1. Avatars of Vishnu: I think this would make an interesting topic because I could focus on each of the different forms of Vishnu as animals, not necessarily as human. So far the research I've done for this topic involves reading the various myths associated with his different animal forms. I have also been looking at the imagery associated with each of these forms. For example, in his avatar of Matsya, the fish, Vishnu is often portrayed as almost a mermaid-type figure.
2. Monkeys: I have been looking at the different monkeys through the Indian epics. The topic of monkeys is interesting because animals usually represent a few specific traits and are aligned either positively or negatively, but in these stories, the monkeys are more varying and are often depicted as being very human, rather than animalistic. I've been reading the stories associated with these; reading a bit ahead in the Ramayana and also exploring Wikipedia and Google Images.
3. Birds: In the same way as monkeys, I have been looking into various birds in Indian Mythology. From what I've been reading, birds seem to portray roles of mysticism or grandiose, being either terrible, half-humanoid, romantic, or sacred. For this, I have mainly been reading articles on Wikipedia for basic understanding. If I choose this topic, I will find some more in depth sources.
4. Atypical/supernatural animals: These are the monsters or unusual type animals in Indian Mythology. I have noticed how many animals seem to be combinations of other animals, and I am wondering if there might be a correlation between what parts of animals compose the entire creature and different qualities of the whole. I've been looking for images of multi-faceted animals and reading some stories about these types of animals.
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| Yali a multi-faceted animal figure, comprised of elephant, horse, lion, and eagle. Image Source: Wikipedia |
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