When you look at Hindu mythology, a vast, ancient system of stories, deities, and cosmic principles rooted in the Indian subcontinent and Greek mythology, the collection of myths from ancient Greece that shaped Western art, philosophy, and storytelling, it’s easy to think they’re worlds apart. But dig deeper, and you’ll find startling overlaps. Both systems have gods who walk among humans, control natural forces, and punish or reward based on moral choices. The blue skin of Krishna in Hindu art isn’t just symbolic—it echoes the sea-green hues of Poseidon, both representing boundless power beyond human limits. These aren’t coincidences. They’re echoes of how early human societies made sense of chaos, death, love, and power through story.
Take the underworld, the realm of the dead ruled by a stern deity in both traditions. In Hindu belief, Yama governs the afterlife, judging souls based on karma, much like Hades in Greek myth, who rules the silent lands beneath the earth. Neither is evil—they’re necessary. Both myths treat death not as an end, but as a transition governed by law. Then there’s the divine weapon, a sacred tool tied to a god’s identity and power. Shiva’s trident and Indra’s thunderbolt mirror Zeus’s lightning and Poseidon’s trident. These aren’t just weapons—they’re symbols of cosmic order. And don’t forget the hero’s journey, a pattern of trials, divine aid, and transformation found in both cultures. Arjuna’s doubts on the battlefield before Krishna’s guidance in the Bhagavad Gita? That’s Odysseus wrestling with fate, or Perseus facing Medusa. The structure is the same: a flawed human, a divine mentor, and a test that changes everything.
Why do these parallels exist? Maybe because all ancient cultures faced the same big questions: Why do we suffer? What happens after death? Who controls the storm? Hindu and Greek myths answered them differently—but with the same human urgency. One uses karma and dharma; the other uses fate and honor. One sees gods as part of a cosmic cycle; the other as powerful but flawed individuals. Yet both use stories to teach, warn, and inspire. That’s why you’ll find temples in Tamil Nadu decorated with scenes of divine battles, just like Greek pottery shows gods fighting Titans. Both traditions turned myth into memory.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of similarities. It’s a deeper look at how these myths live today—in art, rituals, even in how people understand power, justice, and identity. From why Indian gods are painted blue to how festivals like Diwali mirror ancient mythic themes, these stories aren’t relics. They’re alive. And they’re still shaping how we see the world.
Aphrodite is not part of Hinduism. This article explains why people confuse her with Hindu goddesses like Lakshmi and Radha, and clarifies the true nature of love and beauty in Indian mythology.