Yaksha Katha: Cult & Mythology

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The mysterious nature spirits of great antiquity, the Yakshas and their female counterparts beautiful Yakshinis, formed the part of Indian folk and classical pantheon. They are mentioned with reverence in the Vedas, Upanishadas, Epics and Puranas and their enchanting stories are found in works like Buddhist Jatakas and Kathasaritsagara and numerous other literary works.

The book presents charming Yaksha mythology essentially taken from Buddhist Jatakas and Kathasaritsagara.

It also speaks of origin and spread of Yaksha cult, temples built in their honour, mode of Yaksha.

Since ancient times colossal image of Yakshas were sculpted, they formed the part of Indian monuments. The origin of Indian statuary can be traced to them hence they were known as 'Grand ancestors of Indian Statutory."

Their role of worship was different from Vedic Brahmanical Yajna rituals. It was adopted by popular Hinduism to worship their deities.

Yaksha cult played great part in the evolution of popular Hinduism.

M.L. Varadpande is internationally known scholar known for his erudition and profound knowledge of Indian art, literature, culture and religion.

Myths are ancient traditional stories, legends of gods and god-like heroes. They describe their history and habitation, character and origin, actions and surroundings.

Indian mythological literature flourished since very ancient times taking different forms such as Itihasa, Purana, Akhyana, Kavya, Nataka, etc.

All these forms have described the primordial nature spirit, luminuous and mysterious Yaksha, and narrated stories about him. However I have mainly relied upon Buddhist Jataka tales of the yore and Gunadhya's Brihatkatha rendered in Sanskrit by Mahakavi Somadeva Bhatta under the title Kathasaritsagar.

These stories are not literal translation of the original. I have rendered those here without disturbing their core themes and contents.

I hope discerning readers and scholars of ancient lore would appreciate my efforts in making them understand the essential spirit of Yaksha and his cult by the way of his mythology.