Monday, December 23, 2024

Story of Shantanu and Ganga from Mahabharat

 

Story of Shantanu and Ganga from Mahabharat


Once, King Shantanu of Hastinapur hunted near the river Ganga's banks. There, he saw a beautiful woman, none other than the river goddess Ganga. Shantanu fell in love with her at first sight and approached her, asking for her hand in marriage.

Ganga agreed to marry Shantanu on the condition that he would never question her actions, no matter what they were. Shantanu, in awe of her divine beauty, agreed to the condition, and their union was celebrated with a grand ceremony that echoed the union of a mortal king and a celestial goddess.

After their marriage, Ganga gave birth to a son. But to Shantanu's horror, she immediately drowned the child in the river. She did the same thing with the next six children she bore, all part of a divine plan to free the Vasus from their curse, a plan that was beyond mortal comprehension.

Shantanu was devastated by the loss of his children and did not understand why Ganga was killing them.

When Ganga was about to drown their eighth child in the river, Shantanu stopped her and asked her to spare the baby's life. Ganga agreed but told him that he had broken his promise, and she would have to leave him and take the child with her.

Ganga also revealed that the children, the seven boys, were gods known as Vasus. They mistakenly stole a cow, angering the sage Vashishta and leading to their curse. As a punishment, they were cursed to be born on earth as humans. Their mother, Ganga, was simply returning them to their divine form.

The child, later known as Bhishma, rose above his tragic beginnings to become a brave and virtuous warrior. His story inspires, showing that one can rise to greatness even in adversity. Bhishma's life is a testament to resilience and determination, encouraging us to overcome challenges.

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Monday, December 16, 2024

Story of Shakuni from Mahabharat

 

Story of Shakuni from Mahabharat

Shakuni, also known as Subala, was a prince of the kingdom of Gandhara, which is present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was the youngest brother of Gandhari, who later married King Dhritarashtra of the Kuru dynasty and became the mother of the Kauravas. Shakuni's intelligence and political acumen, which were not just renowned but also awe-inspiring, were the foundation of his vengeful actions. He harboured a deep-seated hatred towards the Kuru dynasty, a sentiment not to be taken lightly.

Shakuni's animosity towards the Kurus was not a mere grudge. It was a deep-seated hatred that took root when his father, King Subala, was defeated and imprisoned by the Kurus. Shakuni was forced to witness the confiscation of his family's lands and wealth by the Kurus. In response, he vowed to eradicate the Kuru dynasty and meticulously plotted his revenge.

Shakuni's first act of revenge came when he arranged for his sister Gandhari to marry Dhritarashtra, the blind prince of the Kuru dynasty. She blindfolded herself for life as a symbol of her loyalty to her husband, and Shakuni used her blindness to his advantage.

Shakuni's next move was a testament to his cunning. He managed to convince the Kauravas, the sons of Dhritarashtra, to turn against their cousins, the Pandavas. Exploiting the Kauravas' fears and insecurities, he instilled in them the belief that the Pandavas threatened their power and security. Shakuni persuaded the Kauravas to challenge the Pandavas to a game of dice, with the stakes being the entire kingdom.

Shakuni was not just a master of deception but a virtuoso. His skills in gambling were unparalleled, and he had magic dice that always rolled in his favour, which he used to his advantage in the game. Shakuni played on the Pandavas' weaknesses and insecurities with a finesse that was both impressive and terrifying. He defeated them in the game, winning their kingdom, wealth, and even their wife, Draupadi.

The loss of their kingdom and their wife was not just a blow but a severe blow to the Pandavas. They were forced into exile for thirteen years, a period of suffering and hardship. Shakuni's victory in the game of dice, a victory that was not just a win but a manipulation of the highest order, ultimately led to the Kurukshetra War, one of the bloodiest conflicts in history, in which thousands of warriors lost their lives.

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Monday, December 9, 2024

Story of Eklavya from Mahabharat

 

Story of Eklavya from Mahabharat

Nearly five thousand years ago, in India, a boy named Eklavya, the son of a tribal chief in the kingdom's forests—Hastinapura. Eklavya was a brave, handsome boy. All loved him. But he was not happy.


His father saw that something troubled Eklavya. More than once, he found his son lost deep in thought when other boys enjoyed the pleasures of hunting and playing. One day, the father asked his son, "Why are you so unhappy, Eklavya? Why don't you join your friends? Why are you not interested in hunting?".


"Father, I want to be an archer", replied Eklavya, "I want to become a disciple of the great Dronacharya, the great tutor of Archery in Hastinapura. His Gurukul is a magical place where ordinary boys are turned into mighty warriors."


Eklavya saw his father was silent. He continued, "Father, we belong to the hunting tribe, but I want to be a warrior, not a mere hunter. So please allow me to leave home and become the disciple of Dronacharya."


Eklavya's father was troubled, for he knew his son's ambition was not easy. But the chief was a loving father and did not want to refuse his only son's wish. So the kind man gave his blessings and sent his son to Drona's Gurukul.


Eklavya is set on his way. Soon, he reached the part of the forest where Drona had taught the princes of Hastinapur.


In those days, there was no such system as a school, college, university or hostel. The only place where one could get some education was a "Gurukul". A Gurukul (Guru refers to "teacher" or "master"; Kul refers to his domain, from the Sanskrit word kula, meaning extended family.) is a type of ancient Hindu school in India that is residential with the shishas or students and the Guru or teacher living in proximity, many a time within the same house. The Gurukul is where the students resided as equals, irrespective of their social standing. The students learned from the Guru and also helped the Guru in his day-to-day life, including the carrying out of mundane chores such as washing clothes, cooking, etc. The education imparted thus was a wholesome one.


Having said this much, let us now return to Eklavya. When the boy reached Dronacharya's Gurukul, he saw a group of huts surrounded by trees and an archery yard. The disciples practised shooting arrows with their bows and arrows in the yard. It was an engaging sight. But Eklavya's eyes searched Drona. Where was he? Will he be able to see the man? Without Drona, his purpose of coming here would have been meaningless. But all his worries soon subsided. He didn't have to wait for long. The man was standing near a tree, busy instructing a boy, who was none other than the third Pandava prince Arjuna, as Eklavya learned later. Though Eklavya had never seen Drona, he put his guess to work. He went near Drona and bowed.


The sage was surprised to see a strange boy addressing him. "Who are you?" he asked.


"Dronacharya, I am Eklavya, son of the Tribal Chief in the western part of the forests of Hastinapura," Eklavya replied. "Please accept me as your disciple and teach me the wonderful art of Archery."


Drona sighed. "Eklavya..." said he, "... if you are a tribal hunter, you must be a Shudra, the lowest social community according to the Vedic Caste System. I am a Brahmin, the highest caste in the kingdom. I cannot teach a Shudra boy."


"And he's also a Royal teacher," interrupted Prince Arjuna. "The King has appointed Our Guru to train us, the princes and the highborn. How dare you come inside the Gurukul and seek him? Leave! NOW!" he spat out, enraged that Eklavya had disturbed his practice.


Eklavya was stunned at Arjuna's behaviour. He was the son of the chief of his clan, but he never insulted anyone below him in such a way. He looked at Drona for some support, but the sage remained silent. The message was loud and clear. Dronacharya also wanted him to leave. He refused to teach him.


The innocent tribal boy was deeply hurt by Drona's refusal to teach him. "It's not fair!" he thought miserably. "God has given knowledge to all, but man alone differentiates his kind."


Despite the bitter taste of rejection, Eklavya's ambition to learn Archery remained unshattered. His determination was unwavering, a testament to his resilience and strength of character. His story is a beacon of inspiration for all who hear it.


"I may be a Shudra, but does it make any difference?" thought he. I am as strong and zealous as Drona's princes and disciples. If I practice the art daily, I can become an archer."


Despite Drona's rejection, Eklavya's respect and loyalty towards his Guru remained unwavering. He made a statue of Dronacharya and diligently practised before it, holding his Guru in high esteem and showcasing the depth of his character.


Day after day, Eklavya's faith, courage, and perseverance transformed him from a mere tribal hunter into an extraordinary archer. His journey is a powerful testament to the transformative power of perseverance, leaving a profound impression on all who hear his story.


One day, while Eklavya was practising, he heard a dog barking. At first, the boy ignored the dog, but the continuous disturbance in his practice angered him. He stopped his training and went to where the dog was barking. Before the dog could shut up or escape, Eklavya fired seven arrows rapidly to fill the dog's mouth without injuring it. As a result, it roamed the forests with its mouth open.


But Eklavya was not alone in his practice. He was unaware that just some distance away, the Pandava princes were also present in that forest area. As fate would have it, that day, they had come with their teacher, Drona, who was instructing them about some finer points of Archery by making them learn in the real-life condition of the open jungle.


As they were busy practising, they suddenly chanced upon the "stuffed" dog and wondered who could have pulled off such a feat of Archery. Drona was amazed, too." Such an excellent aim can only come from a mighty archer." he exclaimed. He told the Pandavas he surely needed to be met if somebody was such a good archer. The practice was stopped, and together, they began searching the forest for the one behind such an amazing feat. They found a dark-skinned man dressed all in black; his body besmeared with filth and his hair in matted locks. It was Eklavya. Dronacharya went up to him.


"Your aim is truly remarkable!" Drona praised Eklavya and asked, "From whom did you learn Archery?"


Eklavya was thrilled to hear Drona's praises. How surprised he would be if he told Drona that he was, in fact, his Guru!


"From you, my Master. You are my Guru," Eklavya replied humbly.


"Your Guru? How can I be your Guru? I have never seen you before!" Drona exclaimed in surprise. But all of a sudden, he remembered something. He remembered an eager boy visiting his Gurukul several months ago. "Now I remember," said he. "Are you not the same hunter boy I refused admission to in my Gurukul some months ago?"


"Yes, Dronacharya", replied the boy. "After I left your Gurukul, I came home, made a statue like you, and worshipped it daily. I practised before your image. You refused to teach me, but your statue did not. Thanks to it, I have become a good archer."


Hearing this, Arjuna became angry. "But you promised me that you'd make me the best archer in the world!" he accused Drona. "Now, how can that be? Now, a common hunter has become better than me!"


The other princes remembered their Master frequently praising Arjuna, saying he had immense talent and would be the greatest archer in the kingdom. They waited with bated breath. What would their teacher do now?


Unable to answer Arjuna's question, Drona remained silent. The sage, too, was upset that his promise to Prince Arjuna would not be fulfilled. He was also angry with Eklavya for disobeying him, so the sage planned to punish Eklavya.


"Where is your Guru, Dakshina? You have to give me a gift for your training," the sage demanded. He had finally found a way to make Eklavya suffer for his disobedience.


Eklavya was overjoyed. A guru dakshina was the voluntary fee or gift offered by a disciple to his Guru at the end of his training. The guru-shishya parampara, i.e., the teacher-student tradition, was a hallowed tradition in Hinduism. At the end of a shishya's study, the Guru asks for a "guru dakshina" since a guru does not take fees. A guru dakshina is the final offering from a student to the Guru before leaving the ashram. The teacher may ask for something or nothing at all.


"Dronacharya, I'll be the happiest person on earth to serve you. Ask me anything, and I will offer it to you as my Guru Dakshina, "he said.


"I might ask you for something you don't like to give me. What if you refuse the Dakshina I want?" Drona asked cunningly.


Eklavya was shocked. Refusing a guru's dakshina was considered a grave insult and a great sin. "No! How can I, teacher? I am not that ungrateful. I'll never refuse anything you ask, Dronacharya," the unsuspecting boy promised.


Drona did not wait anymore. "Eklavya, I seek to have your right-hand thumb as my guru Dakshina", he declared.


Silence befell on everyone. Everyone was shocked, even Arjuna. He looked at his teacher in horror and disbelief. How could their teacher make such a cruel demand? That, too, from a mere boy?


For a moment, Eklavya stood silent. Without his thumb, he could never shoot arrows again. But the teacher must be satisfied. "Ok, Gurudev, as you wish, " he said. Then, without the slightest hesitation, Eklavya drew out his knife and cut his thumb!


The princes gasped at Eklavya's act of bravery. But the tribal boy betrayed no signs of pain and held out his severed thumb to Dronacharya.


"Here is my guru, Dakshina, Drona," Ekalavya said. I am happy you have made me your disciple, even if I'm a mere Shudra hunter."


The sage was humbled. He blessed the young archer for his courage. "Eklavya, even without your thumb, you'll be known as a great archer. I bless you that you will be remembered forever for your loyalty to your Guru," Drona declared, leaving the forests. He was moved and grieved at his action. But he was content that his promise to Arjuna was not broken. The Gods blessed Eklavya from above.


But despite his handicap, Eklavya continued to practice Archery. How could he do so? When one is dedicated, one can make even mountains bow. With practice, Eklavya could shoot arrows with his index and middle fingers, becoming a greater archer than ever. His renown spread far and wide. When Drona learned this, he blessed the boy silently and begged for divine forgiveness.


And true to Drona's blessing, Eklavya is still praised as the most loyal and brave student in the epic of Mahabharatha.

Happy Reading!

Monday, December 2, 2024

Story of King Yayati From Mahabharat

 

Story of King Yayati From Mahabharat


King Yayati, a revered ancestor of the Pandavas, was a man of profound wisdom who illuminated his path and unwavering devotion to God. His deep understanding of the scriptures and his commitment to righteous living were the cornerstones of his character, enlightening him, guiding his actions and decisions, and offering a beacon of enlightenment to those who followed his story.


An unbroken string of victories marked his reign, yet his destiny was to be a cruel one, a fate he could not escape.


His actions, however, led to grave consequences. He deceived his wife, invoking the wrath of his father-in-law Sukracharaya, who pronounced a curse on him. This curse, a heavy burden of his own making, would bring about a premature old age, stripping Yayati of his youth and vitality. It was a stark reminder of the consequences of deceit, a cautionary tale for all who would consider such actions.


The curse immediately transformed the once proud and youthful Yayati into a frail and aged man. His once vibrant body was now a stark testament to the power of Sukracharaya's curse, a constant reminder of the consequences of his deceit.


In vain, King Yayati cried for forgiveness. When Sukracharya calmed down, he said, "King, I am lessening the strength of my curse. If any human being agrees to exchange the beauty and glory of his youth with you, with your body's deplorable state, then you will get back the prime of your youth."


Yayati had five sons.


He went to his sons, tempted them with his throne and kingdom, and tried to persuade them to exchange their youth with him in every possible way.


The first four sons respectfully declined their father's offer, displaying wisdom beyond their years. They understood the fleeting nature of youth and the importance of their own experiences, which is a testament to their maturity and a source of respect for their decision.

However, Puru, the youngest and most devoted son, gladly accepted his father's old age and gave his youth and beauty to him in exchange.


Yayati was at once transformed into the prime of his youth.


In no time, desires entered his body, and he started to enjoy life. He fell desperately in love with an Apsara (nymph) and spent many years with her, but his insatiable desire couldn't be quenched by self-indulgence.


At long last, he realized the truth of life. King Yayati realized the true knowledge that lust, desires, and sex cannot satisfy a man even if he has enjoyed it for thousands of years. The story of King Yayati serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of desires and the enduring value of wisdom and self-control.


He went to his youngest son Puru, and said, "Son, it is impossible to quench sensual desire. It can never be quenched by indulgence any more than fire is extinguished by pouring ghee into it. To you, I return your youth. To you, I give my kingdom as promised. Rule the kingdom devotedly and wisely."


Immediately, Yayati entered again into his old body, and Puru regained his youth.

Puru ruled the kingdom, whereas Yayati spent the rest of his life in the forest practising austerities, and eventually, he breathed his last breath there.


Moral: Never try to challenge nature's way.


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Monday, November 25, 2024

Story of Lord Shiva's Nandi curses Ravana

 

Lord Shiva's Nandi curses Ravana

Ravana, the demon king, was Lord Shiva's biggest devotee. Ravana took immense pride in singing and playing veena for Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati. With his musical talent, he had impressed Lord Shiva and earned his celestial weapon, Chandrahasa. Overwhelmed by receiving Lord Shiva's special blessing and appreciation, Ravana's ego grew manifold. 

One evening, Ravana set out to meet Lord Shiva at Kailasa, his celestial abode. Ravana couldn't contain his happiness thinking about playing a new veena tune he had composed for Lord Shiva. Aboard his Pushpak Vimaan, he dreamt of Lord Shiva appreciating his talent and gifting him more weapons to make him an invincible warrior. He smirked as Pushpak Viman landed on the Kailasa. 

He walked through the snowy paths holding his veena. Eager to impress Lord Shiva, he reached the house's gate. Nandi, the divine Bullman and Lord Shiva's mount, guarded the entrance. Nandi stopped Ravana, 'Hey! Stop! My Lord Shiva...'

'How dare you! Don't you know Ravana, the king of three worlds,' he declared with pride.

Nandi smiled, thinking about his ego, and replied, 'Ravana, I know who you are! You didn't let me finish. I was saying my Lord Shiva is having food prepared by Mother Parvati. You must wait here until I receive the next orders from my master.'

Infuriated, Ravana threw his veena and magically produced one of his weapons. Ravana hurled it at Nandi, aiming to break his head. But the weapon magically disappeared mid-way in the air. Ravana's anger now was boundless.

'What do you think of yourself? You look so funny,' he smirked.

'Are you not ashamed of your animal-like appearance? You look like a monkey,' Ravana continued, making fun of Nandi and laughing.

Angrily, Nandi cursed Ravana, 'You made fun of me. I curse you that in your death, monkey will play an important role.'

Ravana ignored Nandi's curse and went away without meeting Lord Shiva.

Years later, Lord Rama defeated Ravana with the help of an army of monkey men. Nandi's curse played an important role in defeating the egoistic Ravana.

Moral: Never make fun of others.

Happy Reading!

Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Story of Lord Hanuman teaches Bhim a lesson | Mahabharata Stories

Story of Lord Hanuman teaches Bhima a lesson


After the game of dice, the Pandavas lived in exile with Draupadi. Bhim knew his wife and four brothers were experiencing a very painful time in their lives. He decided to cheer them up and cook something special for them. He knew a delicious recipe made of rare leafy vegetables could only be found inside the dense forest.

Bhim was very brave and powerful. Nothing could stand in the way of his loved ones' happiness.


"I will be back in the evening. And I will cook dinner for you all," he said to Draupadi before leaving.


Bhim made his way inside the dense forest behind their hut. The howling and grunting of wild animals didn't scare him. He kept on walking stealthily, careful not to attack wild animals.


Finally, he reached a harvest of leafy vegetables beside a lake. He plucked enough for his family, kept it inside a cloth, and tied it crossbody.


Tracing his path back to his hut, he saved himself from tumbling upon something. He realised it was the tail of a monkey man sleeping under a tree.


"Hey, you, remove your tail from my way," Bhima yelled angrily at the monkey-man.


Monekey-man opened his eyes with struggle and begged, "I am very old, and my condition doesn't allow me to move. You move my tail."


"So, you want great Bhima to touch your tail. How insulting!' fumed Bhima.


Monkey man smiled and replied, 'Why does great Bhima not have the strength to remove my tail from his way?'


Bhima realised Monkey Man was challenging him, and he could never pass a challenge.


Bhima gulped down his anger as he had to reach home on time to fulfil his promise to Draupadi.


Angrily, he touched the monkey-man's tail and tried to lift it. Sweat beads formed on his forehead as he carried on his futile attempt. He realised his mistake that the monkey man was a divine energy.


Bhima prayed, "Hey, monkey-man, I have realised my mistake. Please come in your true form."


Hanuman smiled and appeared in his true form, blessing Bhima with powers of modesty.


Moral: Never use your power to intimidate the weak.


Happy Reading!


Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.


Monday, November 11, 2024

Story of Little Ganesh and the Moon


Lord Ganesh Stories


Once, Lord Ganesh was invited to a big feast at an ardent devotee's house. Along with Modak, she cooked everything that Ganesh relished eating. She served Ganesh and Mushakraj, the mouse vehicle, with love. 


Ganesh loved everything served to him. He blessed his devotee with the prosperity she desired and mounted Mushakraj to return to Kailash. Lord Ganesh realised that his bloated belly had reduced Mushakraj's speed. He saw Mushakraj panting heavily and shaking his legs. 


Kind-hearted Ganesh felt sorry for Mushakraj's hardship and decided to relieve him. 


"Mushakraj, I want to walk home," said Ganesh.

"Sorry, my lord! My shaking legs are making your ride uncomfortable." Mushakraj said unhappily.

Ganesh replied, "No, my friend. Your ride is very comfortable. But I should walk, as my belly is hurting because of overeating."

Mushakraj smiled, and they both started walking. The Moon's rays lit their paths. Little Ganesh's belly jiggled as he climbed up the mountain. The eerie silence of the mountain, coupled with the cricketing of insects, was suddenly disrupted by laughter.

Ganesh wondered who laughed.

"Lord, look there!" Mushakraj pointed at the Laughing Moon.

"What is making you laugh, Moon?" asked Ganesh to the Moon.

Moon, who was still laughing, took a moment to compose himself.

"You and your belling are making me laugh," winked Moon.

Angry Mushakraj stared at him and said, ''Why are you making fun of my Lord?"

Ganesh smiled and suggested that Mushakraj ignore Moon.

Ganesh and Mushakraj resumed their journey.

A hissing snake frightened Ganesh, and he fell and tumbled. This made Moon laugh uncontrollably. This time, Ganesh couldn't control his anger and stared at him.


"You made fun of my appearance. I think you are too proud of your beauty. I curse you to become invisible, " Ganesh cursed. 


Moon begged for Ganesh's forgiveness, and kind-hearted Ganesh reduced the curse's impact by making him invisible only one night every month.


Moon sang Ganesh's glory along with Mushakraj. 


Moral: Never be proud of your beauty.


Happy Reading!


Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Story of Lord Ganesh teaches Kubera a lesson

Lord Ganesh Stories

Once, little Ganesh was invited for lunch. Excited, little Ganesh took his best friend, Mushakraj, a giant mouse, with him. On the way, he asked, 'Do you think they will serve us modak?'  


Mushakraj laughed and replied, 'Don't worry; the whole world knows about your love for Modak!' Later, their host, Kubera, the God of wealth and celestial treasurer, happily welcomed them. 


Ganesh knew Kubera's intention. He knew this invitation was not out of love or devotion for Ganesh. But out of pride. Arrogant Kubera wanted to parade his wealth. Thus, little Ganesh decided to teach Kubera a lesson. 


Ganesh looked around the palace. He asked, 'Does the entire palace belong to you?' Kubera proudly replied, 'Yes, it's mine. The entire palace is mine.' Ganesh appreciated his palace's beauty.


Kubera took little Ganesh and Mushakraj to the dining hall. Ganesh saw massive golden vessels filled with rice, kheer, modak, and numerous delicacies. Spotting Modak, little Ganesh winked at Mushakraj. 


Kubera said, 'Take your seat, please!' So, they both sat down to eat. Servants started to serve the food. They began to enjoy the meal. Kubera was happy to see little Ganesh enjoying the food. 


Kubera said, 'Don't worry, my lord! Please eat to your heart's content. I have food to feed a nation.' Little Ganesh smiled. Now was the right time to teach Kubera a lesson, thought little Ganesh. 


Servants offered some more food. Ganesh continued to eat. They served again and again. The food prepared vanished very fast. Kubera started to worry. Slowly, he asked, 'Ganesh, have you finished?' 


Mushakraj replied, 'My friend has just started. He is going to finish everything.' Ganesh continued to eat. After a while, the food prepared for lunch was finished. Servants served him raw rice, pulses, grains, vegetables, and fruits. 


He asked for more fruits as he devoured them. Kubera begged, 'Ganesh, please... please stop eating.' 


Ganesh asked, 'Why can't you serve me more food when you have food to serve the nation?' Kubera realized his mistake. 


Kubera stood up from his throne and prayed to Lord Shiva. 'Lord Shiva, please help me!' 


Kubera went to meet Shiva and requested that he help him. Shiva gave him puffed rice to modestly serve Ganesh. 


Kubera was relieved to seek Lord Shiva's blessing. He took the puffed rice and served it to Ganesh, saying, 'Forgive me. Accept it and bless me.' Kubera offered it to little Ganesh with love, seeking forgiveness. Ganesh took the rice. As soon as he ate it, his hunger was satisfied. 


Ganesh happily returned to Kailash with Mushakraj. On returning, Ganesh said, 'Modak was tasty!' They both giggled.


Moral: The best time to realize your mistakes is now.

Happy Reading!

Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.

Monday, October 28, 2024

Story of Yashoda maa witness the entire universe in Krishna's mouth

Hindu vedic stories


Once, little Krishna and his brother Balarama were playing under a huge mango tree in their house's front yard. At the same time, their mother, Yashoda, was busy cooking in the kitchen. 


'Looks like our mother is cooking a delicious meal. I can smell it. I am already hungry!' said Balarama, sniffing the delicious steam from the kitchen. Krishna rolled his eyes and said, 'I have a plan!'


He pointed his finger to the tree, 'Why don't you pluck mangoes from here!' Balarama liked his plan and climbed up the tree. Atop the tree, he realized, 'But my little hands can contain only one mango.'  


Krishna replied, 'We will share it and save space for Mother's meal in the tummy.' Balarama plucked one mango and came down. To his surprise, he saw little Krishna was swallowing mud. 


Krishna's mud-smeared mouth made him laugh. However, Balarama controlled his laughter and shouted to call Yashoda, 'Mother, I caught Krishna eating mud.' Yashoda came to the tree from the kitchen. 


Seeing her in anger, Krishna ran around the tree. Yashoda, too, ran behind him. Huffing, she caught him, 'You mischievous boy!' She made little Krishna sit on her lap and asked him to open his mouth. 


Reluctantly, Krishna did so. On his tongue, she witnessed stars. Then, the universe, space, lands, mountains, and oceans appeared inside his little mouth. She couldn't believe what she saw. 


Yashoda rubbed her eyes and then embraced Krishna. Krishna said, 'Mother, I am hungry!' Yashoda was still worried and said, 'But! I just saw something strange inside your mouth, Krishna!'


'What did you see, mother?' asked little Krishna. A pungent smell tickled her nose, and instantly, she forgot everything she had just seen. She cried, 'Oh! I brunt my rice!'


She stood up to run to the kitchen, but Krishna held her hand and said, 'Mother, you just said you saw something strange!' Yashoda replied, 'Really! When did I say that?' and ran to the kitchen


Krishna winked at Balarama. They shared a burst of mischievous laughter. 'So, you wanted to scare mother!' Krishna laughed and said, 'No! I just wanted to show her the universe!'


Balarama and little Krishna laughed. 'What's the use? She doesn't remember anything!' said Balarama. Krishna showed him the mango, 'Just like you don't remember this mango!' They both giggled. 'Let's eat!' said Balarama.


Moral: A child's mischief brings joy to loved ones.

Happy Reading!

Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.

Monday, October 21, 2024

Story of Saraswati Maa And Universe Creation

Hindu vedic stories

A long time ago, Lord Brahma took up the task of creating the universe. However, he believed he should seek a goddess's support to succeed, so he prayed to the cosmos for help.


After a while, a goddess appeared clad in a white sari and golden ornaments, holding a veena. She bowed and greeted Lord Brahma.


Lord Brahma named her Saraswati. He bestowed upon her the title of the Goddess of Knowledge, Music, Creativity, Wisdom, and Speech. She said, 'Lord, I am here to assist you in creating the Universe.'


Goddess Saraswati began playing her veena, and tiny blinking lights appeared in the cosmos. Lord Brahma named those little lights Stars. She then created the Sun, Moon, Earth, and other Planets. 


Lord Brahma was very impressed with Goddess Saraswati's creativity. He asked her to beautify Earth, and at Lord Brahma's behest, she descended from heaven to Earth. 


She played her veena and created nature: the skies, mountains, green lands, rivers, and oceans. She now invited Lord Brahma to Earth, and Lord Brahma was fascinated by Mother Earth's beauty. 


Goddess Saraswati asked, 'Lord, don't you think we will need humans to care for Mother Earth?' Lord Brahma agreed and created Humans. 


She happily played her veena. Humans, nature, animals, plants, and other living beings were fascinated by the melody played by Goddess Saraswati, so they started dancing to the tunes.


As the music mesmerized the children, they ran to Goddess Saraswati. A curious little one asked, 'How do you play it? What is it called?' She replied, 'It's called a veena! You can play it too'. 


Excited children expressed their desire to learn music, gain knowledge, and become intelligent. They asked her many questions. She smiled at their innocence and happily answered them. 


Later, she placed a miniature veena in the little girl's hand. She then gifted the children interesting books, painting accessories, and various musical instruments. The children accepted the gifts and jumped with joy.


Goddess Saraswati blessed them with knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, and speech. Thus, after seeking Goddess Saraswati's blessing, children lived happily ever after with their parents. 


Moral: Embrace the infinite and incredible power of the divine Goddess Saraswati.


Happy Reading!


Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.