Zeus and Typhon - Part One

Zeus was the God of the Sky and he was the king of all the Greek Gods. However, that was not always the case.

The older Greek Gods were the Titans.

Titans were the children of Gaia, the earth and Uranus, the Sky.

The youngest Titan was Cronos, the God of Time.

Cronos overthrew his father and ruled over the ‘golden age’.

However, Uranus prophesied that the same thing would happen to Cronos. “Just as you overthrew me, one of your children will overthrow you too.”

Cronos felt that his father’s words would come true.

So, just to circumvent his father’s prophecy, Cronos swallowed all but the last of his children as soon as they were born.

Cronos and Rhea had six children. 

Their last son was Zeus.

When Zeus was born, Rhea gave a rock for Cronos to swallow and Rhea managed to convince Cronos that the rock was their latest child.

Cronos swallowed the rock and then felt that he had nothing more to fear.

Zeus grew up to be a strong man away from the eyes of his father and subsequently, Zeus got Cronos to throw up all the children that he had swallowed.

Then together with his siblings, Zeus fought a long and hard war against the Titans and finally overthrew his father.

Zeus then became the ruler of the Greek Gods and he set up his kingdom in Mount Olympus. That was the reason that Zeus and his other siblings are called Olympians.

However, during the early times, Zeus’ rule was not without any troubles. 

Zeus was frequently challenged and one of the most intimidating challenges to Zeus came from Typhon.

Adapted from Greek Mythology

The Story of Yagnasoma and Kirtisoma - Part Three

 

“Show this vessel and ask for alms,” the snake told the woman. “And they will give you alms. If they refuse, their head will burst into a hundred pieces.”

Yagnasoma took the vessel and studied the snake. “If what you say is true then give me my husband back, as alms. That is what I ask from you.”

The snake realized that it had no choice and brought the husband out of his mouth and Yagnasoma was alive and unharmed. 

Yagnasoma’s wife was thrilled and her husband was back.

Both Yagnasoma and his wife were shocked when they turned and saw the snake.

The snake disappeared and in its place stood a heavenly being. 

The heavenly being smiled happily at the couple. “I am Kanchanavega and I am a king of the Vidyadharas. By a curse from Gauthama I had become a snake.” The celestial being smiled even more happily at Yagnasoma’s wife. “I was told that when I met a good and clever woman, my curse would end.”

The king of the Vidyadharas then filled the gold vessel in the hands of Yagnasoma’s wife with jewels.

Then Kanchanavega flew up into the skies.

Yagnasoma and his wife went back to their kingdom and this time they lived happiness because the wealth that they had got from the Vidhyadhara king was inexhaustible.

Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara