I love to read stories from Hindu mythology. Especially those stories that most people don't know exist. The beauty of these stories, especially the ones that speak of the desires and love and other emotions, is the freedom.
In today's society, it is frowned upon,if a woman dares even look at a man(in conservative Indian families), let alone, her declaring her undying love for him. In these stories, you see women confessing the secret of their erratic heartbeats, the reason for their existence. It might seem strange to us, if a woman tells a man that "she has adorned herself with garlands and drawn designs on her breast with sandal paste and pollen, as a gesture of unquenched love" and it might be weird to hear a man say,"his arms are aching with restless desire to embrace the one who has robbed him of the air to breath, the house in his breast is cold, for want of a companion".
Men today might not use such extravagantly poetic sentences, but they do confess their love. Women on the other hand, have been stripped of their right of self-expression. Women have to comply with rules laid down by man. The stories from mythology do not lack examples of women being given a pride of place.
This is quite a sad affair.The beauty of such sweet words can only be experienced, if one gives them an outlet. Maybe this male dominance is the reason for many a woman's thwarted desires. True, I seem to be moving away from the point. But, what is the point?
The point is, women today have lost that place of honor they once had. Mythology is based on the true state of affairs of the past. The beauty of love and all other emotions has receded due to lack of expression. Man's ego has hindered the growth of love and language. True,I seem to be giving a hazy view of things, but, this is all I can think of right now.
I would love to have a discussion on this topic with people who have any view on mythology. Not just Hindu mythology, but every cultures mythology. I hope to revive the act of expression, atleast to some extent, by this small gesture.
