Stories
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The curse of the white el...
The curse of the white elephantWhen we read our puranic stories many of us have a doubt. If God is supposed to be loving, why does he punish people? If the rishis are knowledgeable and learned, why do they curse people? We need to understand that many of these stories are told to us not to narrate what happened to one person or some people but to help us learn a lesson. Some of these incidents als...
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Shiva the ultimate teache...
Shiva – The Ultimate teacherMany a time there are linkages between multiple happenings. What seems like separate incidents are actually inter – linked to a larger cause.Once Sage Narada did a deep penance for thousands of years. Lord Indra tried to disturb him as he was worried that Narada was trying to take over the Devalok. Narada was committed and successfully finished his tapasya. Narada b...
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Seven seas come to Madura...
Seven seas come to Madurai Madurai is an ancient city with a lot of history, culture, religion and beliefs attached to it. With all this can stories be far behind. Yes. It has many stories associated with it too.Madurai was blessed like Kashi. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati actually ruled the city as King Sundara Pandyan (Sundareswara) and Queen Raja Mathangi (Meenakshi). Imagine a city ruled...
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Harina Kridana
Harina Kridana It was a warm, sunny day in VrajBhumi. Krishna, Balarama and others were playing a game. The game was called Harina Kridana. (Deer play) Harina Kridana was a game were the boys jumped in pairs. Whoever jumped higher was the winner. The loser had to carry the winner up to a banyan tree and return to the starting point.The boys made pairs. Krishna was paired with Sridaman. Balara...
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Pundalika and Pandarinath...
Pundalika and Pandarinatha Temples are often built by kings and the wealthy as a thank you for blessings. Have you seen a God who is patiently awaiting for the devotee to find the time to attend to him. Surprised!!! Who is this God and which is the temple? This is none other than our dear Vittala of Pandarpur. So how did he come there?In the thick forest called Dandirvan there lived a yo...
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A wood cutter`s devotion ...
We saw the worry and stress Sendhan’s wife went through when on a cold rainy day an ascetic visited their home. Sendhan, like a true man had invited the ascetic home for food when there was nothing at home.Sendan’s wife looked at the empty pots in the house and did not know what to do. She searched their small hut and found some broken rice, a handful of pulses and some jaggery. She quick...
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A wood cutter`s devotion ...
A wood cutter’s devotionWe have been seeing some interesting stories of bhaktas who were not pundits or learned but normal people who just believed in the divine. It is said that in the kailyuga the simplest way to understand God is through complete and unconditional devotion. As we get ready to celebrate many festivals, let us pause to learn about an interesting occurrence in a small village in...
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Ruru and Pramadvara
An affectionate father pleading for his daughter’s lifeA parents’ affection for their child is unlimited. He/she will do anything to bring happiness to the child and protect the child from any bad experience. This is one such touching story from our Puranas. Once there lived a sage called Ruru. Who was this Ruru? It i...
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Bana and the Lord of Madu...
Bana and the Lord of Madurai, SundareshwaraBanabhadra was a singer in the temple town of Madurai. He used to play a string instrument called the yazh in Tamil. Every day Bana used to come to the temple in the night and sing songs in praise of the Lord while playing his instrument. Rain or shine, work or illness, the Lord and the townsfolk always used to see him standing behind Lord Nandeeshw...
