC)

Hume

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