Demystifying Indian mythology

Chennai:

Indian society, which has always been accommodative and tolerant, is now undergoing a change as we are trying to impose the Western philosophy of perfection, according to Devdutt Pattanaik, Chief Belief Officer, Future Group.

Delivering the Fifth P A Ramakrishna Memorial Lecture – ‘Unraveling the Indian Mythology, Pattanaik, an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author, said that the Indian society is too busy deciding right and wrong and excluding people who don’t agree with them.

“This is not good for any community. A society is noble if it includes people,” he said.

Highlighting the difference between the Western and Indian society, Pattanaik said in West religion is based on the assumption that life is lived once. “When we live only once we want to create perfection and are driven by a sense of urgency to do everything right to become successful,” he added.

On the contrary, India is a human inheritance. “We believe in rebirth paradigm and karma and adopt to environment. Here introspection is a part of life and not achievement,” said Pattanaik.

He said that through stories, symbols and rituals one can assess one’s inner world. He said mythology is not a religious concept but a subjective truth just like the concept of any nation does not exist in nature but it is an idea.

He said that rituals are integral part of society but as society changes so do the rituals. He said that noting in the world remains static, it changes and so does one’s understanding of life.

He also hit out at the United States and said the country calls it a secular country but the US president takes oath with Bible in hand on the contrary India is considered a religious country but the prime minister takes a oath by carrying the Indian constitution book.

He said Hinduism preaches nothing. “It is based on karma where every action will have a reaction. It is not a prescriptive religion,” he added.