Folk
Village wit and wisdom, passed down by word of mouth.
Raja Vikramaditya and the Five Lessons
Four travellers crossing a wide plain met a storyteller who offered them five lessons: “Money is useful on a journey. A true friend helps…
The Akhun's Son and the Impossible Rubies
An elderly Akhun, a respected religious teacher, once asked his four sons what work they hoped to do. Three chose familiar duties in the…
The Farmer's Wife and the Honey-Bee
In a Kashmir village, a farmer's wife worked from the first thaw of spring until the last golden days of autumn. She prepared the soil…
The Goldsmith's Clever Wife
In a busy city lived a goldsmith whose work was admired throughout the royal court. His wife delivered his finest ornaments to the palace…
The King Who Learned to Investigate
A king had two sons who loved learning. After their mother died, he married again. The new queen disliked the princes and falsely claimed…
The Merchant's Return and the Forest Spring
A merchant once left his town on a long trading journey. While he was away, a wandering beggar often visited his house. He spoke kindly at…
The Parrot and the Stolen Throne
Long ago, King Bahadur Khan ruled a prosperous land. In the palace garden, he met an old faqir who knew a strange secret: for a little while…
The Reed-Flute's Song
Beside a clear stream in Kashmir grew a tall canebrake. The reeds rose together in sunlight, bent together in rain, and whispered to one…
Yusuf, the Dream, and the Years of Grain
This Kashmiri telling remembers Yusuf as a young man of remarkable integrity and wisdom. In the royal household, Zulaikha tried to persuade…
Bhola and the Talking Banyan Tree
Long ago, in a small village in Bihar, there lived a poor but kind boy named Bhola. Every morning, he helped his parents in the fields and…
Jhijhiya: A Folk Tradition of Bihar
Long ago, in the villages of Bihar, people celebrated Jhijhiya during the festival of Navratri. It is a beautiful folk tradition where women…
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…
A Dhanwar Farmer and His Crow
In the forest country of Madhya Pradesh lived a Dhanwar farmer and his family. He grew kodo and kutki millets, sorghum, and rice. His…
Four Brothers and the Little Bird
Four brothers lived beside a lake in Kashmir. One was good at planning, one at building, one at remembering paths, and one at noticing small…
Purchasing a Song
In a small village in Madhya Pradesh lived a husband and wife who both enjoyed humming while they worked. One day, as the husband prepared…
The Brave Gujari
In a village in Madhya Pradesh lived a Gujari who made fresh curd each morning and carried it to town in a clay pot. She usually traveled…
The Clever Daughter-in-Law
In a village in Madhya Pradesh lived a merchant’s family. His daughter-in-law was quiet, kind, and quick-minded. One day she was drawing…
The Crow's Petition
One spring morning in Srinagar, the governor sat in the darbar, the hall where people brought questions and requests. Farmers spoke about…
The Earth - A Gond Creation Story
This is a child-friendly retelling of one Gond creation tradition recorded in Madhya Pradesh. Different Gond communities may tell other…
The Jackal Who Wore a Crown
The jackals of the forest gathered beneath a chinar tree. "The lions have a leader," said one. "So do the wolves," said another. "Then we…
The Ruby That Chose Its Box
Four friends had crossed high passes and followed winding rivers on a long journey toward Srinagar. They had shared their bread, carried one…
The Weaver's Unfortunate Words
In Srinagar lived a weaver named Hamid who made cloth of extraordinary beauty. Every year he spent months at his loom, working strands of…
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…
Roll Along, Pumpkin—Tunuk Tunuk!
Once there was an elderly woman who wished to visit her daughter. To reach her daughter's village, she had to cross a thick forest where a…
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…
Akbar and Birbal: The Clever Answer
Long ago, Emperor Akbar's court was known for lively questions and thoughtful discussions. Among his advisers was Birbal, whose calm wit…
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 Kind King and the Wise Queen
Once there was a kind king named Arjun and a wise queen named Meera. They ruled a beautiful kingdom of farms, orchards, and busy villages…
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…
The Rope and the Well
In a small village lived a curious boy named Ravi. Every morning, he watched his grandfather lower a bucket into their old stone well and…
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…
The Blue Jackal
Once, a hungry jackal wandered into a village in search of food. Before he could find anything, several village dogs spotted him and gave…
The Crow and the Snake
Long ago, a crow and his wife lived in a strong nest high in a tall tree. They loved their leafy home and looked forward to raising a family…
The Lion and the Clever Rabbit
Long ago, a fierce lion lived in a beautiful forest. He was strong and swift, but he hunted far more animals than he needed. Whenever his…
The Two Friends and the Bear
Once, two friends named Arjun and Ravi set out on a journey through a great forest. Before entering the trees, they promised, “Whatever…
Muchie Rajah – The Fish Prince
1: A wish in the palace Long ago, a kind King and Queen ruled a green and prosperous land. Their palace rang with music, and their gardens…
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…
A story and a song
A housewife knew a story, she also knew a song, but she kept them to herself. Never told anyone the story or the song. But she kept them to…
Sanja
Long ago, in the beautiful Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, there lived a cheerful girl named Sanja. She loved flowers, birds, trees, and…