SHOORPANAKA AND JADA BHARATA REVISITED: INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND NARRATIVE VARIATIONS IN THE RAMAYANA

Author Name: 1. Dr. S. Venkatesan

Volume/Issue: 06/09

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2026-23656745/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Formerly Dean-Research, Professor & Head, Department of Clinical Psychology, All India Institute of Speech & Hearing, tri, Mysore, Karnataka, India. 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This study investigates the representation of intellectual disability in Indian mythology through a focused analysis of Shoorpanaka in the Ramayana and Jada Bharata in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. While disabled figures appear across diverse global traditions, the research narrows its scope to Indian texts, emphasizing how disability is symbolically constructed and culturally interpreted. The literature review identifies gaps in scholarship, noting that intellectual disability remains underexplored compared to physical impairments. Method: Employing a qualitative, interpretive methodology, the study integrates psychoanalytic, psychiatric, and feminist frameworks to illuminate narrative functions, thematic coding, and cultural meanings. Results: Findings suggest that Shoorpanaka embodies gendered marginalization and exclusion, while Jada Bharata reflects spiritual resilience and transformation. Together, these figures reveal complex intersections of disability, stigma, and empowerment. Discussion: The analysis highlights how intellectual disability is represented in Indian mythology, showing both exclusionary and empowering dimensions. Shoorpanaka’s portrayal underscores cultural stigma and gendered marginalization, whereas Jada Bharata’s narrative demonstrates resilience and spiritual transformation. These contrasting depictions illustrate the symbolic and cultural functions of disability in ancient texts. Summary:The significance of this research lies in its contribution to disability discourse, offering inclusive interpretations that challenge dominant narratives and bridge ancient texts with contemporary debates on equity and inclusion

Key words: Intellectual disability, Indian mythology, Ramayana, Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Shoorpanaka, Jada Bharata, feminist theory, psychoanalytic interpretation