Alexander Myth & Skanda-Murukan-Karttikeya

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(see Murukan Conference research papers)

Synopsis: "The Myth of Deification of Alexander and its alleged

influence on the cult of Skanda-Murukan-Karttikeya"

 

By K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

 

The British historians, who collaborated with the East Indian Company

Rulers, have decided to fix the invasion of Alexander as a sheet anchor

of Indian history. They decided that before 327 BCE, no incident of

India could be considered historical. They wrote that the advancements

of Indian arts and sciences were also only outcome of Alexander's

invasion and adapted and adopted from the Greeks. The alleged intrusion

of Alexander myth in the Hindu pantheon is one of such suggestions.

Indian scholars immediately pointed out the fallacies involved in such

hypotheses put forward. However, as some scholars have tried to

resurrect such myth recently, the background is critically analyzed in

the context. As it delves around the Greek source materials and

accounts, they are examined minutely first.

 

The Greek Classical accounts about Alexander's invasion on India

Arrian, Quintus Curtius, Plutarch, Justin and Diodorusand critically

analyzed and pointed out the differences and contradictions in their

accounts. First the origin of word Skanda from the Sanskrit literature

and Kanda from the Tamil literature is discussed. Then, the origin of

the name Alexandar is discussed. The uncertainly about is pointed out.

Names like Alexandros might be from pre Greek mythology is also

discussed.

 

To compare with the myth of Skanda/Kanda, the birth and death of

Alexander, deification of Alexander, his knowledge about India etc are

discussed. His ignorance about geography of India and as well as that of

the contemporary Greeks are abundantly revealed in the classical

accounts. Thus, the difference between the Greek and Indian geographers

is pointed out. Then, the Alexander Romance is discussed. The different

stories, particularly, connecting Alexander with India are discussed and

pointed out the recording of sufferings of Alexander underneath such

myth and romance.

 

The effect and influence of Alexander and Alexander's invasion on India

are discussed. The least or no effect as has been confessed by Vincent

Smith is pointed out. The methodology adapted and adopted by the Greeks

in the Alexander's romance, the reliability of the Greek classical

accounts and histories and discussed critically. As the original sources

were long back lost and the available ones are nothing but the

translations from the secondary and other Greek sources, it is suggested

that they have to be relied upon cautiously and not exclusively or

conclusively for research purposes.

 

Coming to the archetypes of Greek Alexander and Indian Skanda, the

following conditions are applied to find out the truth:

 

1.Conceptualization and evolution of myth/archetype. 2.Conceptualization

and evolution leading to development of myth/archetype.

3.Indigenous literature containing such processes of conceptualization,

evolution and development of myth/archetype 4.Local tradition about the

existence of myth/archetype

5.Living and continuous tradition about the myth/archetype 6.Following

of such living and continuous tradition about the myth/archetype.

7.Continuous following of ceremonies, rituals and rites connected with

such myth/archetype

8.Continuous deification of such archetype

9.Codification and canonization of worship.

10.Consistent with believers throughout the world.

 

It is pointed out that in the case of Alexander, none of the conditions

are satisfied, whereas in the case of Skanda all are satisfied.

Therefore, it is concluded that Alexander Romance resurrected in the

medieval period is myth and not like the myth of

Skanda/Kanda-Karttikeya-Murukan developed around c. 2500 BCE based on

Sanskrit literature and c.1000 BCE based on Sangam literature. The

origin of Skanda/Kanda is older than Alexander himself. It was

conceived, evolved and developed in phased manner consisting with the

people. Therefore, Alexander or the name or the Romance cannot be an

archetype for Skanda/Kanta. Comparing or imposing latter-day myth on the

ancient myth is nothing but historical idiosyncrasy and fallacy.

 

K.V. Ramakrishna Rao,

B.Sc., M.A., A.M.I.E., C.Eng. (I)., B.L.,

9, Venkatachala Iyer Street West Mambalam Chennai - 600 033

Ph : 471 6580 (Res.) 626 3360 (Off)

 

See also synopsis of Skanda-Iskandar and the Alexander Romance: History

and the Diffusion of Mythic Archetypes presented by Patrick Harrigan at

the First International Conference Seminar on Skanda-Murukan

 

Other synopses from the 2nd Skanda-Murukan Conference

 

Skanda-Murukan Conference home page

 

Murukan Conferences: Master Index of Topics

 

Synopses of First Murukan Conference papers

 

Murugan.org home page

 

Kataragama.org home page