Stories

Ennobling stories, sagas and tales from the sacred annals of Sanatana lore, history, epics and Puranas

Essays

A Passage from Maha-Brahmana: Transforming Sacred Lore into Literary Pearls

A Passage from Maha-Brahmana: Transforming Sacred Lore into Literary Pearls

Devudu Narasimha Sastri's literary crowning glory, "Mahabrahmana" gives us a memorable depiction of the famous Vasistha-Visvamitra story.

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The Next Time you Visit Vidisha, Remember Hatiya’s Sacred Service to Bhayillasvamin

The Next Time you Visit Vidisha, Remember Hatiya’s Sacred Service to Bhayillasvamin

An inscription dated 878 CE reveals the elevating story of Hatia, a Hindu merchant who performed a signal service to the deity Bhayillasvamin or Surya.

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The Story of an Unknown Vijayanagara Hero: The Barber Kondoja who Obtained Tax Exemption for his Entire Community

The Story of an Unknown Vijayanagara Hero: The Barber Kondoja who Obtained Tax Exemption for his Entire Community

Kondoja, an expert barber in Karnataka impressed Aliya Rama Raya with his beard-shaving skills and used the opportunity to get a tax exemption for his community throughout the Vijayanagara Empire. The story reveals a wealth of brilliant insights into the social, economic and political life of the pe

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The Magnificent Mangalana Step-Well: A Sanatana Oasis Amid Turushka Chaos

The Magnificent Mangalana Step-Well: A Sanatana Oasis Amid Turushka Chaos

An essay narrating the ennobling history of the forgotten Mangalana step-well in Rajasthan.

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When Tirumala Venkateshwara Swami Himself Garlanded His Beloved Devotee

When Tirumala Venkateshwara Swami Himself Garlanded His Beloved Devotee

An extraordinary anecdote from the era of Srikrishnadevaraya opens up several profound vistas into the convictions, values and lifestyle of our ancestors. These are stories that must be included in our textbooks if we are to preserve our cultural continuity.

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Remember this Profound Facet of Moodevi When you Light Lamps at Home

Remember this Profound Facet of Moodevi When you Light Lamps at Home

A forgotten folklore that throws brilliant light on the unbroken Sanatana cultural consciousness and daily custom of lighting lamps in Hindu homes.

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The Awesome Devotional Heritage of Devi Bhagavati of Kerala

The Awesome Devotional Heritage of Devi Bhagavati of Kerala

Tracing the origins of the dateless and profound tradition of Devi Bhagavati worship in Kerala. In many parts of South India, the Goddess is also known as the Malayala Bhagavati. This is Her story.

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The Delightful Story of the Cussword, “Moo Devi”

The Delightful Story of the Cussword, “Moo Devi”

The Puranic roots and cultural metamorphosis of the expletive, "Moo Devi" prevalent in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

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The Story of Sthambheshwara: May the Feet of the Temple's Protector be on my Head

The Story of Sthambheshwara: May the Feet of the Temple's Protector be on my Head

An essay narrating the brief history of the obscure Sthambeshwara Temple, a pioneering marvel of Pallava architecture predating Mahabalipuram.

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How Rajaraja Chola's Brihadeeshwara Temple Built a Pan Indian Hindu Cultural Complex

How Rajaraja Chola's Brihadeeshwara Temple Built a Pan Indian Hindu Cultural Complex

The concluding part narrates the story of how by building the Brihadeeshwara Temple, Rajaraja Chola built an entire civilisation itself.

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