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Abstract

Girish Karnad  has harboured a distinct flavour for mythology. His two plays for instance, Hayavadana and Naga Mandala focus on mythology but with a distinct flavour and also following a peculiar roadmap. His mythological characters don't limit themselves to mere script reading of ancient texts rather they accord their respective input to shape up their unique identity. Hayavadana, the character is hybrid -half horse and half human, so is son of Padmini ,female protagonist of Hayavadana, the play. Misplaced transposition of heads of Devdatt and Kapil, male characters in Hayavadana leads to confusion and ultimate tragedy of all and the confused identity of son of Padmini who is brought up by two sets of people entirely different in culture and learning. In Naga Mandala also Girish Karnad gives a special hue to mythology as here omnipotent Nag dev is projected as a human, procreating a child with human participation .Here, not as a divine agency but as a human figure he establishes the purity of Rani, female protagonist who suffers utter neglect with no conjugal life from her husband. Nag is not pleased by her devotion but is conjured by the magical herb which she poured on ant hill, the abode of Nag dev not by choice but by chance. Mythology is surely remapped because Karnad has selectively used mythological agent with scientific and human touchups. My study will elaborate how Karnad rewrites mythology in modern vein.

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