Washing my face in the basin, having just read the myth behind 'Cornucopia', I thought of exploring why the Greek mythology did not become a religious text, but the Hindu mythology did (not entirely though- the Panchtantra, and the Vikram-Baitaal stories too form a part of our mythology).
More on that later.
Meanwhile, read this bit of info about the Vikram-Baitaal stories:
"The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five Tales of a Baital is the history of a huge Bat, Vampire, or Evil Spirit which inhabited and animated dead bodies. It is an old, and thoroughly Hindu, Legend composed in Sanskrit, and is the germ which culminated in the Arabian Nights, and which inspired the "Golden Ass" of Apuleius, Boccacio's "Decamerone," the "Pentamerone," and all that class of facetious fictitious literature.
The story turns chiefly on a great king named Vikram, the King Arthur of the East, who in pursuance of his promise to a Jogi or Magician, brings to him the Baital (Vampire), who is hanging on a tree. The difficulties King Vikram and his son have in bringing the Vampire into the presence of the Jogi are truly laughable; and on this thread is strung a series of Hindu fairy stories, which contain much interesting information on Indian customs and manners."
The stories can be read here.
And, giving that link gave me a thought about the importance of translation- if it were not for this painstaking art, so much of our cultural wealth (am talking at the world level, not just India) would be lost, or diminished!
No comments:
Post a Comment