Cultural and Literary Traditions in India: History, Myth and Orality

This book presents an all-encompassing view of the cultural and literary traditions of representing, adapting, and understanding myth in the context of diverse issues of Indian society and culture. It showcases the intertwined relation of history, myth, and orality, and addresses diverse issues of narration, interpretation, history, gender, divinity, identity, resistance, marginality, violence, power, and politics in relation to myths in India. It examines self-renewal aspects of the myths that offer an interpretative frame to contemporary crises and conflicts. It deals with various myths associated with Shiva, The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, Saptamatrika, and Puranas. Besides myths, various folk and oral traditions are explored including devadasi, nachni, Bhand pather, Yakshagana, Ramkatha, and gramkatha. It stands apart from the existing body of researches on myth and folk literature in India by its extensive scope that considers literary and cultural practices all over India.