DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrhs.net.v13.i7.3
Shivansh Singh
Independent Researcher
Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
This study examines the pervasive mythological motifs that traverse the literatures of Sanskrit and Tamil traditions, mapping their functions, transformations, and cultural resonances. By comparing emblematic narratives—such as divine births, cosmic battles, and moral exemplars—it elucidates how shared mythic structures adapt to linguistic, regional, and philosophical contexts. Through a qualitative content analysis of a purposive corpus comprising canonical Sanskrit epics (the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata) and classical Tamil works (the Cilappatikāram and Tirukkural), the research identifies recurring archetypes and locates their thematic emphases. Findings reveal both convergence—where motifs serve similar didactic or cosmological aims—and divergence, reflecting localized religious practices and sociocultural priorities. The study contributes to comparative literary scholarship by highlighting the dynamic interplay between pan-Indian mythos and regional literary innovation.
Keywords
mythological motifs; Sanskrit literature; Tamil literature; comparative study; cultural adaptation
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