Shina Utavani

Once upon a time there was a little kid. He had to attend his school which was far away from his home. In order to reach there, he had to cover a long distance by walking. He also had to cross the forest which came on his way. The kid was afraid to cross the forest as he was alone. So, one day he spoke to his mom about his fear.His mother wanted him to overcome his fear. So, she told him that he had a cousin named Kanha, who herds cattle in the forest. She told him to shout his name and cross the forest without any fear.The next day when the kid was crossing the forest, he shouted Kanha with the hope that he would come to help him. Suddenly, a boy appeared before him and said his name was Kanha. He walked with him until they reached at the end of the forest.Every day after that, the boy would shout Kanha, and he would come to help him cross the forest. After some time, the boy became fearless. One day his mother asked the boy about his fear. The boy described the whole story to his mom.The mother was truly surprised after hearing the story. She eventually discovered that the boy who was accompanying her son was actually Lord Krishna. The mother realized that Lord Krishna helped her son in crossing the forest. This was possible because of his unwavering faith. Moral:Nothing is impossible for someone who has actual faith in God. God can help us in our difficult times and could give us strength.

This is a story of Krishna and mother.Moral(s) of the story: faith and fear

Faith over Fear

The Ramayan is an ancient Sanskrit epic written by the famous sage Valmiki. It describes Lord Rama's effort to rescue Sita from the demon king Ravana. It also describes the challenges faced by Lord Rama, Laxaman, and Sita when they were exiled from the kingdom for 14 years. Following is a story from “The Ramayana”.The three brothers Ravan, Kumbhkaran, and Vibhishan were the sons of Vishravas. Kumbhakaran was younger to Ravan and elder to Vibhishan. Once, they all engaged in severe penance to please Lord Brahma, their grandfather and the god of creation. Lord Brahma was pleased with the sincerity and their devotion so, he appeared in front of them and promised them boons. Ravan asked that he should not be killed by gods, serpents, animals, demons, birds and his wish was granted.Vibhishan asked that he should never leave the path of righteousness. Brahma was pleased with his goodness and he blessed him with immortality as an additional bonus.Kumbhakaran had already created enough fear among all the lives. Brahma feared that he would again ask some strength which he would use against the welfare of the people. Therefore, Brahma requested the Goddess of Speech, Saraswati to sit on his tongue and let him mispronounce the wish so that the lives of others are saved.Kumbhakaran wished to ask for the position of Indra, the ruler of the heavens. But under the influence of Goddess Saraswati, he mispronounced it as Nidrasana (the seat of sleep). So, Brahma granted him eternal sleep.Ravan was distressed to see the plight of his brother. He pleaded Brahma to undo the curse. Brahma did undo it, but with a condition. He said that Kumbhakaran would sleep for six months and will stay awake for another six months. He can have his food to full his belly in those six months so, that he can go back to sleep for another six months.

This is a story of brahma, Kumbhakarna, Ram, Ravan, and veebhishana.Moral(s) of the story: penance

The Story of Kumbhkaran’s Sleep

Shivratri is an important Indian festival. It is celebrated in regards to Lord Shiva’s worship. It has accorded a lot of significance in Hindu mythology. Shivratri is observed once in every month (on the month's 13th night/14th day) but Mahashivratri is celebrated once in a year (the month of February/March, or phalgun). The festival is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm. Devotees observe various fasts and pujas on this day. Mahashivratri is celebrated on the fourth day of the Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar. It is believed that on this day, Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. The festival commemorates their marriage. Unmarried girls fast and pray to Lord Shiva for an ideal husband. Some people also celebrate this festival by maintaining a "jaagaran", an all-night vigil and prayers offering to Lord Shiva. Fruits, leaves, sweets, and milk are offered to Lord Shiva. The Hindu mantra- Om Namah Shivaya is chanted throughout the day in Shiva temples on this day. It is believed that a person who performs sincere worship to Lord Shiva on this day is relieved from all the sins and attains moksha. Some believe that on this day, Lord Shiva consumed the poison to save the world. Others believe that it is the night when Lord Shiva performed the heavenly dance of creation and perseverance.

This is a story of Parvati, Shiva and Shivratri.

Shivratri

The story of Saraswati plays an important role in Indian mythology. It is believed that life would not have been the same that it is today without her. Brahma who is the creator of the Universe, felt that something was missing and was lacking concept. So, he decided to create the embodiment of knowledge to help him with this task of bringing order to the universe. So, Saraswati-the goddess of knowledge and wisdom emerged from his mouth.Goddess Saraswati was a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. She was the goddess of learning, art, and literature. She emerged from Brahma to give him directions. She guided him on how to create order in the cosmos; and that is how moon, sun, and stars all came into being.She guided him in creating the universe we see today. It is said that later she became the bride of Brahma. Thus, Brahma became the creator of the world with Saraswati as his wisdom.

This is a story of Brahma, Saraswati and universe.Moral(s) of the story: knowledge and wisdom

The Origin of Sarawati

Krishna was born in the small town of Mathura, governed by a very ruthless King Kamsa — a man so full of evil that he had imprisoned his own father to take the throne. On the day of his marriage, a divine voice prophesied the demise of Kamsa by the hands of eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva. Devaki was Kamsa’s sister. He did not want to take any risk so he imprisoned the couple and destroyed their babies one by one as they were born.Devaki and Vasudeva succeeded in saving their seventh son as he was miraculously moved to Rohini’s womb, Vasudeva’s second wife. He was Krishna's elder brother Balarama. The eighth child was born on a moonless night. Thunder, lightning, and violent storms witnessed his birth. Immediately after, as if by the miracle, Vasudeva found the locked gates open up and the guards deep asleep.Guided by a Divine voice, Vasudeva held the infant over his head in a basket and crossed Yamuna river to the Gokula house of Nanda. When Vasudeva walked in, the stormy river calmed down and the new born was kept dry and covered from rain by a huge serpent hood trailing him!Vasudeva put his son near Nanda and Yashoda at Nanda's palace. He took their new born girl back to Kamsa's prison. Once Kamsa came to know about Devaki's born child, he thundered into the jail and tried to aggressively grab the infant.The infant escaped from his hold and the baby transformed into Goddess Durga in a blinding flash of light, declaring to Kamsa that the eighth child was indeed healthy and that his death was inevitable.

This is a story of Devaki, kamsa, Krishna , nanda, Vasudev and Yashoda

Krishna’s Birth

Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic about the brothers, Pandavas and kauravas. It describes the battle between them in the Kurukshetra war for the throne of Hastinapura. It is an epic tale that combines war, religion, philosophy and Hindu history. Following is a story from “The Mahabharata” which describes the reason why we call Karna ‘Danveer’Karna was on his death bed amidst the battlefield and was gasping for breath in his last moments. Lord Krishna was confused about Karna’s generosity and wanted to check it. He went to Karna disguised as a beggar. Karna was on his death bed and seeing the beggar asked him what he needed. Lord Krishna as a beggar said, “Lord, I need some gold for my daughter’s marriage”. Karna showed his helplessness to the beggar and said, “I am sorry but I have nothing to give you as I am on my death bed. I feel worse that I am not able to give you anything. But you can ask gold from my wife in Angadesh.” Listening to this the beggar said, “I cannot travel so far for gold, Lord. I thought you are kind and generous and would help me.”Karna felt very bad and decided to give him the golden tooth he had. Karna took a stone and broke his golden teeth. The tooth was bleeding with blood and Karna did not want to give blood covered teeth to the beggar. He was injured badly and could not move. He took his arrow and bowed it towards the sky. The next moment rain broke out and then he gave the cleaned gold teeth to the beggar. Lord Krishna was shocked to see Karna’s sacrifice. He was proved that there was no one as generous and kind as Karna. Lord Krishna came into his real form and said, “You will live in the hearts of people. You will be remembered for your qualities Daan (Donation) and Veer (Heroic). You will be remembered as ‘Danveer.”That is how Karna got his name ‘Danveer”.

This is a story of Karan and Krishna.Moral(s) of the story: sacrifice

Karna as ‘Danveer’

Pallavi Hota

Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic about the brothers, Pandavas and kauravas. It describes the battle between them in the Kurukshetra war for the throne of Hastinapura. It is an epic tale that combines war, religion, philosophy and Hindu history. Following is a story from “The Mahabharata.” Once Durvasa Muni, the ancient Rishi, who was known for granting boons to people who pleased him, visited the house of&nbsp;Duryodhana, the enemy cousin of Maharaja Yudhisthira. Duryodhana was&nbsp;intelligent enough to satisfy the brahmana by all means, and the&nbsp;great rishi wanted to give some blessings to Duryodhana. Duryodhana knew his mystic powers, and he also knew that the mystic brahmana, if&nbsp;dissatisfied, could cause some havoc. When the rishi asked Duryodhana, Duryodhana wished that he should visit the house of Maharaja Yudhisthira, who was the eldest and chief among all his cousins. He requested the rishi to go to Yudhisthira after he had finished his meals with his Queen, Draupadi. Duryodhana knew that after Draupadi’s dinner, it would be impossible for Maharaja Yudhisthira to receive such a large number of brahmana guests, and thus the rishi would be annoyed and would create some trouble for his cousin Maharaja Yudhisthira. That was the plan of Duryodhana. Durvasa Muni agreed to this proposal, and he approached the King in exile, according to the plan of Duryodhana, after the King and Draupadi had finished their meals. On his arrival at the door of Maharaja Yudhisthira, he was at once well received, and the King requested him to finish his noontime religious rites in the river, for by that time the foodstuff would be prepared. Durvasa Muni, along with his large number of disciples, went to take a bath in the river. Maharaja Yudhisthira was in great anxiety about the guests. If Draupadi had not taken her meals, food could have been served to any number of guests, but the rishi, by the plan of Duryodhana, reached there after Draupadi had finished her meals.Draupadi was thinking of Lord Krishna in that difficult situation. Lord Krishna arrived at the scene and asked Draupadi to give whatever food she might have in her stock. Draupadi apologised to Lord Krishna and told Him that the mysterious dish which she had received from the sun-god could supply any amount of food if she herself had not eaten. But on that particular day, she had already taken her meals.The Lord, however, asked Draupadi to bring up the cooking pots to see if there was any&nbsp;particle of food left, and on Draupadi doing so, the Lord found a few particles of vegetables sticking to the pot. The Lord at once picked it up and ate it. After doing so, the Lord asked Draupadi to call for her guests, the company of Durvasa. Bhima was sent to call them from the river. Bhima said, “Why are you delaying, sirs? Come on, the food is ready for you.” But the brahmanas, because of Lord Krisha’s accepting a little particle of food, felt sumptuously fed, even while they were in the water. They thought that since Maharaja Yudhisthira must have prepared many valuable dishes for them and since they were not hungry and could not eat, the King would feel very sorry, so it was better not to go there. Thus they decided to go away.

This is a story of Krishna and Draupadi.

Durvasa Muni and cooking pot of Draupadi

Krishna’s childhood was filled with adventurous stories. Though filled with joy, each episode of his childhood shows one spiritual dimension or the other.Gokula was a land with pure cowherds (a person who tends to cows), the men were named 'Gopalas' and the girls were called 'Gopis'. Krishna was about three months old when his mother brought him to the place where people gathered for a festival with their relatives.Yashoda and other people had to prepare the afternoon meal and she left the sleeping child in the shade of a bullock cart. The food was consumed, people were busy with the music. Krishna woke up to the sounds of music while sleeping soundly.Playfully, wanting to join the party, the kid began to move his feet to the beat and pushed the cart's wheel. The cart fell with a thud, and everyone was surprised by the sound, and they ran to the place hoping for the worst. Together they raised the collapsed cart and were overjoyed to see the boy, appearing as happy as ever, and completely unharmed by the crash.&nbsp;That was indeed the first confirmation of his heavenly abilities, but this fact was not known by everyone around at that moment, but rather played off as a miraculous escape.

This is a story of bullock cart, Krishna and Yashoda.

Krishna’s Childhood

All gods, one day went to Lord Vishnu seeking help to save them from the attack of the demons. Lord Vishnu said he did not have enough power to fight with the demons. He said he would need Lord Shiva’s help. So, he went to Kailash to seek help from Lord Shiva. When he reached Kailash, he found Lord Shiva in a deep trance. Lord Vishnu did not want to disturb him so he decidedto pray for Shiva until he came out of his trance.Vishnu would chant the name of Shiva thousand times every day by offering one lotus flower against each chant. He used to do that every day while waiting for Lord Shiva to come out of his meditation. One day, not knowing that Shiva had come out of his trance, Vishnu continued his chanting for the day. Shiva decided to play a trick on Vishnu.Lord Shiva secretly removed one lotus from the bunch that Vishnu had arranged. After Vishnu chanted for 999 times, he realized that one flower was missing from his collection. He immediately plucked his one eye and offered it at the feet of the Shiva. Impressed by Vishnu’s devotion, Shiva told him to ask for a boon. Vishnu asked him to give the power to defeat the demons to save all the gods. Lord Shiva gave him a round disc known as ‘Sudarshana Chakra’ which has the power to kill anything.

hindu god stories

Stories help in improving a child's imagination. Here are a few interesting ones for you to narrate to your child.