Hindu Mythology

Visit the links to learn about Hindu myths related to objects in the sky, and aspects of their world.

Back to the World Map
<a href="/mythology/indra_sky.html">Indra</a> is the supreme deity in Hindu mythology, as well as the storm god and the god of the atmosphere. He was called the "Mighty Lord of the Thunderbolt", "Cloud-Gatherer", and the "Sender of Rain". He was constantly at war with demons from the underworld or the immoral, fighting an ongoing battle between good and evil. As a god of war, he was the guardian of the East. This image (c. 1820) shows Indra on his elephant mount, Airavata.<p><small><em>Image &copy; Trustees of the British Museum</em></small></p>

Explore Hindu Mythology

The Sun: Surya

Hinduism is the oldest Indian religion. Hinduism is based on some antique sacred writings and ...Read more

The Moon: Soma

According to Hinduism, every part of the cosmos is seen as an action of a god. Time is the ...Read more

The Big Dipper: Rishis

According to the epic Mahabharata, composed in about 500 B.C., the stars of the Big Dipper ...Read more

The Pleiades: Krttika

In the Hindu mythology, it is said that the stars of the Big Dipper were the seven sages called ...Read more

The Pleiades: Svaha

According to Hindu mythology, Svaha represents the star Zeta Tauri, which is the tip of one ...Read more

The Sky: Indra

In the Rig Veda, which is a collection of antique Hindu hymns, Indra is described as the king ...Read more

The Sun: Garuda

Garuda is an ancient Indian mythological creature, believed to be a devourer of serpents and ...Read more

Mars: Mangala

In Hindu mythology, the planet Mars is known as Mangala. The planet of Mars is identified ...Read more

Saturno: Sani

In Hindu mythology, Sani was identified with the planet Saturn. ...Read more

Historical Events

Full Earth and Space Science    History Calendar (Members only)

Teacher Opportunities

Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)

Did you know?

Do you know how photosynthesis works?

Did you know that Giovanni Schiaparelli's observations of channels on the surface of Mars was mistranslated, causing people to think there was life on Mars?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Tuff
xTuff : A type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

A Star Is Born... But How?

Daniel Wolf Savin, a senior research scientist at Columbia University's Astrophysics Laboratory, has published a paper on the research he and his colleagues have done on how stars began. In their research,...Read more


Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA