From Buddhism Back to Ancient Iranian Mythology
As explored in a previous article, we have identified the mythological model behind Im Sama’s name.
The source is King Yima — the perfect king who ruled the Peshdadian Dynasty, the oldest dynasty in ancient Iran (Zoroastrian mythology).
King Yima from Zoroastrian scripture later evolved in ancient Indian mythology into Yama — the first human hero to explore the afterlife — and was ultimately inherited by Buddhism as Emma, the King of Hell.
This means Im Sama and Zoro share the same mythological roots.
Could the true final boss after defeating Im Sama actually be Zoro?
Perhaps the final battle of One Piece is a continuation of the “Luffy vs Zoro” clash at Whiskey Peak?
Mythological Models Traced Back Through Time
Buddhism reached Japan from China. China received it from India. Indian Buddhism grew from the Vedas (Indian mythology). And those Vedas themselves trace back to the ancient mythology of the Iranian Plateau.
It was the Aryans who transmitted Iranian mythology to India — and they may well be the real-world model for the Lunarians in One Piece.
The deeper the One Piece story goes, the further back the mythological models reach. To analyze the story accurately, we must trace these myths to their oldest origins.
That’s why exploring the Rigveda is essential for understanding the path from Indian mythology back to its Iranian roots.
The Rigveda is the sacred scripture of ancient Indian Brahmanism and one of the oldest texts in the world — a vivid depiction of the gods of Indian mythology.
- Starting with Luffy as Okuninushi in the Wano arc
- Connecting to Daikoku, who shares the same kanji reading
- Tracing Daikoku’s roots back to Vidyaraja (Myoo)
- Then tracing Vidyaraja’s roots back to the god Shiva
- Connecting Shiva’s destructive nature to Nika, the god of destruction worshipped in Elbaf
The current clash between Nika and Nidhogg in the Elbaf arc appears to be an homage to the battle between Indra and Vritra in the Rigveda.
The Rigveda
God of the sun. God of rain. God of the forest. God of the earth.
Animism — the belief that spiritual beings inhabit all natural objects (rain, forests, rocks, wind) and that “all things have a soul.”
What makes the Rigveda particularly challenging is that it is not a narrative story. Instead, it is a collection of hymns and prayers that deify natural phenomena like fire and thunder.
This made it difficult to follow even with a modern translation.
But that is simply the nature of epics — oral traditions passed down across thousands of years before writing existed, resembling songs more than stories.
Act One: The Dawn of the Universe — Separation of the Two Parents
Like other mythologies, the Rigveda begins with primordial chaos.
In the beginning, Heaven (Dyaus) and Earth (Prithvi) were joined together.
When this father and mother — the “Two Parents” — were separated, the vast space (Antariksha) in which the gods would act was born. All gods are said to be their children.
Act Two: Guardians of Order (The Heavenly Gods)
The Rigveda describes a clear cosmic order. The heavenly gods — led by Indra, the king of the gods and god of thunder and storms — protect this order.
In One Piece, Luffy/Nika embodies the role of Indra: the champion who brings liberation and battles the forces of chaos.
Indra vs. Vritra — Nika vs. Loki
In the Rigveda, the primary enemy of Indra is Vritra — a serpentine demon of drought and chaos who blocks the rivers and clouds.
Indra slays Vritra, releasing the waters and restoring cosmic order — this is the Rigveda’s central myth.
In One Piece’s Elbaf arc, the battle between Nika and Nidhogg/Loki mirrors this ancient conflict: the liberating sun god versus the force of chaos and destruction.
Conclusion: One Piece’s Mythology Goes Deeper Than You Think
Oda has layered One Piece with mythology spanning from Japanese Shinto to Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and the ancient Rigveda. The further the story progresses, the older and more fundamental the mythological sources become.
The Im Sama → Yima → Yama → Emma lineage shows that even the villain’s name carries thousands of years of mythological depth. Understanding this mythology unlocks new dimensions of the story.