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Itihasas
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Along with the Puranas
or books of mythology, are the Itihasas or books of legend. The word Itihas means history.
Hindus believe that most of the events in the Itihasas did actually take place.
While like the Puranas Itihasas contain myths and legends but their
predomination differs. Two main epics exist, the Ramayana, the epic of Lord Rama and Sita,
and the Mahabharata, by far the longest of all these teachings, which is mainly the story
of Lord Krishna. |
Lord Rama is also mentioned in the Persian literature along with the God Vayu (the Wind). Hanuman, the monkey God and Rama's companion was also the God of the Wind. His wife Sita is the Goddess of the Earth, the furrowed ground, from the Rig Veda. The story of the life of Lord Krishna is the most dwelt upon subject in the Puranas and Mahabharata. These are not ordinary legends but refer to the lives of avatars or incarnations of God. |
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