Estonian mythology is a complex of myths belonging to the Estonian folk heritage and literary mythology. Information about the pre-Christian and medieval Estonian mythology is scattered in historical chronicles, travellers' accounts and in ecclesiastical registers. Systematic recordings of Estonian folklore started in the 19th century. Estonian mythology seems to be heavily influenced and borrowed from Vedic religion. Pre-Christian Estonian deities included a god known as Jumal or Taevataat ("Old man of the sky") in Estonian, corresponding to Jumala in Finnish, and Jumo in Mari. Numerous folktales of the religion are similar to those in Indo Aryan and Buddhist mythologies, which shows a wide influence but not formal conversion to them. Estonian folklore was influenced by local tribes which lived in Europe like the Baltic and Finnish people. Good source about Estonian folklore is the Kalevipoeg epic.
Estonian Mythology provides examples of:
- God of Thunder: Pikker (also Aike, Piken, Pikker or Pikne), whose name translated means "thunder" and required animal sacrifices. His name is derived from the Proto Indo-European storm god Perkwunos.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: While it wasn't on his own accord, the hero gets killed by his own Talking Sword made by the blacksmith who did so as revenge for getting his son killed; which is comparable to the older Hurrian mythic theme of the amputation of the feet of Ullikummi by a supernatural knife- which means that self-amputation (and possibly the concept of karma) really goes back to ancient times.
- Our Giants Are Different: Kalev was a malevolent one who battled other giants or enemies of the nation. He married Linda who eventually gave birth to four sons, one of which was the hero Kalevipoeg.
- Top God: Uku, who alongside the Finnish mythologal god Ukko Ylijumala have the same ancient origin.
