Similarities In Greek And Hindu Mythology

Both the Greek and Hindu mythologies are one of the oldest mythologies known to us. There are no direct connection between them yet they share quite a few striking similarities.

Here we shall have a look at few of those similarities:

1.The Trinity

In Hindu mythology Vishnu (the Protector), Brahma (the creator) and Shiva (the destroyer) are considered the three supreme holy trinity. Likewise in Greek mythology there are Zeus (Lord of Skies), Poseidon (Lord of Seas) and Hades (Lord of Underworld).

2.Battle of Younger Gods with Older Gods

In Greek Myth of the Titanomachy, a 10 year war won by the Olympians against the Titans, the older primitive divine race. In the same fashion there were Devas (Gods) who overthrew the older Asuras (Demons).

3.Residing of Gods

In both the mythologies the Gods reside in the mountains. Mount Olympus in the Greek while Mount Meru in Hindu mythology. Both of them are believed to be center of earth in respective mythologies.

4.The Great Flood

A great flood threatened humanity according to both the legends. Shraddhadeva Manu saved the people by building a ship. Similarly Deucalion in the Greek lore saved his family from the flood with the help of a device.

5.King of Gods

Indra is known as King of Devas in the same fashion Zeus is known as King of Gods.

Both have similar character traits and even wield same kind of weapon i.e., Thunderbolt.

There are many stories where a many headed dragon was defeated by the thunderbolt, Typhon in Greek while Vritra in Hindu.

6.God for Everything

There are Gods for everything in both mythologies. Few of them are Ares and Kartika (God of War), Poseidon and Varuna (God of Seas), Hera and Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) in Greek and Hindu mythologies respectively. There are many more parallel Gods and Goddess in both the mythologies.

7.Separation by River

The netherworld is separated by river in both mythology. The river Vaitarani in Hindu and river Styx in Greek context.

8.The Saptarishis and the Pleiades

The Saptarishis are the seven bright stars that can control even the sun similarly the Pleiades are the seven sister forming clusters of stars.

These similarities of gods and myths are just the few among many. There are other mythologies too that share some similar ideas and myths. This makes us wonder if its just a coincidence or they are one and the same.