ContributorUma and Radhika
Stories by Uma and Radhika 34 stories
Jambavant Across the Ages
The Birth of Jambavant Different Puranic traditions tell different stories about Jambavant's birth. In the Bala Kanda of the Valmiki…
Mirabai's Devotion to Krishna
Mirabai was born around 1498 into a Rathore royal family in the village of Kudki near Merta. Her father's name was Ratan Singh. Mirabai was…
How and Why Jatayu Met Ram
Jatayu was an old friend of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Popular retellings say that the friendship began when they met during a hunt near…
Ramanujacharya and Lord Jagannath
Sri Ramanujacharya was the great Sri Vaishnava teacher of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. He travelled to sacred places across India…
The Deliverance of Aghasura
A Folk Belief About Aghasura's Previous Birth Some later folk retellings identify Aghasura as a proud gandharva named Agnidhra in a former…
Who Was Jatayu?
According to the Valmiki Ramayana, Prajapati Kashyapa's wife Vinata had two sons—Garuda and Aruna. Garuda became the vehicle of Lord Vishnu…
King Indradyumna's Resolve and Queen Gundicha's Penance
King Indradyumna of Utkala (Odisha) had the Shrimandir built, but a search was made for a qualified priest to perform the consecration of…
The Pandavas and the Origin of Panch Kedar
This happened after the Mahabharata war had ended and the five Pandavas were reviewing the war with Lord Krishna. Krishna told the Pandavas…
When Bhasmasura Received Shiva's Boon
In ancient times, there was an asura named Bhasmasura. He wanted to rule the entire world. To accomplish this purpose, he undertook severe…
When Vitthal Drank Young Namdev's Milk
Maharashtra's devotional tradition remembers Namdev as a child whose heart belonged completely to Lord Vitthal. When he watched his…
How Sri Radha Raman Appeared
Vrindavan tradition remembers Gopal Bhatta Goswami as a saint devoted to loving worship. While bathing in Nepal's Gandaki River, he received…
Krishna, Satyabhama, and the Parijata Tree
Devotional tradition tells that Narada once travelled from Indra's celestial court to Dwarka carrying a fragrant flower from the Parijata…
Sage Durvasa, Kandali, and the Banana Tree
A traditional tale tells of the powerful sage Durvasa and his wife Kandali, who lived in a quiet forest hermitage. Durvasa was known for…
Gargacharya's Kheer and Krishna's Playful Secret
When the family priest Gargacharya came to Gokul for Krishna's naming ceremony, Yashoda asked him to prepare sweet kheer as an offering. The…
How the Udupi Krishna Deity Was Revealed
A beloved Udupi tradition tells that Rukmini adored Krishna's childhood form. Vishvakarma therefore fashioned a deity of child Krishna…
Kumbhandas and the Duty of Service
One day, the poet-saint Kumbhandas was working in his field at Parsoli. Devotional tradition says that Shrinathji appeared there in the form…
Vishnupriya's Letter to Lord Jagannath
Devotional tradition remembers Vishnupriya, a princess of Jaipur, as a devoted worshipper of Lord Jagannath. One night she dreamed that…
Janabai and the Melting Stake
One day, a costly ornament disappeared from Vitthal's temple. Because Janabai often went there to serve, suspicion fell upon her. Soon…
Madhav Das and Jagannath's Compassion
Madhav Das was a beloved devotee of Lord Jagannath. Once he became seriously ill and had no one nearby to care for him. Devotional tradition…
Madhav Das, Krishna, and the Stolen Jackfruit
While living in Jagannath Puri, the saint Madhav Das walked by the sea each evening. He loved Krishna as his closest friend, and devotional…
The Fuel Cakes That Chanted Vitthal's Name
One day, the saint Kabir was travelling to meet Namdev when he heard a noisy disagreement. Someone told him that Janabai, who served in…
The Mysterious Helper Who Washed Janabai's Clothes
One Ekadashi night, Janabai became so absorbed in singing Vitthal's name that dawn arrived before she noticed. Her household work was still…
When Vitthal Helped Janabai with Her Chores
Janabai served in the home of the saint Namdev. Whether she swept the floor, ground grain, or pounded rice, she kept Vitthal's name in her…
Lord Jagannath and His Devotee Salabega
Long ago, Salabega was born into a Muslim family. His father, Lal Beg, served in the Mughal forces. When Salabega grew older, he too became…
Why Does Tota Gopinath Sit?
In a peaceful garden temple in Puri, Gadadhar Pandit lovingly worshipped Tota Gopinath, a beautiful form of Lord Krishna. The local temple…
Hera Panchami: Lakshmi Searches for Jagannath
Every year in Puri, Lord Jagannath sets out on the grand Rath Yatra with his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra. Their…
Mahaprasthana: The Pandavas' Final Journey
Many years had passed since the great war of the Mahabharata. The Pandavas had ruled Hastinapura with care, repaired what war had broken…
The Story of Amarnath
High in the Kashmir Himalayas lies the sacred cave of Amarnath. Snowy mountains surround it, and every year pilgrims travel through the…
Mata Vaishno Devi – The Sacred Journey
Long ago, in the village of Hansali near present-day Katra, lived a kind and humble devotee named Shridhar. He and his wife had no children…
Vrinda, Tulsi, and Shaligram
Long ago, there lived a powerful asura king named Jalandhar. He was brave, strong, and proud of his victories. His wife, Vrinda, was gentle…
Karma Bai's Khichdi Bhog
Near the great temple of Jagannath in Puri lived an elderly devotee named Karma Bai. Her home was only a small mud-walled room with a clay…
Savitri and Satyavan
Long ago, King Ashwapati ruled the land of Madra with fairness and care. He and Queen Malavi had no child, so the king prayed and performed…
Magical Hen
One day, a poor man went to a farmer and in exchange for a hen, got himself a sack of rice. The farmer's wife became very angry when she…
Heron and cat
Once upon a time, the cat and heron became friends. One day the cat invited heron to eat at her house. Heron happily reached on time. The…