In Hindu mythology, the World Tree, Ashvratha is seen as upside down with its roots in heaven and its branches on Earth. It is a wish-fulfilling tree. Mystics and sages are often said to hang upside down to gain spiritual insight and merit.

Indus glyph #52 is modified on an Indus seal to represent a squirrel climbing head-down on a tree. It represents the descent of the divine. In Norse mythology, a squirrel runs up and down the world tree, Yggdrasil to carry messages. In Hindu mythology, it is Narada the sage who is obligated to always keep moving between all the realms of the universe. He is likely an emissary of the Ultimate deity.

#51, the upside-down swan represents a different myth, How Brahma lost his 5th head. He took the form of a swan to fly to the top of Shiva's Jyotirlinga infinite pillar of light. He was unable to find the top, but lied and suffered the decapitation of his 5th upward-facing head, which caused him to lie. The dead bird represents this story (and death in general in Churning myth).

Odin hung upside down on the World Tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nine nights to obtain wisdom. wethehallowed.org

Prophet Isaiah is executed upside-down on a tree

Vetala upside down in tree

Ashvrattha tree - roots above branches below Odin hanging upside-down from a tree obtains wisdom Demon attains boon of invincibility after up-side down penance Gualao white bat immortal riding backwards on ass Vetala, Shiva, cremation grounds Palm squirrel sleeping upsidedown Trishanku hanging upside down in heaven Shani dev, defeated by Shiva, falls from heaven, hangs upside down in Pipal tree

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Celeste Claire Horner DRAFT 2026-5-3   celeste.horner@gmail.com   |   celeste@digitalthought.info
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