Lesson 8: Purposes of Mythology
Guidelines for Living
“Myths present guidelines for living. When myths tell about the activities and attitudes of deities, the moral tone implies society's expectations for our own behaviors and standards. In myths, we see archetypal situations and some of the options which can be selected in those situations; we also perceive the rewards and other consequences which resulted from those selections.”
King Harishchandra was renowned for his total adherence to the truth. Sage Vishwamitra could not accept that a mortal could have such a quality and decided to put him to the test. He had the king follow a wild boar of his own creation till the king was exhausted. The sage, in disguise, then offered the king food and water. In turn he asked for Harishchandra’s kingdom. Harishchandra was to leave the capital with his wife and son, all with only the clothes they were wearing. All their ornaments had to be removed.
As they were leaving Vishwamitra made a further demand for a large sum of money to be paid in thirty days. Since Harishchandra was living off alms he was unable to save the amount. He had to sell his wife and son as servants to a merchant and pledge himself to the services of the keeper of a crematorium.
Harishchandra’s son died of snakebite. His wife brought the body to the crematorium but was mistaken for a witch. The keeper of the crematorium asked Harishchandra to behead her. The husband and wife had changed so much that they did not recognise each other. Harishchandra’s wife asked for permission to complete the funeral rites of her dead child, but she did not have the money to pay for the charges. Harishchandra saw a piece of jewellery the woman was wearing. It was an item that was supposed to be visible only to Harishchandra and hence had escaped the sage’s eye. Husband and wife decided to immolate themselves on the funeral pyre of their son.
Vishwamitra realised that the test has gone too far. He admitted that Harishchandra was a man of the highest moral calibre and restored his kingdom and his son.
This tale guides us to stick to moral values even during adversity. We are not expected to be like Harishchandra. Mythological tales often make their point through exaggeration. But we must do what we can.
Those who test us often do not want us to succeed and hence they offer a soft option that leads to failure. Vishwamitra time and again gives Harishchandra the option of backing away from his commitment. It is by refusing to take this option that Harishchandra increases his stature. Most of us at some time or the other come face to face with two roads. How many of us take “the road less travelled”?
Events are multidimensional and usually only one dimension is relevant to the issue. Bringing the other dimensions often leads to unintended and incorrect conclusions. We have seen this happening in Rama’s decision to send Sita to exile. Harishchandra’s tale does not give a blanket sanction to sell one’s wife. To sell one’s wife to pay off gambling debts would be unacceptable. It is important to note that in both cases, those of Rama and Harishchandra, the husband shared the wife’s suffering.
Optional Exercises
3a. Read the story of Harishchandra from ‘The Indian Epics Retold’ on page 607.
3b. Browse through the texts and web sites and locate other examples that demonstrate that Hindu mythology fulfils this purpose.
