कुवलयमाला-महाकथा की अवान्तर कथाए और उनका वर्गीकरण

The article “कुहकप्रमाल—माहात्म्य कथा : स्वरूप और उद्भव का साहित्यिक अध्ययन” by Dr. K. S. Krishnamurti examines the structure, themes, narrative techniques, and cultural context of the कुहकप्रमाल–माहात्म्य कथा tradition. The study analyzes the narrative units of the text and interprets them from literary, social, and religious perspectives. The article begins by identifying twenty-four narrative episodes in the text and lists them sequentially, including stories such as वसुदेवता, मात्स्य, गणपतिदेव, कौण्डिन्य, महासेन, राजकुमार, कृष्ण, भीम, हनुमान, नन्दिवर्धन, विनयचन्द्र, सिद्धराज, सोम, मण्डलेश्वर, महादेव, मूलराज, जटाशंकर, राजपुत्र, आनन्द, सारंगदेव, उदयनराज, सहस्रबाहु, पशुपालक, and others, indicating the diversity of mythological, royal, and social figures included in the narrative corpus (page 1). The study then classifies these stories into three major narrative groups based on their themes and narrative focus. 1. Human life narratives, which depict social conditions, ethical behaviour, and practical experiences of individuals. 2. Mythological and religious narratives, which revolve around divine figures, sacred legends, and devotional traditions. 3. Royal and political narratives, which present kings, ministers, battles, and dynastic contexts (page 1). The article further organizes the narratives according to subject-based thematic divisions, including: • stories about human conduct, moral values, and social customs, • narratives connected with religious beliefs, rituals, and sacred traditions, • episodes dealing with historical figures, kings, and political authority, and • accounts related to animal symbolism and pastoral life (pages 2–3). Another important aspect examined is the narrative structure and literary technique used in the text. The author discusses the narrative modes employed in the stories—such as direct narration, dialogue, moral exempla, and symbolic representation. Some episodes are framed as didactic tales intended to instruct readers in ethical behaviour and religious devotion, while others emphasize heroic deeds, royal authority, or social values (pages 3–4). The article also evaluates the social and cultural themes present in the narratives. These include reflections on social hierarchy, community relations, ethical conduct, governance, and religious devotion. Many stories illustrate ideals of virtue, loyalty, wisdom, and justice through characters such as kings, sages, and common people. The narratives therefore function not only as entertainment but also as vehicles of moral instruction and cultural transmission (pages 5–6). The later sections analyze specific narrative motifs, including stories involving royal intrigue, deception, loyalty, caste relations, ascetic practices, and spiritual devotion. Through these motifs the text reveals aspects of medieval social life and cultural imagination, demonstrating how storytelling served as a medium for preserving collective memory and ethical values (pages 6–7).

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