Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t6.6

v2.c10.s1.t6.6

Myths acquire vitality by virtue of the religion to which they are attached and within which they are disseminated and continued. So, the truth whether a mythology is vigorous or not depends on the vigour of its religion. Growing Hinduism gave rise to vigorous Hindu myths and pious followers acted as living carriers to pass down these myths from generation to generation or transplant them to other areas, such as dancing, painting, sculpture and everyday life. In India, Buddhism disappeared in the early 13th century and myths associated with it were no longer told, and not revived until the return of Buddhism in modern times. Jain mythology, like Jainism, has been lukewarm for long.