Welcome to the top 10 fascinatingly bizarre myths that swirl around India’s most colorful goddesses. From celestial fireworks to river‑born love juices, these stories blend mischief, magic and a hefty dose of imagination, showing how ancient peoples explained the wonders (and oddities) of their world.
Top 10 Fascinatingly: A Quick Glimpse
1. How The Stars Were Made
The Dewar tribe, once wandering and now settled in eastern India, tell of a gust of wind that impregnated the pristine goddess Astangi Devi. Carrying twins within her, she eventually birthed the Sun and the Moon, named Suraj and Chandra.
In those early days Earth offered little nourishment—mere twigs were the only sustenance. Determined to feed her children with something more substantial, Astangi invented rice, bamboo and other tasty flora.
Envy struck a mortal, who set fire to her crops. While Astangi rushed to douse the blaze, sparks leapt skyward, birthing the stars. She then whisked her twins into the heavens, keeping them safe from human wrath.
2. How A Lonely Girl Became Loved Throughout The World For Eternity
In Madhya Pradesh, tribal singers recount the sorrow of Tambaku, a young woman cursed with such ugliness that no suitor would consider her. Her father offered every possession he owned as dowry, yet no man was swayed.
Overwhelmed by isolation, Tambaku’s heart shattered and she died. The gods, remorseful for the cruelty that befell her, reborn her spirit as the tobacco plant, granting her eternal admiration from men across the globe.
3. How Marital Issues Create Lightning
Arguments between spouses are inevitable, but when the Sherdukpen goddess Nimibatapa quarrels with her divine husband, the sky itself erupts. Angered, her husband storms after her, his massive footsteps thundering across the heavens.
As Nimibatapa darts away, flashes erupt from her genitals, birthing thunderstorms. She isn’t alone in this electrifying drama; the Miri’s waterfall goddess Chigum‑Erum also lifts her skirts to expose herself, sending lightning from her intimate parts.
Her husband, displeased, spits at her, and the droplets turn into hailstorms that pelt the earth below.
4. How The Ganges River Came Into Being
Shiva, the cosmic dancer, once beheaded a demon and vowed never to lay the skull down until it was filled. His blazing third eye turned anything entering the skull to ash, thwarting his promise.
Seeking a solution, Shiva arrived at a hermitage where the sages were absent. Their wives, bearing ladles of butter, rushed out to help, but upon seeing Shiva they became ecstatic, dropping their butter and shedding clothing in a frenzy.
Vishnu intervened, assuming the dazzling form of the virgin goddess Mohini. Her beauty mirrored the effect of Shiva’s presence on the wives, leading everyone to disrobe. In the ensuing chaos, Shiva ejaculated, and Mohini blinded his third eye, filling the skull with her own blood, thereby releasing Shiva from his vow.
In many versions, the union of Shiva and Mohini produces a child. One tale tells that their passionate embrace beside the ocean released a torrent of love‑juices that became the mighty Ganges River.
5. Why The Sun Crosses The Sky Every Day
Usas, the Vedic dawn goddess, is portrayed in two opposing lights. Some stories show her lighting the way for Surya, the Sun god, as he makes his daily trek across the heavens.
Another version tells of Usas riding a golden chariot at dawn, baring her luminous breasts to flood the sky with light. The Sun, smitten, chases her relentlessly, hoping to claim her beauty.
Thus, the Sun’s perpetual journey is less about illumination and more about an endless pursuit of the alluring Usas. No one knows what would happen if Surya ever caught her—perhaps new rivers would spring forth.
6. How Phalli Saved Sacred Sacrificial Liquor From The Thirst Of A Demon Queen
The Vedic Jaiminiya Brahmana recounts Dirghajihvi, a demon queen with an extraordinarily long tongue who incessantly lapped up the sacred soma offered in sacrifice.
Indra, frustrated, tasked the hero Sumitra with seducing the queen. Dirghajihvi scoffed, pointing out Sumitra’s single penis as insufficient for her many vaginas.
Understanding the queen’s unique anatomy, Indra bestowed upon Sumitra a multitude of penises across his body, enabling him to satisfy the queen’s countless openings.
Enamored, Dirghajihvi became entangled in Sumitra’s many phalli, rendering her immobile. Seizing the moment, Indra struck down the demon queen, ending her thieving of soma.
7. How Snakes And Scorpions Became Venomous
Manasa, goddess of snakes and poisons, is said to have emerged when Shiva’s accidental ejaculation landed on a lotus, its seed slipping into the underworld.
The mother of the serpent king collected Shiva’s seed and molded it into the radiant goddess Manasa. Shiva, smitten, attempted to court her, but she convinced him that marrying his own daughter would be improper, so she stayed as his guest.
Shiva’s wife, seeing Manasa, assumed an illicit affair and gouged out one of Manasa’s eyes in fury.
Later, Shiva contracted a deadly poison, Halahala, stored in his throat after the cosmic churning. The toxin threatened all life, and Shiva chose to swallow it, imprisoning it forever.
When Halahala began to overwhelm Shiva, Manasa intervened, drawing the poison from his throat and restoring his health. She then shared half of the toxin with Earth’s snakes and scorpions, retaining the remainder in her vacant eye socket.
8. How The Smallpox Goddess Lost Her Arms And Legs
Mandodari, worshipped near Malabar, was married to the demon Daruka, whose chaos plagued the gods. Bhadrakali, sent by the divine, slew Daruka, ending his reign.
Desperate to save her husband, Mandodari performed extreme austerities for Shiva, Bhadrakali’s father, who finally granted her a few drops of his potent sweat.
Armed with this fragrant weapon, Mandodari confronted Bhadrakali, flinging droplets that birthed smallpox pustules wherever they landed.
Bhadrakali fell gravely ill, prompting Shiva to create a hero from his third eye to lick the pox from her body. Bound by modesty, the hero could not lick Bhadrakali’s face, leaving her visage scarred.
Enraged, Bhadrakali severed Mandodari’s arms and legs, condemning her to a limbless, legless form that devotees now invoke for relief from smallpox.
9. How To Save The World From An Eternal Solar Eclipse
The Khasi of northern India and Bangladesh tell of a tiger, U Khla, who seized a beautiful girl, Ka Nam, while she drew water. Finding her too skinny for a feast, the tiger fattened her with sweets.
When Ka Nam matured, the tiger invited his friends for a banquet, planning to devour her. A compassionate mouse guided her to a toad magician, U Hynroh’s cave. The tiger’s allies later tore him apart in fury over the missed meal.
U Hynroh, enamored, transformed Ka Nam into a hideous toad‑like slave. The mouse again helped, leading her to a sky‑reaching magical tree. Ascending, she reached the realm of Ka Sgni, the Khasi Sun goddess, who offered her shelter.
In toad form, Ka Nam brushed her hair, revealing herself to Ka Sgni’s son, who fell in love. The Sun goddess stole her toad skin, burning it and freeing Ka Nam.
Incensed, U Hynroh chased Ka Sgni across the heavens, eventually swallowing her and causing the world’s first solar eclipse. Terrified humans beat drums and cymbals to frighten the toad magician.
Fearing an army, U Hynroh spat the Sun goddess out, retreating to his cave, yet he occasionally returns to devour her, making noisy celebrations during eclipses essential to protect the Sun.
10. How The World Will End
Kali, the fearsome goddess of time, destruction and doom, is depicted with multiple arms brandishing weapons and a necklace of severed heads, her skin varying between black and blue.
One famed tale pits her against the blood‑seed demon Raktabija, whose every droplet of blood spawns new demons. Kali becomes the gods’ sole hope, riding a black lion into battle.
She slays countless foes, drinking each drop of blood before it touches the ground, preventing further demon multiplication.
Intoxicated by the bloodshed, Kali’s rampage spirals into chaos, threatening Earth itself. The gods implore Shiva to intervene.
Shiva lies among the corpses beneath her feet, slowing her. When Kali realizes she is dancing upon her consort, she sticks out her tongue in shame, and her fierce energy begins to wane.
Many devotees believe that Kali’s wild dance will one day resume with such ferocity that the planet will shudder and meet its end.