In a green jungle, just beside a stream, lived a tortoise and his two stork friends. Having lived together for so many years, these three were the best of friends. They bathed in the stream together, caught and ate fish from the stream, and they were living a happy life. Everything was going along just…
There was once a trader who went from one village to the next, selling jewelry and perfumes. He often traveled on foot and had to walk through jungles and forests to reach far off villages. One day after visiting one village, he had to go to the next and to get there he had to…
In a tiny village lived a Brahmin with his wife and children. Now while he had a lot of knowledge of the Holy Books, and prayers, he was not a very smart man. Clever evil people often cheated him, and he easily believed anyone. His wife was tired of his foolish ways, and she…
Long, long ago, in a small village, lived a poor Brahmin. He lived alone in a tiny hut; he had no mother, no father, no wife, or children. Life was difficult and lonely. Every day, he stepped out to beg. He went from home to home, collecting anything anyone would give him. Sometimes, it would…
Under the shade of a banyan tree, in a hole in the ground, lived a big fat partridge. The partridge loved her home; it was in just the right place, and during the hot summer months, the shade of the tree kept her quite cool in her happy home. She filled her home with beautiful…
In a kingdom far away, there lived a thief. He did not work like the farmers in the field, or the shepherds in the meadows. He stole whatever he could lay his hands on, sold these stolen items in the market, and used this money to buy food and anything else that he needed. He…
In a large forest, a tortoise and rabbit lived side by side, among many other animals. Everyone knows that rabbits are quick animals, and so was this rabbit. She had flexible back legs, could hop, jump into many high trees and bushes, and could run faster than many other animals in the forest. With her…
While India is considered a developing economy, we have long walked on a path of economic progress, which evident today, in pre-colonial times, and in colonial times. In contemporary times the Tata’s and the Ambani’s, among others, are justifiably considered India’s Maharajas based on the wealth these business tycoons have earned and accumulated. However, this…
India is counted among oldest civilizations in the world, and Hinduism is arguably the oldest religion in the world. Hinduism is often referred to by scholars as ‘Santana Dharma’ or ‘Eternal Tradition’; this is because Hinduism is more of a way of life, an extension of Indian traditions and beliefs, and philosophies, and less of…
A fire destroyed a small town, and soon all the people who lived here packed up and left. The place was empty, but in some time, animals from the forest nearby moved in. The lake in the middle of the town soon became a popular spot for animals who came here for fresh and cold…
The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are two spiritual guides, intrinsic to the Hindu way of life. From a secular point of view, these are literary gems whose value cannot be underplayed. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are both earliest forms of the epic poem and are both the basis of valuable teachings that Hindus live by…
A common question about the life and times of Valmiki, is in regards to his status as a former robber, before attaining enlightenment and writing the Ramayana. While Hindu scholars do not invest much time into debating the veracity of these claims, folklore and Hindu religious textbook knowledge of Valmiki coexist side by side, and…
In a green forest by a beautiful river, lived animals of many kinds. There were birds and bees, monkeys and bears, deer and leopards, elephants, and moles; all of these animals had made this forest their home. The lion, who was the king of the jungle, ruled over all these animals. As is the…
In a small village, a farmer lived with his baby boy and pretty wife. One day, while coming home from his field, the farmer saw a hurt mongoose lying on the side of the road. The farmer felt terrible for the poor mongoose and picked him up and took him home. But, his wife…
In a green forest at the bottom of a mountain, was a beautiful pond. This pond was home to many fishes, frogs, and crabs living together peacefully. Among them lived an exceptional and smart stork that ruled both the air and the water. This stork had all that he wanted. He fed on the creatures…
