Defying the Divine: Rebellion against Vedic Authority in Indian Folktales

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Ms. P. Deborah Ann
Ms. P. Deborah Ann
2
Dr. Stephen Foster Davis
Dr. Stephen Foster Davis
3
Dr. Sidney Shirly
Dr. Sidney Shirly

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Folktales often diverge from religious texts by challenging divine authority and foregrounding human agency. This paper examines two Indian folktales—“The Separation of Heaven and Earth” (Kadar) and “Why the Sky Went Up” (Kannada)—that subvert notions of divine superiority and depict rebellion against gods. Through a comparative reading of Rig Vedic hymns and oral traditions, the study explores how these narratives reflect resistance to Brahminical Hinduism and its caste-based hierarchies. The analysis highlights motifs such as the pestle used in rice pounding, where domestic labor and ordinary voices symbolically displace cosmic order, undermining the supremacy of deities. The paper argues that such folktales serve as counter-narratives, providing marginalized communities with an oral weapon against religious and social domination. By situating these tales within broader debates on folklore, caste, and resistance literature, the study contributes to an understanding of oral tradition as a vehicle for subaltern expression and cultural critique.

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Ms. P. Deborah Ann. 2026. \u201cDefying the Divine: Rebellion against Vedic Authority in Indian Folktales\u201d. Global Journal of Human-Social Science - A: Arts & Humanities GJHSS-A Volume 25 (GJHSS Volume 25 Issue A5): .

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GJHSS Volume 25 Issue A5
Pg. 45- 48
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Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJHSS

Print ISSN 0975-587X

e-ISSN 2249-460X

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September 15, 2025

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English

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Folktales often diverge from religious texts by challenging divine authority and foregrounding human agency. This paper examines two Indian folktales—“The Separation of Heaven and Earth” (Kadar) and “Why the Sky Went Up” (Kannada)—that subvert notions of divine superiority and depict rebellion against gods. Through a comparative reading of Rig Vedic hymns and oral traditions, the study explores how these narratives reflect resistance to Brahminical Hinduism and its caste-based hierarchies. The analysis highlights motifs such as the pestle used in rice pounding, where domestic labor and ordinary voices symbolically displace cosmic order, undermining the supremacy of deities. The paper argues that such folktales serve as counter-narratives, providing marginalized communities with an oral weapon against religious and social domination. By situating these tales within broader debates on folklore, caste, and resistance literature, the study contributes to an understanding of oral tradition as a vehicle for subaltern expression and cultural critique.

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Defying the Divine: Rebellion against Vedic Authority in Indian Folktales

Ms. P. Deborah Ann
Ms. P. Deborah Ann
Dr. Stephen Foster Davis
Dr. Stephen Foster Davis
Dr. Sidney Shirly
Dr. Sidney Shirly

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