SPOILERS
After reading the spoilers for the episode «Progeny», it became obvious to me that the Asurans, the new enemies of Atlantis are based on the Hindu and Buddhist myth of the Asuras.
In Mahayana Buddhism, the universe is composed of ten spiritual realms, the lower six being called the Samsara, or the reincarnation wheel. Each of the realms is populated by a different class of beings who are the personification of a vice. The six lower realms of Samsara are:
1. Realm of the Devas, superior god-like humans who possess great power, but are neither immortal or omnipotent. Their vices are pride and decadence.
2. Realm of the Asuras, rational beings also superior to humans but jealous of the Devas and their power. This realm represents the vices of jealousy and violence, and is also named «Realm of the Titans» and «Realm of the Jealous Gods».
3. Realm of the Manushyas, or humans. Their vices are passion and emotions, but they are the most susceptible to attain enlightenment.
4. Realm of the Pretas, ghost-like beings that can neither eat or drink normal food but are always hungry. Their vice is possessiveness and lust.
5. Realm of the Animals and the vice of stupidity.
6. Realm of the Narakas, a hellish place populated by demons whom vice is hatred.
Now, the first four Realms do sound a lot like they are depicted in Atlantis as the Ancients, the Asurans, the Humans and the Wraith. The Narakas could be the Ori (or, to a lesser extent, the Goa'uld)... In Hindu mythology, the Devas and Asuras were both created by the same being, Kasyapa, who also created human beings, and are always opposed, fighting over the offerings of humans.
The Six Realms are often represented as a wheel. The Devas are on the top. Then clockwise, you have the Asuras, the Pretas, Hell, the Animals and the Humans. Here’s a picture of the Wheel:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/world/images/s109.jpg
It’s interesting to see that the Devas seem to live in a castle built on water!
I don’t know what to make of all this, but it’s quite interesting.
Links:
http://www.khandro.net/doctrine_rebirth.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_lower_realms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asuras
After reading the spoilers for the episode «Progeny», it became obvious to me that the Asurans, the new enemies of Atlantis are based on the Hindu and Buddhist myth of the Asuras.
In Mahayana Buddhism, the universe is composed of ten spiritual realms, the lower six being called the Samsara, or the reincarnation wheel. Each of the realms is populated by a different class of beings who are the personification of a vice. The six lower realms of Samsara are:
1. Realm of the Devas, superior god-like humans who possess great power, but are neither immortal or omnipotent. Their vices are pride and decadence.
2. Realm of the Asuras, rational beings also superior to humans but jealous of the Devas and their power. This realm represents the vices of jealousy and violence, and is also named «Realm of the Titans» and «Realm of the Jealous Gods».
3. Realm of the Manushyas, or humans. Their vices are passion and emotions, but they are the most susceptible to attain enlightenment.
4. Realm of the Pretas, ghost-like beings that can neither eat or drink normal food but are always hungry. Their vice is possessiveness and lust.
5. Realm of the Animals and the vice of stupidity.
6. Realm of the Narakas, a hellish place populated by demons whom vice is hatred.
Now, the first four Realms do sound a lot like they are depicted in Atlantis as the Ancients, the Asurans, the Humans and the Wraith. The Narakas could be the Ori (or, to a lesser extent, the Goa'uld)... In Hindu mythology, the Devas and Asuras were both created by the same being, Kasyapa, who also created human beings, and are always opposed, fighting over the offerings of humans.
The Six Realms are often represented as a wheel. The Devas are on the top. Then clockwise, you have the Asuras, the Pretas, Hell, the Animals and the Humans. Here’s a picture of the Wheel:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/world/images/s109.jpg
It’s interesting to see that the Devas seem to live in a castle built on water!
I don’t know what to make of all this, but it’s quite interesting.
Links:
http://www.khandro.net/doctrine_rebirth.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_lower_realms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asuras
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