Hindu Mythology

Lesson 8: Purposes of Mythology

Offer Role Models

“Myths offer role models. In particular, children pattern themselves after heroes; comic books and Saturday-morning cartoons depict many archetypal characters, such as Superman and Wonder Woman. Adults, too, can find role models, in the stories of deities' strength, persistence, and courage.”

For centuries Savitri has been espoused as the role model for all wives. A caring wife and a dutiful daughter-in-law, she defied the demi-God of Death and got back the soul of her dead husband.

Savitri was the only child of her father. So accomplished was she that no one wanted to marry her for fear of appearing inferior. Eventually she chose to marry Satyavan who lived in the forest with his blind father. When Narada heard of her choice he cautioned her. Satyavan had exactly one year to live. But Savitri proceeded with the marriage.

For a year she was the perfect wife and daughter-in-law. She kept fasts, performed rituals and did whatever she could to prolong the life of her husband. On the fateful day she accompanied her husband to the forests where he died. Yama, the demi-God of Death collected his soul to take it to the underworld.

Savitri followed him, talking to him and praising him, insisting that she would accompany her husband’s soul wherever it was taken. Yama offered her one boon, anything except returning life to her husband. She asked for her father-in-law’s eyesight but continued to follow him. Two more boons were given. She asked for her father-in-law’s kingdom to be retuned to him and for a hundred sons for her father. Yet she followed Yama to the underworld stating that nothing could part her from her husband’s soul. Yama gave her one more boon with the same condition. This time she asked for a hundred sons for herself and continued to follow Yama. She told Yama that her chastity was unassailable. She could not even think of another man let alone bear his children. If Yama wanted his last boon to come true he would have to restore her husband to life. Yama realised that he was defeated. He asked Savitri to return to where her husband’s body lay and that she would find him alive.

A role model performs heroic tasks because he or she has the backing of God. Arjuna is the classic example.

After Krishna’s ascension Arjuna was escorting the women and children of Dwarka to Hastinapur because Dwarka would soon be submerged under the sea. The caravan also carried the wealth and the weapons of Dwarka. On the way he was stopped by a tribal who ordered that Arjuna leave the women, wealth and weapons behind and then continue his journey. Arjuna introduced himself. The tribal responded that in his childhood his mother had told him stories of the Mahabharata war and of Arjuna’s role in it. He challenged Arjuna to a duel. Arjuna had scarcely lifted his bow, when his vision blackened and he fainted. When he recovered consciousness he found that the tribal had vanished with his booty.

Arjuna remembered an event from time gone by. The Mahabharata war had just ended. Arjuna requested Krishna who was his charioteer in the battle to descend from the chariot. But Krishna asked him to alight first. A surprised but obedient Arjuna did as he was told and waited for Krishna to alight. As soon as Krishna's feet left the chariot, it burst into flames and was reduced to ashes. Krishna told Arjuna that during the last eighteen days the chariot had suffered innumerable onslaughts because Arjuna had been the target of the Kaurava army. The only reason the chariot was intact was because Krishna was sitting in it, else it would have been destroyed in the war. Today Krishna was not with him and by himself Arjuna was nothing.

Optional Exercises

7a. Read about Savitri from ‘The Indian Epics Retold’ on page 569.

7b. Read about Arjuna and the tribal from the following site
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/myth...

7b. Browse through the texts and web sites and locate other examples that demonstrate that Hindu mythology fulfils this purpose.

  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8