
The man–eater of Malgudi is a modern version of the ancient tale of Bhasmasura, a demon. The point that Narayan uses the Bhasmasura, myth in The man - eater of malgudi is evident. In his essay “Gods, Demons and modern times.” Narayan describes how once suddenly he came upon a theme that struck him as an excellent piece of mythology in modern dress, published under the title, “man eater of malgudi” and how, “I based this story on a well – known mythological episode the story of Mohini and Bhasmasura.” Further, the novel itself bears reference to the myth twice. Once, when sastri, identifying Vasu with a rakshasa, defines the make – up of a demoniac creature. Expatriating on the lives of various demons in Puranas, sastri narrates the story of Bhasmasura as under.