Essay

Mythology in Post-colonial Indian arts

At the outset of the festival season, this piece tries to unravel the eternal truth of the gods and goddesses, epics and jatakas. India, a 60-something nation, boasts a 5,000-year-oldcivilization, thanks to the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, Jatakas, Peers, prophets, Tirthankaras and Buddha.Mythology connects India from Guwahati in the East to Gujarat in the West, Srinagar in the northern tip to Sriperumbudur in the South. It connects Mohenjodaro to the modern times as the three-faced Pashupati from the Indus Valley shows. From Mauryan to Mughal miniatures, Buddha reliquaries to Shunga plaques, Kushana carvings to Gandhara sculptures – regardless of who or which religion ruled, we have been
linked through mythical ideals.
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are the earliest literatures written in so many languages. They’ve introduced us to the dance theatres of Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam. The folk traditions of Yakshagana, Ramlila, Jatra and Pandavani have been derived from them. Despite political upheavals and technological developments, visual arts enjoy a continuity not found in Europe or any other art haven. If the Ajanta caves and the Himalayan crevices celebrated Buddha’s piety, Madhubani celebrated the marriage of Ram and Sita in the homes of Mithila, and miniatures in the Pahari palaces celebrated the metaphoric love of Radha and Krishna.