American Indian KARNA

[Guest guest]

There are many similarities between Vedic Culture and the American

Indian Traditions. In the Pueblo(Indians of the SW USA) traditions

there is an amazing tale which paralels the Story of Karna from the

Mahabharata. There are some variations but the similarities are

striking.Here is the story as retold by Gerald McDermott.He published

it in a child's story book form and thus many of the deatils have

been simplified. More research will surely find the parallels an even

better match.

 

"Long Ago the Sun God sent the spark of life to Earth.It travelled

down the rays of the sun, through the heavens, and it came to the

Pueblo. There it entered the house of a Young Maiden.In due course,

the Boy came into the world of men.He lived and grew and played in

the Pueblo(village).

 

However the other boys would not let him join in their games."Where

is your father?"they asked."You have no father!" they mocked him and

chased him away. The Boy and his Mother were sad.

 

One day he said,"Mother, I must look for my father.No matter where he

is I must find him."So the boy left home.

 

He travelled through the world of men and came to the Corn

Planter."Can you lead me to my Father?he asked. Corn planter said

nothing, but continued to tend his crops.

 

The boy went to the Pot Maker."Can you lead me to my father?"Pot

Maker said nothing, but continued making his pots.

 

Then the boy went to the Arrow MAker, who was a wise man."Can you

lead me to my father?" Arrow Maker did not answer, but, because he

was wise, he saw that the Boy had come from the Sun God. So he

created a special arrow.The Boy became the Arrow.

 

Arrow Maker fitted the Boy to his bow and drew it.The Boy flew into

the Heavens. In this way the Boy travelled to the Sun.

After meeting the Sun God, and passing his tests, Father and Son

rejoiced. The Boy wasa transformed and filled with the power of the

Sun.,"Now you must return to Earth, my son, and bring my spirit to

the world of men."Said the Sun God.

 

Once again the Boy became the Arrow. When the arrow reached the

Earth, the Boy emerged and went to the Pueblo.

 

The People celebrated his return in the Dance of Life."

 

Anyone familiar with the story of Karna can see the similarities. I

will point out the obvious ones.

 

The Sun God is Suryadev. The Maiden who recieved the spark of life

thru his rays is the Maiden Princess, Kunti. The Boy is Karna.The

other boys who would not let him join in their games are the Pandavas

who mocked KArna for not knowing who his father was.

The Corn Planter and Pot Maker represent the Teachers Drona and Kripa.

The Arrow MAker represents Parashurama, who accepted Karna as his

disciple and made him the greatest archer on earth.

 

Of course there are many points in the Mahabharat story that don't

seem represented here but since the source is a modern retelling of

an ancient Pueblo Indian tale. Thousands of years of separation from

the original version will always create variations. This phenomenon

can be found in Vedic culture itself.Example Hanuman is a well known

Brahmacari yet in Thailand he is married.

It is hoped more research and cultural exchanges can be done in the

ongoing search for Humanities Ancient World Vedic Heritage.

Vrin Parker