Project Idea: Horses

Horses have been part of the Indian storytelling tradition since ancient times, and there are many horse stories you could tell for a project in this class.

Research Tip: Start with the Wikipedia article about horses in South Asia, especially the section on horse symbolism. You'll want to learn about the Ashwamedha, "Horse Sacrifice," which is a feature of both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Ashwins are the divine twin horsemen, celestial fathers of the twins Nakula and Sahadeva in the Mahabharata. You can read about Vishnu's horse avatar, Hayagriva, and Uchchaihshravas, the seven-headed flying white horse; Vishnu's avatar-to-come, Kalki, will arrive on a white horse. There is also an article about Kanthaka, the Buddha's horse.

Past Projects:

• Horses Divine