Both Hinduism and Hellenism are ancient traditions. However, Hinduism still survives today, being the third largest followed religion in the world.
- Similarities
- Gods and Goddesses
The gods and goddesses of the two religions have many similarities, as they both derive from the Proto-Indo-European religion. For example,
Both Indra and Zeus hold a lightning bolt as a weapon, sit atop a cloud and the day of the week, Thursday represents these particular gods.
The cult of Mithras in Greece and Rome spread from Persia. Mitra is a sun-god in Indo-Iranian (including current day Hindu) and Hellenistic traditions.
In ancient Greek culture, Uranus is the god of sky and water. In Hinduism, Varuna is the god of sky and water. Apart from the functions beings similar, the names are also similar in this case.
A common origin cannot be ruled out completely as there was interchange of ideas in the ancient days and ideas in various civilizations evolved together.
- Asuras and Titans
In both, the group of evil spirits opposed to the good gods are identified. They are Asuras in Hinduism and Titans in Hellenism.
- Iconography
The Hindus use fire as a way of worshipping as did the ancient Greeks and Romans.
In Greek legends, Prommetheus brings down fire from heaven while in Hinduism (from the Rig Veda) it is Matarishvan who does likewise.
- Differences
- Monism
Although the two religions do have a pantheon of gods and goddesses, Hinduism has theisti, pantheistic and monistic forms. Hinduism believes that all the gods are merely form of the One Brahman. Hinduism says, "The Universal Reality is the same, but different people can call it by different names" ("Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti.")
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