Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Kill For a Myth - II

Dear readers,

Thank you for your response to "Kill For a Myth".

Your questions were very valid, but it was a surprise to see that some of you found it difficult to identify myths. Let me try to help. Please think about the following:

Consider Karna. Conceived out of Kunti's ear! I'd sure like to see a baby fall out of a woman's ear. Fact or myth? You decide.

What about the Kauravas? I can understand twins, triplets, or even quadruplets. But a hundred chunks aborted out of a single womb, and incubated in pots into healthy babies! And that happened in what century? Fact or myth? You decide.

Hanuman! I'd sure like to see the wind impregnate a woman, so she could give birth to a talking monkey! And this monkey could grow or shrink to any size it desired! Zoology has no idea about what allowed for those feats. Fact or myth? You decide.

And Dragons! Evolution proves that the more intelligent dinosaurs were relatively smaller creatures. The larger dinosaurs had relatively smaller brains. Rationally, the larger and heavier a creature, the less capable it is of flight. But dragons? Huge, highly intelligent mutants, able to breathe fire, and to fly at great speeds! Fact? And some of them are even supposed to live in the oceans. If they are so huge and have such fabulous characteristics, I should think that they must be quite easy to spot. Well, nobody has ever found any. Even deap sea explorations by our scientific community have not discovered any. So, where are they? I would sure like to see their bones in some meuseum. Fact or Myth? You decide.

I could go on and on, but the effect would be hardly worth the effort. Sit back and think for yourself.


PS: The problem is not that we don't know some things in life. The problem is that some of us wish to keep it that way.

8 comments:

teacup said...

hey, sorry for the late comment,
but i adon't completely agree wid you, a myth i believe is a fact only exaggerated, ramayana, the famous epic, might actually be just a novel written by a guy who had nuthin better to do than write complicated stories, acc to ur theory, but look at it, maybe it really happened this story somewhere, wat he did was maybe exaggerated a little here and there to add some spice to it, added some of his own interpretations of the events...that doesnt make it completely fake, does it?
also, myths always have some valuable lessons from which we all can leran something...so i think it is essential to have and to read myths...

Anonymous said...

to yashita,

i don't mean to be rude, but even if myths are just very exaggerated true stories... the end result is still a myth. a lie and a truth together to not make a truth. it is still a lie. some of the myths are beautiful and do have very strong moral lessons to them that any sensible person should learn from. but also just because you can learn a lesson about life from a story doesn't make the actual story true as in it really happen in history.

history is backed up by facts, mythology is the study of stories that are not backed up by fact.

Jewel Rays said...

Wow impressive! on the listed "myths".hahaha..God knows if those things are real..but seriously..out of a ear..yeah that set me thinking and yet did make me wonder if it could really be happening..hahaha

PS: The problem is not that we don't know some things in life. The problem is that some of us wish to keep it that way.

Well that depends doesn't it. if something does not require much attention why waste time cracking our heads over it. It would just cause unecessary worry or confusion. Rather walk past it and not comment on it. but unless its something that has a part in influening ya life big time. than ignorance i feel would be a problem if its not setting you right or others right in side. Its a whole big world out there with a lot of individuals with different beliefs, traditions and cultures. Everyone has their own frame of mind and all. What one belief may not be what other belief. And if everyone wants to solve a problem which holds not much important to their individual. i feel the world can sometimes turn chaotic..dun u think.. ?? Everyone will want to proclaim they are right on this and that. and conflicts is pretty inviting. so ignorance can be a bliss at times i feel. but of course we have to weigh the matters right. to know when to speak and when to shut up and not comment on anything. *smiles*

Pradeep Puranik said...

Dear Yashita,
No, a myth is not an exaggerated fact. A myth is a belief that is unsupported by facts. It is fictitious, unreal.

If you read my examples, you would agree that none of them could actually have happened.

Moreover, as Nerine says, just because you learn some lessons from a story, it does not become a fact. :)



Dear Nerine,
You were not rude. You have every right to express your views on the subject. And in fact, I am inclined to agree with everything you said. Thank you. :)



Dear Amy,
Do you really believe that any of that could ever have happened?

It is not my intention to rake up unnecessary issues and create confusions. I am simply awed that people believe these stories to such an extent that they are willing to commit murder to uphold their belief. That, I think, is pathetic.

Ashley said...

I would dare say most people in the world believe desperately in some type of myth (usually, religion-based mythology). It's mind boggling.

Neha said...

the problem is that we want to believe things without questioning them. we don't usually think on these lines, just accept statements given to us on face value..

Keshi said...

heyyy Pradeep :)


**would be no evidence, because it is something that never really happened.

but just cos we dun have evidence to something, that doesnt make it a myth. Think abt it this way...say someone was murdered...we may not have first hand evidence to it, but does that make the dead person not dead?

On religious stories, I'd rather not call em myths and dimsiss em, cos I really dunno the truth - in ancient days, anything would have happened, who knows...so I'd leave it the way it is :)


Keshi.

Jewel Rays said...

Do you really believe that any of that could ever have happened?

:) I would rather keep my mouth silent and not conclude it as unbelief even if it doesn’t register together with my personal being. I wouldn't want to force down my opinion on anybody or offend a person who truly believe/practices these myths.:)


It is not my intention to rake up unnecessary issues and create confusions. I am simply awed that people believe these stories to such an extent that they are willing to commit murder to uphold their belief. That, I think, is pathetic.


I am sure that’s not ya intention *smilies* Well some people become extremist in these things and hurt other beings. This is something I will definitely not run together with. Hurting someone just because of their beliefs does not reconcile with my being. and i definitely find that pathetic and disgusting as well. But whether their belief is true or not is not for my defining. Thats up to what they believe. As long as it does not influence me. i do not necessary have to agree with their way of living. Cause whateva is being sowed will be reap in returns surely. So if that myth/belief they are believing in is aligning with a lie that is blinding. It will show when its time for unveiling. :) Thank you for this interesting topic. I enjoyed it. I hope i did not offend anybody.