Transcript 6 Research Seminar of mythology by Ms.S.Padmapriya

WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY?

“Mythology” is a word
used to describe all
myths of a particular
society.

Every culture has its own
myths that help us
understand its customs
and ways of viewing the
world.
What is a myth?


An ancient story dealing with supernatural
beings, ancestors, and heroes.
It explains the view of a group of people
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
MYTHS?
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Myths can…
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Explain how things came to be--like the origin of the
universe or the creation of humans.
Teach people about the values and beliefs that are
important in their society.
Contain deep religious significance to the people
who tell and believe them.
Studying myths can teach us about people around the
world -- their cultures and what is (or was) important
to them.
What are some characteristics of
myths?

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Contain heroes and heroines
Supernatural elements
Gods and goddesses
Explains a natural phenomenon
Told orally (spoken)
HOW DID WE LEARN THESE
STORIES?

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Myths were first passed down through
storytelling, songs, and poetry.
We learned the stories from written versions,
mainly Homer’s epic poems The Illiad and The
Odyssey, which tell us of the great deeds of
the heroes.
DO MYTHS REALLY MATTER
TODAY?

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YES!!!
References to Greek mythology are all around us:
 Ever heard of Nike athletic gear? Nike was
actually a goddess of personification and
victory.
`
DO MYTHS REALLY MATTER
TODAY?
What would Valentine’s Day be without
Cupid? Cupid, or Eros, is the god of love as the
Greeks called him.
Which cultures have myths?
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Every culture has its own mythology
Universal symbols and themes appear in
different cultures’ myths
Greek, Roman, Native American, Celtic, South
American, African, and Norse mythology are
examples of myths from different cultures
TWO NAMES, POWERS THE SAME

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Generally, the deity’s
powers and myths
stayed the same--even
though they had a new
name.
As a result, the study of
Greek and Roman
mythology is often
grouped together under
the same name-classical mythology.
Greek and Roman Mythology is often
called “Classical Mythology”
Why did ancient people tell myths?
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To help explain the unexplainable
To explain natural phenomenon
To tell about their heroes
To explain human nature
To teach morals and values
Why do we still study mythology?
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To learn about ancient cultures
As inspiration for the arts
To teach values and morals
For entertainment
In the same way, Indian Myths…

Were used to explain
 the
creation of the earth,
 death and the afterlife,
 and human experiences: love,
jealousy, revenge, & war.

They were also used as entertainment and
were only told orally because most people
could not read.
Myths also include mortals

Mortals are men and women who live
on earth. To be mortal means that you
can die.

Sometimes the gods like to help,
punish or even have romantic
relationships with the mortals.
Indian Mythology
One of the richest elements of Indian
Culture
Different stories in Indian mythology
have been passed from generation to
generation.
impart values of Indian culture to us
Indian Mythology
Cont…
Panchatantra and Jataka-tales to subtle life paradigm
defining stories from the Bhagvad-Gita, Ramayana and
Mahabharata.
Girish Raghunath Karnad
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Born-19 May 1938
film director, film actor, poet,Dramatist
Notable works –Hayavadana & Nagamandala
Approach

Found a new approach like drawing historical
and mythological sources to tackle
contemporary themes, and existentialist crisis
of modern man, through his characters locked
in psychological and philosophical conflicts.

Culture defines society and Karnad’s plays are
a reflection of the culture in our society.
CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS
Girish Karnad's play Hayavadana has various
cultural implications, which are relevant even today. A
Man's search for his own self among a web of
complex relationships
 Hayavadana was influenced by Thomas Mann’s
The Transposed Heads. Focusing on our folk culture,
he takes inspiration from mythology and folklore.
 With Hayavadana, Karnad has taken us back to
the myths and legends of the Hindu religion.
HAYAVADANA
The story revolves around
Devadutta, Kapila and Padmini. The
emotional upheavels they face
because of transposing of heads.
Running parallel is the story of
Hayavadana, a horseheaded man
who is seeking fullfillment and
completion.
The story has a larger theme of
identity and the power of the mind
over the body. Characters had a lot
of complexity in it.
NAGAMANDALA
The play touches one of
the most sensitive issues
of marital life. In folk style
and form, the film throws
open a question as to who
is the husband - the
person who marries an
innocent girl and indulges
in self pleasures or the
person who gives the real
and complete experience
of life.
NAGAMANDALA
Snakes are considered sacred and are feared and
worshipped. Supernatural elements play a central part in
the play.
The intimate relationships between a man and a
woman, an Indian woman's desperation to win the
affections of her husband in spite of the husband’s open
disloyalty
NAGAMANDALA
The need to prove loyalty being imposed on married
women while their husbands are not even questioned about
their extramarital affairs.
The play illuminates universal themes - alienation,
loneliness, love, family, hatred - through the daily lives and
concerns of a whole community of individuals.
Wrapping up…
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Myths, are in fact the embodiments of these
cultural ethos that represent the underlying
values and principles of life,the rules and the
codes of society.
Girish Karnad has time and again returned to
eternal roots of his cultural tradition, taking
inspiration from mythology and folklore.
Karnad provides us with a glimpse of the past
as well as its relevance to an understanding of
the contemporary world.
Thank you….