hinduwoman

In Hinduism there are a group of gods who are called by sociologists 'criminal' gods because of their behaviour and endings. Many gods of this group have some common traits: they are born from the mind of god and are both sons of God and a part of God; they violate norms of accepted behaviour; their penance comes in the form of implement; after their death they ascend to godhood; a violent death and bloodshed is absolutely neccessary.

On such popular god's story goes like this:
1. He was created by Siva, the supreme God, from the God's own essence.
2. He was cursed by Siva to be reborn on earth as a mortal. In order to return he must be sacrificed. (NOTE: in all versions of the myth, the sacrifice of this son of God is always pre-ordained by God, as the only way of appeasing His wrath)
3. He is born of a human womb, but the mother is impregnated either by eating a lemon or drinking water. No human father ever, except an adopted one.
4. Once a mortal he disturbs conventional society, upsetting social heirachy, and gathering followers.
5. The priests demand his punishment, labeling him criminal.
6. In one version the king likes him and is reluctant to punish him, but ultimately gives in to pressure from the clergy.
7. He is impaled on a stake, blood pours into the ground, he dies. (In his festivals, impaling and blood is central --- without them no godhood).
8. He demands to be sacrificed and even when Siva forgives him insists on death.
9. Apotheosis and union with God.
10. On earth, he is worshipped as being able to control demons and a kind of gatekeeper to God.

Christ-myth anyone?

Toto

As essential part of the Christ myth was that he was innocent.

Do you have any sources for this? There seems to be a book, Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism by Alf Hiltebeitel. The author is a comparative religion scholar. Do Hindus feel the same way about these gods? Can you date the origins of these gods?

philechat

You might say that Dionysus and Heracles in ancient Greece both satisfied (mostly) the definition, as did the Chinese No-Tcha and the Aztec Quetzacoatl. Another significance has been their ability to disturb the divine order, thus providing humans a "back-door" against the universal order of mortality.

hinduwoman

Thanks I will read the book.