Revisiting Hindu Mythical Characters in Select Indian Fiction

Abstract

Myth means tradition and tradition constitutes a culture. Etymologically, the word ‘Myth’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Mythos’ meaning ‘tale of the people’ and ‘logy’ from ‘logos’ meaning speech so in all Mythology is defined as the sacred tales of any culture that is told by the people. The meaning of the English term ‘Myth’ is often misjudged from the Sanskrit word ‘Mithya’ but both has variant meanings. ‘Mithya’ means ‘a false notion’ whereas Myths are the Historical tales in narrative form having supernatural elements and whose authenticity on the bases of logic and science has not been certified but many people believe on them as they are the major part of their culture and tradition. Many writers like Raja Rao in Kanthapura and Salman Rushdie in Midnight’s Children have illustrated Hindu deities in their fiction but they tried to give them a new dimension instead of representing them as it is. An Indo-Canadian writer, Shauna Singh Baldwin used them as a symbol in her fiction. This research paper aims to examine the different shades of the characters from Hindu mythology illustrated in the fiction of above mentioned writers. It also endeavours to explore the role of Hindu mythology in literature and how it is beneficial for the readers.