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How did Indian philosophers interpret Vedic myths as symbols and metaphors?

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Indian philosophy In the Bhagavad Gita Arjuna and the Hindu deity Krishna, who also serves as Arjuna's charioteer (as depicted in this 17th-century illustration), engaging in a philosophical dialogue.

In Indian philosophy, the interpretation of Vedic myths evolved significantly as thinkers transitioned from ritualistic practices to more abstract, philosophical inquiry. While early Vedic hymns often personified natural forces as deities, later philosophers increasingly treated these myths as symbols, metaphors, and models for understanding reality.12

The 5th-century BCE scholar Yaska provided a foundational framework for this shift by categorizing interpretations of Vedic mythology into four distinct approaches:2
* Adhidaivata: Pertaining to the deities.
* Aitihasika: Pertaining to tradition.
* Adhiyajna: Pertaining to the sacrifices.
* Adhyatmika: Pertaining to the spirit.

As philosophical systems developed, the influence of literal mythology declined, particularly in the Upanishads, where myths were frequently transformed into symbols. In theistic systems, myths concerning the creation and dissolution of the universe persisted but were adapted into models; for instance, the Advaita Vedanta school utilized the metaphor of a magician conjuring tricks to explain the nature of reality. Similarly, the Nyaya-Vaisheshika systems employed the model of a potter creating pots to conceptualize philosophical arguments.2

Ultimately, these interpretations allowed philosophers to move beyond dogmatic readings, using mythic narratives as tools to explore metaphysical concepts and the nature of the absolute.12