“Hindu Mythology” is not Mythology

The Puranas in the Context of Dharma

Abstract

The limitations of the concept of "religion" are evaluated in the use of the term "Hindu mythology" to refer to the Puranas of Hinduism. A more inclusive schema of “dharma” allows for the Puranas to be understood outside of the Eurocentric categories of religion, mythology, and philosophy. This reclamation of the Puranas through the concept of dharma is an effective intervention in resisting colonial legacies.