Mythology

 Mythology

Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat 

 A collection of Myth is called Mythology. In mythology we have human and supernatural characters that provide or give message to the society that what to do and what not to do? Mythology teaches us some moral lessons which prevail in the society. Mythology deals with Poetic Justice that symbolizes if a person will do wrong or against the rules of the universe then the person will be punished. In poetic justice vice is punished and virtue is rewarded. Panchtantra, Aesop’s Fables are the example of mythology. Mythology deals with traditional stories in that Gods and Supernatural become its significant faction. These narratives should not be merged with legends and sagas because these legends and sagas are also deals with human action. Mythology works as an instrument that helps to see, hear and understand the religion, philosophy along with science. In creature progress mythology is the initial indication of literary sunup. It comes in the form of oral that symbolizes the mindful attempt to handle in the eccentric world among the entire unusual living thing with mysterious understanding. Mythology endows with set of laws for social life and associates the tie between literature and the social order. Mythology is very gigantic and measureless that every writer has to go in deep to find out the correct and exact use of mythology to give a message. It can be declared that mythology the Sanatan Dharam (Hindu Dharma) and verbal stories have given men -the perception of tranquility and worldwide brotherhood otherwise men would have been eating of human flesh by another human being. Mythology in modern times seems not only with cultural touch but also with modern science and reject philosophy giving it standing point of not the true stories. Mythology is important to the unity of society. It is unconscious factors that works in society and teach them how to live. Mythology works as the answer to all questions unanswerable and without logic. Mythology works as the mirror of past time and explain things in exact manner.

Mythology is defined by various reasons in multiple ways.

For Alan Dundes

“Mythology, the sacred lore of tribes is as we shall see a powerful means of assisting primitive man, of allowing him to make the two ends of his cultural patrimony meet.”22

A Glossary of Literary terms writes that

“Mythology – a system of hereditary stories of ancient group and which served to explain (in terms of the intensions and actions of deities and other supernatural beings) why the world is at it is and things happen as they do to provide a rational for social customs and observances and to establish the sanctions for the rules by which people conduct their lives.”23

Yet another Dictionary and Literary Terms notes that

“Mythology is a system of mythical stories which taken together, elaborate the religious or metaphysical beliefs of a society. Such a system is likely to contain rituals……… a mythology is a religion which is no longer felt to be true.”24

For Anuradha Sharma

“Mythology consists of traditional stories in which gods or supernatural powers play their parts. These stories must not be confused with legends or sagas that are about human actions. Most of the myths have an element of religion.”25

For Bruce W. Masse

“Mythology is a function of the oral transmission of linguistically encoded data.”26

 For Gerhard Adler

“The myth can be regarded as the spontaneous and unreflective formulation of a primal psychological experience of a civilization, and it is for that reason that mythology can teach us so much about the early psychological experience of mankind.”27

Barker cites Barthes that myth makes particular world views appear to be unchangeable because natural or God given. Myth has the task of giving historical intention a natural justification, and making contingency appear eternal”.28

“Imagination plays a part in the development of myth which is best realized by the aesthetic effect created by a body of tales or by a set of pictorial symbols.”29

For Mali Joseph

“Mythology was primarily a literary amusement, or, at best, a repository of icons and emblems which, if properly interpreted, could be used for moral didactic purposes.” 30

For Joseph Campbell

“Mythology teaches you what’s behind literature and the arts, it teaches you about your own life. It’s great, exciting life, nourishing subject. Mythology has a great deal to do with the stages of life, the initiation ceremonies as you move from childhood to adult responsibilities, from the unmarried state into the married state. They have to do with your recognition of the new role that you are in the process of throwing off the old one and coming out in the new and entering into a responsible profession.”31

 Mythology epitomizes authenticity with the assist of images and symbols. People from varied cultures made conscious observations on natural phenomenon. Mythologies are shape by people who imagine with instinctive accepted wisdom and emotions. It can be said that every society deals with its own mythology – an organization of blessed stories about Gods and supernatural elements and even talked about the conception of what happens after death. From the long ages people have been listening and notifying these stories to help themselves, their live, society and world.

Dr. Swati Joshi

Gujarat