Ram and the Ocean
Vibhishana had crossed to Ram's side, and the army knew now what it faced across the water. But knowing Lanka's defences did not move a…
The Return to Ayodhya
Vibhishana asked Ram to remain in Lanka for a few days, but the fourteen years of exile had ended and Bharat was waiting. Ram said that he…
Hanuman Returns with Sita's Message
From Mount Arishta, Hanuman launched northward. The ocean crossing was no longer a journey into uncertainty. Sita was alive; he carried her…
The Rains and Sugriva's Delayed Promise
After Sugriva became king, the monsoon arrived. Clouds covered the mountains, streams rushed down every slope, and roads disappeared beneath…
The Cave and the Boulder
After seeing Sita's ornaments, Ram repeated his promise to help Sugriva. But before acting, he asked for the whole account of the quarrel…
Shurpanakha and the Battle with Khara
At Panchavati, the cold season was passing quietly. Ram, Sita, and Lakshman lived in their leaf cottage beside the Godavari. One day…
Narada and the Singer Tumburu
Vishnu arranged a celestial festival to honour Kaushika and the companions who had protected devotional music. Lamps shone like stars, and…
Ram Faces Parashurama
The wedding procession travelled from Mithila toward Ayodhya with music, bright cloth, and the happy conversation of two families newly…
Sagara, Bhagiratha, and the Descent of Ganga
Farther along the road, beside the Ganga herself, Vishvamitra told the river's long story. Ganga and Uma were remembered as daughters of the…
Shrimati Chooses Vishnu
The svayamvara hall glittered with lamps and flower garlands. Kings, sages, and honoured guests turned toward the entrance as Princess…
Shunashepa and the Brahmarshi
Trishanku's story ended, but Shatananda did not stop. Some years later a boy came running towards Vishvamitra's hermitage. His name was…
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…
Bhagiratha and the Descent of the Ganges
Part 1: King Sagara's unfinished rite Long ago, King Sagara of Ayodhya began an ashvamedha, a royal horse rite described in ancient…
Bhrigu and Agni
Part 1: A promise from long ago Long ago, Sage Bhrigu lived with his wife, Puloma, in a quiet hermitage. Tall trees shaded their home, birds…
Dhruva and the Pole Star
Part 1: No room on the king's lap King Uttanapada had two queens, Suniti and Suruchi, and two young sons. Suniti's son was Dhruva. Suruchi's…
Ruru and Pramadvara
Part 1: Two lives meet in the forest In a forest hermitage lived a young man named Ruru. He came from a family of sages, but he was not…
The Frog King's Daughter
Part 1: Music beside a forest pool Long ago, a king named Parikshit ruled Ayodhya. One day, while hunting, he followed a swift deer far from…
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…
Manmohini: The Guardian of Wise Determination
King Bhoj had found the golden throne of Vikramaditya beneath an old mound, and each of its thirty-two carved guardians stopped him with a…
Ratnamanjari: The First Guardian of the Golden Throne
King Bhoj stood before the golden throne that had been discovered beneath an ancient mound. Thirty-two beautifully carved guardians…
Crows and Owls
Near the city of Earth-Base stood a vast banyan tree. King Cloudy and his flock of crows lived among its branches. In a mountain cave nearby…
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 Bird with Golden Dung
On a mountain tree lived an unusual bird. Whenever its droppings touched the earth, they changed into small golden pebbles. An elderly…
The Brahman’s Goat
Mitra Sharma, a village scholar, was given a strong young goat to care for. As rain began to fall, he lifted it onto his shoulders and…
The Butter-Blinded Brahman
Theodore, a village scholar, noticed that much of the family’s butter and sugar disappeared each week. His spouse said the rich cakes were…
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 Snake Who Paid Cash
A hardworking farmer often rested beneath a tree beside an anthill. One summer he noticed a hooded snake there and decided to treat the…
Mister Duly
A merchant named Ocean had a thoughtful son. At a book market the young man spent one hundred coins on a slim volume containing a single…
Right-Mind and Wrong-Mind
Two merchant friends, Right-Mind and Wrong-Mind, found a pot of coins while travelling. They agreed to share it fairly, taking a little home…
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…
The Monk Who Left His Body Behind
King Fine-Chariot welcomed scholars, travellers and holy people to his court. He enjoyed hearing about distant places, but he did not…
The Unteachable Monkey
On a cold winter evening, a troop of monkeys found a firefly glowing among dry leaves. “A spark!” cried one monkey. They piled grass around…
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…
Janabai and the Melting Stake
Janabai lived in the town of Pandharpur, in the household of the saint-poet Namdev. From childhood she ground the grain, swept the floors…
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…
Arjuna and the Fish's Eye
Long ago, King Drupada of Panchala arranged a grand swayamvara for his daughter, Princess Draupadi. Princes and skilled warriors gathered in…
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…
The Shrewd Old Gander
A flock of geese lived in a tall fig tree. The oldest gander noticed a thin vine curling around the trunk. ‘We should pull it up now,’ he…
Merchant Strong-Tooth and the Careless Whisper
In a busy place called Growing City lived a merchant known as Strong-Tooth. He was trusted not only with his shops and caravans, but also…
The Three Fish
In a clear lake surrounded by reeds and flowering trees lived three fish who had been friends for many years. The first was Forethought. He…
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…
Samudra Manthan: The Churning of the Ocean
Part 1: A difficult task Long ago, the devas had lost much of their strength. Their rivals, the asuras, had grown powerful, and the balance…
Uttanka and the Queen's Earrings
Part 1: A gift of gratitude Long ago, a wise teacher named Veda lived in a peaceful forest hermitage. When Veda had been a student, his own…
The Naughty Little Hanuman
After the gods blessed baby Hanuman with wonderful powers, something funny happened — he became the naughtiest little monkey in the whole…
Little Hanuman and the Mango in the Sky
Long ago, in a forest kingdom, a baby monkey was born to Anjana and the wind god Vayu. His name was Maruti, and he was no ordinary baby — he…
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…