Folktales, Myths and Legends from the Deccan

Lore & Background

The collection brings together oral traditions from the Deccan plateau and surrounding regions, including the dry plains of Bayaluseeme, the hills of Kodagu, the coastal lands of Tulunad, and areas of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra, and Telangana. Each narrative stems from local storytelling traditions, often passed down through generations. The chapters include tales of a heroic herdsman who becomes a folk deity, a warrior-sorcerer who masters mystical arts, divine twins who battle injustice, a forbidden love epic from Chhattisgarh, a founding myth of certain Kerala communities, the legend of a wandering philosopher-sage, and the tradition of seven mother-goddesses who guard villages.

Reader's Guide

Folktales, Myths and Legends from the Deccan serves as a record of oral narratives that have shaped regional identities and spiritual practices across South India. The stories reflect the interplay between the human and the spiritual, as seen in the tale of Junjappa, a humble cattle herder who returns as a revered spirit after an unjust death, and the Saptamatrikas, seven mother goddesses believed to protect communities from famine, disease, and calamity. The collection also includes introspective narratives such as that of Yogi Vemana, whose transformation from indulgence to enlightenment is noted. By compiling tales from multiple languages and regions, the anthology preserves the diversity of folk belief systems, local deities, and heroic legends that continue to be spoken of in the semi-arid, forested, and coastal parts of the Deccan. Its significance lies in documenting these traditions before they fade from living memory, offering insight into the values, struggles, and spiritual worldviews of the people who created and sustained them.

Did You Know?

• The anthology contains eleven narratives: ten tales and one essay.
• The collection includes stories from Bayaluseeme, Kodagu, Tulunad, Kongu Nadu, coastal Kerala, Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra, Telangana, and other regions.
• The narratives are derived from oral storytelling traditions and span languages including Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Tulu, Kodava, Badaga, and Malayalam.
• The chapter 'The Seven Mother-Goddesses (Saptamatrikas)' explains the tradition of seven mother-goddesses who guard villages.