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    Indian Mythology
    Indian Mythology
    Indian Mythology
    Ebook69 pages2 hours

    Indian Mythology

    By R RADHAKRISHNAN

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The Rishis, the wise men of ancient India, were in a dilemma. They had compiled the Vedas, the rules of behaviour, and Dharma had been conceptualised or framed.

    Dharma, you could consider as a mission statement for life.

    But how to reach it to the people so they could understand? How to ensure that people listened to the lessons? One of those wise men then came up with the brilliant idea of telling stories which would interest people and also have the required knowledge to learn from.

    So were born the marvellous stories or epics of Hinduism. The stories have in them ideals, morals, rules of life and so much more. It brilliantly packaged these ideals in stories that enchant and yet teach.

     

    This small book has some of those stories of ancient wisdom. R.Radhakrishnan retells and interprets those tales simply and links them to our everyday life. These are tales that gently guide even as they amuse you with thier wit and imagination.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRadhakrishnan R
    Release dateMay 7, 2022
    ISBN9798201933159
    Indian Mythology
    Author

    R RADHAKRISHNAN

    R. RADHAKRISHNAN is an acclaimed storyteller whose narratives capture the vibrant tapestry of contemporary India. Born in Kerala and raised in Mumbai, he brings a unique dual perspective to his writing, blending the cosmopolitan energy of India's financial capital with the deep cultural roots of its traditional heartland.   During his four-decade corporate career, Radhakrishnan traversed the length and breadth of India, collecting stories and insights that now enrich his fiction. His intimate understanding of India's corporate world and its intersections with society adds authenticity to his narratives, particularly evident in "The Scales of Justice."   Known for his engaging, accessible style, Radhakrishnan crafts stories deeply rooted in everyday India, bringing to life characters and situations that resonate with readers across cultures. His storytelling philosophy is simple yet powerful: entertain while illuminating the many facets of modern India.   Currently residing in Cochin, Kerala, Radhakrishnan finds inspiration in nature's quiet moments. Whether walking along the Arabian Sea coast or exploring Kerala's lush forests, he combines keen observation with masterful storytelling, always contemplating his next narrative adventure.   His works have garnered critical acclaim for their authentic portrayal of contemporary Indian life and their ability to weave complex themes into compelling, readable stories that keep readers turning pages well into the night.

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      Book preview

      Indian Mythology - R RADHAKRISHNAN

      Introduction

      The Rishis, the wise men of ancient India, were in a dilemma. They had compiled the Vedas, the rules of behaviour, and Dharma had been conceptualised or framed.

      Dharma, you could consider as a mission statement for life.

      But how to reach it to the people so they could understand? How to ensure that people listened to the lessons? One of those wise men then came up with the brilliant idea of telling stories which would interest people and also have the required knowledge to learn from.

      So were born the marvellous stories or epics of Hinduism. The stories have in them ideals, morals, rules of life and so much more. It brilliantly packaged these ideals in stories that enchant and yet teach.

      The two great epics of India, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, are called ithihasa, which roughly means this is how it happened.

      Many Hindus consider these as history and not stories or mythology.

      The Epics, especially the Mahabharata, tell us not only stories, they describe the geography of the land, how people lived, it discusses dharma and rules of living; it tells you the history of its characters and how life was then.

      It also discusses philosophy and has one of the greatest books written in the world, The Gita.

      It also has advice on administration, ruling the land and how to live, which is relevant today as well.

      So, storytellers came to a village or a city, and people sat around a campfire and listened as these storytellers captivated them with these tales.

      Later, in folk forms like Yakshagana, Kathakali, traditional plays, these stories became dramas, and the storytellers became singers, actors and enacted the stories under flickering lamps.

      The stage would be open fields where cultivation was over and the next season was yet to come where travelling troupes would enact these stories. Dance drama forms like Kathakali were enacted inside the temple premises.

      For Kathakali, there would be a platform much lower than the stages you see now. The light would be from oil lamps. There would be no backdrops or any special effects. The singers and the instrument players would be at the side or back of this stage. You sat cross-legged on the soft sand of the temple. The height of the Kathakali thatt, the stage, was ideal when you sat like this.

      The performance would start in the night after dinner. Throughout the day, the drummer would drum up a rhythm called the keli kottu, announcing the play that they would stage that night.

      The performance would go on through the night and you would sit mesmerised as the singer sang the story and the dancers in traditional colourful Kathakali costumes brought the story to life with their dance. It was the old story teller sitting and telling stories around a campfire.

      Now you have performances that are on a modern stage, back drops, sound systems, plush seating, air conditioning and all modern conveniences. But the charm of those old days when those colourful characters came on to the stage in flickering lamplight was much more.

      These stories, in one form or the other, are there in almost all parts of India. There are regional variations and there are folk traditions. Some changes are minor and some are major. But they all have one thing in common: they enchant and they educate.

      So, gather around the campfire as I tell you some of these stories which you may not find in mainstream versions.

      The Song and the Story

      Folk tales and folk songs have a different perspective from regular mainstream versions.

      If women sing the folk songs, the perspective will be different.

      If women alone sing the folk song, the perspective will be even more different.

      In a patriarchal society, the voice of women gets suppressed but in folktales and songs, these get expressed.

      We see that in the lovely story of Draupadi being protected by the women, which is retold later in this book.

      This is a retelling of a folktale from Karnataka on the perils of not listening to a woman or stifling her voice. Which is very relevant even today.

      Gangamma lived in a remote village in the Kingdom of Mysore. She was a lively bubbly child who loved to hear stories and sing songs.

      When she came of age,

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