Paper Title
The Unchaste Feminine: Exploring the Archetype of Adultery in Indian Mythology

Abstract
Adultery is considered objectionable at social, religious, moral, or legal levels. The concept is not addressed openly or studied from a psychological lens as it goes against the conventional norms. In reality, indulgence in adulterous behaviors is not an alien practice even in ancient India. Hindu mythology encompasses stories illustrating the manner in which gods themselves often indulged in adulterous thoughts and actions. Legally, only physical manifestation of adultery is recognized while dismissing emotional forms of infidelity. It is crucial to acknowledge and explore the psychological motives behind both forms of adultery-physical and emotional. Using hermeneutic methodology, this research attempts to decipher the psychological meaning and significance of adultery in the Indian mindset. It postulates the motif that chastity only does not depend on social understanding of marriage and love. Keywords - Adultery, Hindu Mythology, Chastity, Marriage, Infidelity.