Saint Ved Vyas relating the Bhagwatam to Shukdeo (3100 B.C.)

The Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (the most important site on Hinduism, the Upanishads, modern Physics, Bhartiya, Sanatan Dharm and more)
     

(27) Rites and mythology of the Germanic people.


  
       Most of the Germanic mythology is of Norwegian and Icelandic origin. Their books contain the stories of gods, men and monsters. They are mostly in poetry form. Their creation story thus describes that there was only Ginnungagap, the great void, from which Odin, the chief god, along with his two brother gods raised the earth from the ocean. The sun shone and the earth became green with vegetation; god breathed on the two lifeless tree trunks and made them man and woman who started human generation. It was also believed that there is a “World Serpent” that lives under the oceans of the world. Their mythology also tells that there is a land of demons, which is separate from the land of gods.

Odin, apart from being the chief god, was also god of the occult and wisdom, god of the dead, god of lawless men and the Vikings, and much more. The most famous god in their mythology was Thor, the mightiest, who kept all the giants of the giant land under his control. He was god of rainfall and fertility so he was identified with Jupiter. Freyr was god of cornfields, and Freyja was goddess of love, fertility and wealth. She wept tears of gold nuggets and she was also goddess of magic.

Sacrifices were conducted in the open or in certain groves dedicated for this purpose. According to Tacitus (56-120 AD) human sacrifices were also practiced. Tacitus was the greatest historian of his time who wrote “The Germania” about the Germanic tribes in the Latin language.

There are interesting stories about Thor, how he defeated the demons when he went to the land of the demons and also how he was sometimes tricked by them. The worship of god Thor was popular among Jutes and Saxons up till their conversion into Christianity. Between the 6th and 8th century some of the English people were converted easily and some under the pressure of the army.


  

 

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