Defying the Divine: Rebellion against Vedic Authority in Indian Folktales

Abstract

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.