Gilgamesh V. Bahvaghad Gita

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Gilgamesh V. Bahvaghad Gita

In both The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Bhagavad-Gita, the gods play a cent0ral role. The Mesopotamians of Gilgamesh see their gods as very human-like creatures, often with faults and whims like their own. On the other hand, the Hindus see more all-powerful, heavenly beings free from faults. This discrepancy in the perception of gods effects the power of their gods and also the longevity of the religion.
The gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh behave like human beings, and therefore, limit their power. Ishtar, the goddess of love, sees Gilgamesh and falls in love with his beauty and longs for his body (35). This passion and longing for sex is a very human and earthly characteristic. Gods of the modern world would never participate in these carnal pleasures. Later, Ishtar shows even more emotion. “The king of Uruk has insulted me (37).” She takes this feeling of dejection a step further by enacting revenge on Gilgamesh. One would think a goddess would be strong enough to do this of her own accord, but Ishtar cannot. In Mesopotamian mythology, no one god is all-powerful, Ishtar must ask Anu, her father, for permission. “The goddess said to the god her father thus: ‘Give me the Bull of Heaven that I may punish Gilgamesh the king (37).” Anu replies by saying, “’If I should give the Bull of Heaven to you, then there would follow seven years of husks. Have you prepared for this?’ (37)” Ishtar says she has, and the Bull is given to her. This conversation is much like the dialog a mortal father and daughter would have. The daughter asks for permission. The father makes sure she has thought the action through and then consents. This is not god-like behavior. The fact that Ishtar has to seek permission before acting undermines her power.
More examples of the gods behaving as humans can be found. After Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the Bull of Heaven and Huwawa, the gods meet in council and bicker about whether to kill both Enkidu and Gilgamesh or just one of them (39-40). Also, after Utnapishtim survives the flood, the gods meet in council and bicker over why Utnapishtim is still alive and what fair punishments should be (62). In both of these instances, the gods all meet together in council and discuss what is going on. This shows the sophisticated human process of discussion and possibly government. Probably, the Mesopotamians themselves would meet together to talk about the problems of the state. They personify their gods to reflect their society...

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