The Regional and the Universal: A Comparative Study of the "Animal Bride/Groom" Motif Across Different Indian Cultures

Abstract

The folktale motif of the "Animal Bride" or "Animal Groom" represents one of the most pervasive and adaptable narratives in world folklore, serving as a profound metaphor for the relationship between the human and the natural world, the transformative power of love, and the navigation of social otherness. This paper conducts a comparative analysis of this motif as it manifests across three distinct Indian cultural landscapes: the Bengali Ksheermohini and associated serpent-groom tales, the Tamil folktale of the monkey-groom, and the Punjabi legend of the snake-prince, Mirshikar. By examining these regional variations, this study investigates how localized ecological environments, social structures, and religious philosophies—including Shakta worship in Bengal, temple-centric Agamic traditions in Tamil Nadu, and the syncretic Sufi-Islamic influences of Punjab—fundamentally reshape the narrative’s plot, characterizations, and moral imperatives. The analysis reveals that while the core universal theme of transcending superficial appearances to discover inner worth remains constant, its articulation is deeply inflected by regional priorities. The Bengali version emphasizes devotion and the power of the feminine divine, the Tamil tale focuses on karma, duty, and societal integration, and the Punjabi narrative highlights faith and the grace of a saint. Ultimately, these variations do not fragment a pan-Indian identity but rather showcase a shared cultural grammar that accommodates and celebrates regional diversity within a unified worldview centered on dharma, the cycle of karma, and the ultimate unity of the cosmos.