India and Japan have had numerous cultural similarities since ancient times. These two cultures have a rich history of academic knowledge, exchanging literary works and cultural artifacts. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find anime characters inspired by Indian mythology. In some cases, anime incorporates inspiration from Indian culture. Below is a list of anime characters originating from Indian culture and deities.
Shiva
Show: Record of Rangnarok
In the anime record of Rangnarok, Lord Shiva is shown as the most fearless Hindu god, also known as the deity of destruction. Therefore, it is no surprise that Shiva possesses extraordinary power, making him one of the most dominant characters in anime.
Shiva is also initially presented as a carefree, proud and extremely powerful god. However, when he met Lord Zeus, he showed him some of his violent tendencies.
However, he eventually showed respect for Zeus due to his seniority. Shiva chooses to participate in the tournament and faced off Raiden. The devastating attack Lord Shiva performed in the tournament is known as the Final Fire Dance and was capable of wiping out Raiden from the tournament.
Ganesha
Show: Record of Rangnarok
Moving on to the next Hindu anime god, we have Ganesha. He resembles an elephant as Lord have a elephant head and is the son of Lord Shiva.
In Hinduism, he is known as the god of success, wisdom, new beginnings, and removing obstacles in the life of the devotees and people.
In the anime adaptation, Ganesha is depicted as a spectator in the stands of Valhalla Arena, actively showing support for his father while performing in the tournament. His role in the tournament is limited to that of an enthusiastic spectator and viewers do not see him participate in any actual battles.
Kali
Show: Record of Rangnarok
Kali, the Hindu goddess associated with death and time, is the second wife of Shiva. In the anime adaptation Record of Rangnarok, Kali takes on the role of a spectator, cheering on her husband during the battles of the fifth round of Rangnarok.
Compared to Shiva’s other consorts, Kali is portrayed as more reserved and less energetic at the start of the tournament. Due to her connection to death, Kali has some control or influence over matters related to death.
Vishnu
Show: Record of Rangnarok
Vishnu is considered the Hindu god of Conservation and preservation. In the animated adaptation, Record of Rangnarok Lord Vishnu’s appearance differs from traditional depictions. Lord Vishnu is characterized by waist-length white hair and a black mask.
Unlike the original one in the Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu in the anime plays a passive role, quietly observing the events of the Rangnarok tournament. He does not display any of their divine abilities in the plot.
Indra & Asura
Show: Naruto Shippuden
In the anime, there are intriguing parallels drawn from Hindu scriptures and mythology. One example involves the demigods, Indra, the ruler of the Devas. Indra was seen constantly involved in fierce battles against the Asuras in Hindu mythology.
Similarly, in the anime world, two characters named Indra and Asura, who are the children of Hagoromo, found themselves trapped in a conflict that spans generations.
These characters are caught up in an endless struggle and battles, like the eternal clash and wars portrayed in Hindu mythology between Indra and the Asuras. Their souls are reincarnated into different individuals with each cycle, fueling their constant conflict.
Yemma
Show: Dragon Ball Z
In Hindu Mythology, the god of death and justice is named as Yamraj. He is responsible for determining whether a person enters heaven or hell on the basis of the person’s karma.
A character inspired with the similar character present in the anime the Dragon Ball Z series called King Yemma. King Yemma first appearance was seen in Dragon Ball Z when Goku was killed and taken to the Other World by Kami to get trained under King Kai.
Just like Deity Yamraj, King Yemma holds the power to decide the fate of souls after death, whether they should go to heaven or hell. King Yemma’s character design in the story resembles the true and pure description of Yamraj from the Hindu scriptures.
Rakshas
Show: Beserk
The world of Japanese Anime characters is often intertwined with Indian history and mythology. The anime series Berserk has several references from India history and mythology, including the Kushan clan led by Emperor Kanishka.
The term “Rakshas” used in the series Beserk is taken from the Hindu tradition and scripts. The term “Rakshas” refers to a famous demon who torment humans and cause chaos on the Earth and this is resembles with the nature of the anime character Rakshas.
In terms of abilities, Rakshas is depicted with amorphous powers like shape-shifting, enhancing agility, and special invisibility. Rakshas also possessed important knowledge of the conflict between Kushan and the Midlands. These elements add depth and complexity to character of Rakshas as an anime character.
Agni
Show: Kuroshitsuji
The Kuroshitsuji series has also features characters from Indian mythology and scripts in the anime series and that character is Agni, a Brahmin who abandoned his old rebellious lifestyle for serving the gods. His character can also be linked to the Hindu Deity of fire, Agni Dev.
From his childhood, Agni witnessed his father’s indulgence in luxury and materialistic possessions which leads to him losing faith in God.
Despite losing this faith in God from a very young age, an encounter with Prince Soma transformed Agni. His character exhibits some qualities such as warmth, kindness, and welcoming nature and living up to the literal meaning of his name, ‘Agni’.
Mallika Sadhu is a journalist committed to revealing the raw, unfiltered truth. Mallika's work is grounded in a dedication to transparency and integrity, aiming to present clear and impactful stories that matter. Through comprehensive reporting and honest storytelling, she strives to contribute to provide narratives that genuinely inform and engage. When not dwelling in the world of journalism, she is immersed in the colors of her canvas and pages of her journal.
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