'akhyana' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'ākhyāna', where 'ākhyā' meant 'to tell' or 'to narrate'.

'ākhyāna' transformed into the Hindi word 'akhyana', and eventually became used in English to describe traditional Indian narratives.

Initially, it meant 'to narrate a story', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a traditional Indian narrative or story'.