HAS GREEK MYTHOLOGY COME FROM HINDUISM? IS THE DREADED GREEK GODDESS HECATE, IN REALITY, THE HINDU GODDESS KALI OR IS KALI HECATE?

KALI– is the symbol of DESTRUCTION AND CREATION. Her two right hands are held out in blessing, and her left hands hold a deadhead and a sword. In simpler terms, KALI MEANS DEATH FOR US. The prominent legend of KALI is- She is freighting in appearance and fought demons.

She was manifested from the brow of the Mother Goddess Parvati to kill Daruka, a demon. And the demon had a boon that his every drop of blood which would fall would create many more like him. But KALI drank his blood, and the taste of blood thrilled her, and the ecstasy of killing made KALI dance the DANCE OF DEATH.

How does the Goddess HECATE OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY fit in with her?

Who is HECATE?

A Goddess in Greek Mythology and Greek Mythology stories, she is capable of both good and evil. She is primarily associated with WITCHCRAFT, MAGIC, AND MOON.

There are various theories ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF HECATE– In Greek and Egyptian mythology. (The question of how the Greek and Egyptian mythologies are related or not? I would do it in a separate post.)

As of now, I want to talk about- HECATE – In Greek Mythology, she is the  Goddess of THREE PATHS–

Guardian of the household.

Protector of everything newly born.

Goddess of witchcraft.

We don’t have much literature about Hecate’s origin, and she does not have a significant role in Greek Mythology. Her Titan parents Perses and Asteria, covered heavens, earth, and sea. She was the only child to her parents. According to Hesiod’s Theogony: – The Titans were the first Greek Gods of earth and heaven.

You find Hecate holding two torches and a key. In the Athenian household, she has a place as a protective Goddess.

How are the two Goddess used in Black Magic- And what do they have in COMMON.

KALI is also called the TANTRIC GODDESS– She is the supreme deity of Hindu Tantra. She means SHAKTI and represents the active Female Energy.

Both these Goddesses rule death. The color of DEATH IS BLACK. The color of KALI IS BLACK. (In Greek Mythology stories) The prime color of HECATE IS BLACK BECAUSE SHE IS A NIGHTWALKER.

KALI is associated with drinking BLOOD. HECATE’S ancient titles in Greek Mythology stories included “Goddess Wearing Golden Sandals, and Drinking Blood.”

Goddess Kali holds within all the virtues of the TRIPLE GODDESS. She is like a mother who has wisdom and experience and stands like a bridge between death and rebirth. Often Hecate (in Greek Mythology stories) is seen in a triple form. She not only rules the underworld of death, but she has control over birth as well.

HECATE is for Witchcraft and Wiccans – What KALI is for Aghoris and Tantriks who worship SHIVA and her female form SHAKTI OR KALI.

According to the Wiccans, HECATE is a difficult Goddess to please. She chooses her disciples. She sends them a hint in the form of NUMBER THREE. For three days in a pattern, you would find her symbol, e.g., the key.  Flowers like Lavenders and Roses please her, and men widely sought her.  People worship Hecate at crossroads and graveyards. She is considered the queen of the other world. The color of her candle is black.

In Greek Mythology, ‘Snake’ is the symbol of Hecate. And also of Goddess KALI.

These similarities lead to the question HAS GREEK MYTHOLOGY COME FROM HINDUISM.

I will pick up few examples-(Greek Mythology Gods)

Our lord INDRA is ZEUS– Both of them are the king of Gods. Their weapons are thunderbolts. Both of them killed sea monsters.

YAMA and HADES– Both lords of the death. The common link is both decide the fate of souls, and both are symbols of justice.

MOUNT KAILASH AND MOUNT OLYMPUS– Both are real mountains that exist. Both hold an important place in the two mythologies.

I could name others: Kamdev and Cupid – Arjuna and Achilles, and there are many more.

How is there a common link between the two mythologies?

Greeks believe chaos gave birth to the universe. In Hinduism, we believe -Garbhodaka ocean is where Lord Vishnu resides, and the birthplace of this universe and the sea is the ground for chaos.

In both pantheons, there are three powerful Gods– They rule the sky, water, and underworld(fire)

Greek – Zeus (sky), Poseidon (water), Hades (underworld).

Hindu – Indra (sky), Agni (fire), Varuna (water).

There are DIFFERENCES AS WELL.

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY: (INDIAN MYTHOLOGY STORIES)

There are infinite lives.

Life is cyclical. You are born, die, and reborn again.

GREEK MYTHOLOGY: (GREEK MYTHOLOGY STORIES)

There is only one life.

Life is linear. You are born, then you die, and that’s the end.

CONCLUSION-

Both are Indo-European religions. That is, they split up from the same source. But Hinduism is the oldest religion of the world, so have most religions taken from it? Swami Vivekananda said, “There’s no religion on this planet that the Vedas have not influenced.” Perhaps another point I would like to add is that there are so many Gods in Hindu and Greek mythology because, after all, humans work in the same way. The mind was amazed at the sun, moon, stars, and oceans and gave them God’s status. And the underworld through which the eyes could not penetrate was painted with the color BLACK and Gods and Goddess, which evoked FEAR. And death is also painted BLACK, and it will always remain THE BIGGEST MYSTERY FOR US. THE PLAYGROUND OF KALI AND HECATE.