I dont feel the Orginial was false, but mind you Christians did take alot of the olden tales and changed them into there own.
This is documented in history..
As the religion spread thoughout the world it condemed the old religious practices as satan worship, even put people to death and built churchs on the old grounds were people use to meet.
in hopes they would still come and gather in the new building..
Some stories were taken and events over the year but names changed.
Christmas was called Yule. for example.If certain religious stories are connected with mythology does it mean it is false?
Not at all! All religions are based on a Mythology!
It is what makes them strong and lays out it's view!
Literalism if a very dangerous path for the faithful and always lessens and cheapens a religion.If certain religious stories are connected with mythology does it mean it is false?
it can mean many things
like as u sed untrue
but usualy its the bible defying the myth or non believers making a myth out of the bible
how many myths connect to adam n eve n memba every practasing catholic, christian etc will say so awell
Some researchers think that history of every country
begins with mythology. It often happens that myths of
one land get tangled up with those of other lands. A
myth is often compared to a snow ball which rolls down
a mountain side gathering foreign substances like snow,
earth, rocks and others such that its nucleus is lost
to sight. However, with some effort, some of the
historical events can be established from myths. Since
the time of Heinrich Schliemann's sensational
excavation in West Asia, archaeologists and historians
have been respecting myths, legends and traditions of
people no matter how improbable they may appear. Let us
consider the following myth:
2. The legend of Aeneas (Virgil,The Aeneid)
The Aeneid written by Virgil is the largest epic in
classical Latin mythology. It describes the legend of
Aeneas. Some parts of it were left without the final
touches (Fowler 1933; 410). Fragments of material on
Aeneas have come down to us through the works of other
classical Latin authors. The following is the selective
summary of the Aeneid:
Aeneas started from a country in Asia with his
followers in search of the land of his ancestors. Moved
on by destiny, he wandered round the seven seas for
many years carrying his home gods (1.31-32). Aeneas'
father appeared to him in a vision and warned that the
people of Latium are tough and primitive (5.722-734).
Afterwards he passed by the land of Circe, daughter of
the Sun. From her palace groaning roars of angry lions
resentful at their captivity were heard through the
small hours. The lions were said to be men once upon a
time and turned into beasts by Circe (7.10-20). At
last, Aeneas landed at Latium. A strange portend
occurred at the court of Latinus, king of the land. The
dress of his daughter, Lavinia, appeared to have been
set on fire. At an oracle, Latinus was advised not to
seek alliance from Latin race and the would be
son-in-law shall come from overseas (7.74-100). The
ambassadors of Aeneas went to the court of Latinus and
offered him regalia of their empire and many
embroidered vestments as gifts. Latinus recognized that
Aeneas was to become his son-in-law. He promised to
give his daughter in marriage to Aeneas annulling her
earlier betrothal with Turnus (7.243-273), king of a
neighbouring land, who was said to have captured many
cities in war (12.21-23). Turnus came to know about it
and ordered his army commanders to march against
Latinus and the new comers. (7.465-470) The first to
arm his men and enter the war was the irreligious
Mezentius, king of Agylla and friend of Turnus
(7.647-653). Some fighters on his side wore feline
skins. Aeneas travelled to a distant land for war
alliance with King Evander, his relative, who ruled on
Palatine Hill (8.90-100). Aeneas told him that Daunian
people were about to subjugate the whole of Hesperia,
and the seaboards of Tuscan and Adriatic (8.146-149).
Evander told him that Turnus was menacing them. Also,
their neighbours were oppressed by insolent tyranny,
damnable massacres and cruel force of Mezentius
(8.473-484). Goddess Venus presented to Aeneas divine
weapons made by God Vulcan (8.528-536). Two messengers
were sent from Latium in quest of Aeneas to bring him
back soon. (9.226-310) The men of Aeneas at Latium
closed up their ranks and stiffened resistance. Turnus
went in twice at the thick of the foe, but the whole
garrison came running to form up against him and he
fled from the battle field (9.788-818). Aeneas returned
to Latium. Turnus was made to flee from the battle
field (10.657-660). Mezentius dashingly took Turnus'
place, but was soon felled by Aeneas (10.689-786).
Before dying, Mezentius admitted that he was beset by
his own people's bitter hatred (10,904-905). Tiger skin
dressed princess Camilla (11.577), with a retinue of
female warriors, entered the field (11.653- 659).
Seeing her example, Italian women took to poles and
stakes to defend their city (11.890-895). Turnus
invited Aeneas for a duel to settle who would have
Lavinia (12.78-80). While the terms of the truce were
being accepted, war broke out again (12.282). Aeneas
was wounded by an arrow (12.318-326). His goddess
mother, Venus, brought health giving ambrosia and cured
his wound (12.411-424). Aeneas raced to the battle
field with his men. The men of Turnus took to their
heels and fled. Turnus was again made to flee from the
battle field (12.450-475). At last, the duel was fought
and Turnus was killed.
3. The Corresponding Indian Legend (P.Adinaaraayana
Swamy, Sree Padma Saakha Vamsa Pradeepika, Dharma
Varam, 1968):
The legend of Sage Bhaavana is preserved in the family
books of the weaving caste people among the Andhras in
India. Fragments of the legend were said to have been
extracted from Markandeya Purana, Brahmanda Purana and
Padma Samhita. The following is the selective summary
of the legend:
In a town near the hill where the sun sets, there was
demon named Kaaluva. He was menacing the Devas (divine
people). He was torturing the pious and raping their
women. He was assisted by Moolaka, another demon.
Further, the Devas were suffering due to lack of woven
clothing and a proper religion. When Devas prayed god,
they were told that a man will soon be born in his
image and he will come to their land to help them. Sage
Maarkandeya begot two sons and the younger one was
named Bhaavana. A prophecy was given that Bhaavana
would kill the enemies of his brother. Bhaavana became
proficient in the arts of war and also in the religious
knowledge. He vowed to offer a tiger skin to god. One
day, the Devas appeared to him (probably in a dream)
and told him that he was destined to reach the land of
Devas to get them rid of the demons and to teach them
weaving and religion. A sage told Bhaavana that he has
to go to a land where the daughter of Sun has kept
tigers in captivity, and that she would marry him.
Bhaavana wandered over seven seas and many lands in
search of tigers. Finally, he reached a land called
Arca and met the daughter of Sun named Bhadra. Her body
was bright like thunder bolt and her eyes resembled
petals of a blue lotus. Earlier, a sage told her mother
that a hero would come to their land and marry her
daughter. Bhadra recognized in Bhaavana the man who was
to become her husband. Bhaavana asked her to give him a
tiger. She told that she would give one of her tigers
if he would mary her. He told her that he has to
fulfill his vow first. He took the tiger and left.
After some time, Bhadra has sent two messengers to
Bhaavana that he should return to her without further
delay. Bhaavana goes to her land accompanied by his
people. The marriage of Bhaavana and Bhadra was
performed on a grand scale. Kaaluva was told that the
Devas were leading a happy life after being taught
weaving and religion by Bhaavana. The demon challenged
the bravery of Bhaavana and declared war. The warriors
of Kaaluva could not stand against Bhaavana and his
people, and started fleeing from the battle field.
Kaaluva tried to stop them threatening death to those
who flee. Bhaavana tried to kill Kaaluva four times in
duel fights, but he escaped death every time. A fierce
battle ensued and Bhaavana was wounded by Kaaluva.
Goddess Rama, foremother of Bhaavana, brought ambrosia
and cured his wound. Bhaavana travelled to a distant
land for war alliance with his brother. Many gods
presented divine weapons to Bhaavana. Bhadra entered
the battle field with a retinue of tigers. Bhaavana
hurled his divine weapon and killed Kaaluva. Hearing
the news, demon Moolaka came to the battle field and
soon fell at the hands of Bhaavana. Bhaavana became the
deified ancestor of weaving castes in the Andhras.
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