Recycling of Myth: A Comparative Study of The Transposed Headsand Hayavadana

Abstract

An eleventh century Hindu parable of Somadeva'sKathasaritsagaraabout a woman who switches the heads of her husband and her brother was adopted by Thomas Mann and Girish Karnadin their works,The Transposed HeadsandHayavadanarespectively. By manipulating the traditional meaning of the parable, both writers have removed the parts of the Hindu culture from the context that defines them. They have recycled the Hindu myth mentioned in the ancient parable. First, Mann and Karnad have empowered the feminine in the Hindu culture through their characters, Sita and Padmini opposing Somadeva's Madansundari who is weak, bound and docile Hindu wife. Then, secondly, they have strengthened the case against the Brahmanical claim that the mind always wins over the body. And, thirdly, Mann has disclosed the fact about the real Aryan invaders and their interactions with the indigenous peoples of Indian sub-continent, and linked with his work. Thus, both the writers have recycled the myth expressed in the original story by removing the parts of the Hindu culture from the context that defines them.