GREATEST STORIES FROM HINDU MYTHOLOGY EXPRESSIONS OF A BEAUTIFUL CULTURE

ARIN KUMAR SHUKLA

Copyright © Arin Kumar Shukla All Rights Reserved. This book has been published with all efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. However, the author and the publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. While every effort has been made to avoid any mistake or omission, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that neither the author nor the publishers or printers would be liable in any manner to any person by reason of any mistake or omission in this publication or for any action taken or omitted to be taken or advice rendered or accepted on the basis of this work. For any defect in printing or binding the publishers will be liable only to replace the defective copy by another copy of this work then available.

Dedicated to all Kashmiri Pandits who faced genocide in January 1990.

Contents Preface

vii

1. Matsya : The First Avatar

1

2. Story Of Pole Star

3

3. The Three Steps

6

4. Neelkantha

9

5. Mahishasur Mardini

11

6. Rama's Kevat

13

7. Jatayu's Sacrifice

16

8. Lifting Govardhan

18

9. Dushyant And Shakuntala

20

10. Karna

22

11. Samudra Manthan

26

12. Rishi Agastya

29

13. Ekalavya

33

14. Abhimanyu

36

15. Markandeya

41

16. Jagganath

44

17. Ram Setu

49

18. Birth Of Kaveri

51

19. Ram Vs Bali

53

20. Indrajit

57

21. Agasthya Drinks Ocean

60

22. Tapati

62

23. Hidimba

66

24. Sati Savitri

69

25. Prahlad

75

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Contents Bibliography

81

About The Author

83

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Preface

Stories are not only a mirror image of a society but also a vision or inspiration of what a society aspires to become. That’s why great cultures are built on great stories. Whether we see stories from the Puranas, Vedas, or Upanishads. Also stories from Quran in Islam, or stories from the Bible. Greek, Chinese and Japanese traditions are also full of wonderful stories. Each story is from and for a different walk of life. Hindu mythology is specially enriched with treasures of stories that make you amazed. From Matsya, the first avatar, to Kalki, the last avatar. From Bramha’s creation of the Shrishti to the Shiva’s cosmic dance of Tandava. Each of these stories offers a different perspective of how you see the things around you. Stories of dancing Apsaras, stories of fierce Asuras, stories of insecure Devas, and stories of Avatars saving the world. All these, each of these, carry a new lesson, shedding old baggage. While there are some stories in Vedas and Upanishads. But Puranas still are the most popular source of mythological literature in India. Adi Purana, Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, Bhagwata Purana, Skanda Purana, Garuda Purana and many more are sources of these stories.

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PREFACE

In many mythical works of literature, folklore also plays a key role. It affects and shapes the stories according to the local people. This phenomenon can be seen in the storytelling of Ramayana. This great epic has nearly a hundred different versions across the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, China, Japan, and South Asian countries. The story of Rama has been shaped by regional life conditions so that the local readers can feel a connection with their hero. Indian mythology is maybe the best treasure of stories one would find around the globe. Stories from the holy scriptures, stories from the Jataka, Panchtantra, and then there is folklore from villages. Such astonishing stories with vibrant backgrounds and embraced traditions, showcase a mirror image of Bharat and its culture. Storytelling is maybe the oldest tradition in India. It can be traced back to the Vedic period. Stories from the Vedas, Puranas, and the Upanishads were sung by groups traveling from village to village. These groups usually carried a musical instrument such as Veena, Sitar, or Ektara, so that storytelling can be done in a melodic musical form. This impression of storytelling can still be seen in the idol of Ma Saraswati, which carries a Veena. Stories have been an integral tradition of Indian culture since its inception. Stories have provided a moral way for the people, a way to create an ideal society. Values like harmony, honesty, gratitude, respect, and integrity are promoted in Indian mythical lore. This book contains many stories from Indian mythology that are truly wonderful. This book breaks the boundaries of Puranas, Vedas, Upanishads, Prants, Kshetras, Sanskritis, or even Prakritis, to present the most marvelous stories of Indian folklore to the Indian and worldwide readers of the 21st Century. I hope my book can find a place in your heart, and become a bridge between the past and the present.

- Arin Kumar Shukla

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PREFACE

• ix •

CHAPTER ONE

Matsya : The first avatar

This is the story of the first avatar of Vishnu, the Matsya avatar. The name of the deity is derived from the term Matsya in Sanskrit. The root word of Matsya is mad, which means to rejoice or be glad. Thus Matsya means the joyous one. The earliest mention of the Matsya avatar is found in Sukla Yajurveda.

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GREATEST STORIES FROM HINDU MYTHOLOGY

This story is evolved around two central characters Matsya and Manu. Manu is a mighty king and the first human on the earth. The lineage of Manu goes on to cherish great kings like Aja, Raghu, Dilip, Puraruva, Dashrath, and Rama. One day, Manu was taking bath and offering his daily prayers to Surya in a river. As he took water in between his palms, a small fish was caught in his hand. That fish was feared by Matsya Nyay or the law of the jungle. In a jungle, the bigger and the powerful consume the smaller and the weaker. The fish feared being eaten by the larger fish. He urged Manu to protect himself. In return for shelter, he was assured of protection on the day of Pralaya. Manu agreed to protect the fish, thus enacting an act of kindness, thus proclaiming the nature of a Manushya or human. Manu placed the fish in a pot, but the fish grew. Then Manu dug a ditch of water and put the fish in there. But the fish still grew bigger than the ditch. Manu decided to place the fish in a pond. Still, the pond was outgrown by the fish. Then the fish was placed in a river. But soon the river too became insufficient for the fish. Finally, the fish was moved to the ocean. The fish told Manu the date for the Pralaya and asked him to build a ship by that day that can be tied with its horn. When the storms ended and the water subsided, Matsya Vishnu left Manu and the others in the Himalayas, where they could begin human civilization again.

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CHAPTER TWO

Story of Pole Star

Dhruva was King Uttanpada’s son. Suniti and Suruchi were King Uttanpada’s wives. Suniti came from a middle-class household. She was a tribal chief’s daughter. Suruchi was from a wealthy family. Dhruva was the king’s oldest son from Suniti. From his younger wife, the monarch had a younger child named Uttam. Suruchi was a self-centered woman who despised her stepson. Her ambition was for her son Uttam to succeed her as king. Because

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GREATEST STORIES FROM HINDU MYTHOLOGY

of her beauty and might, King Uttanpada preferred the younger queen. The King was swayed by her and ordered Suruchi and Dhruva to leave the palace. The mother and son duo moved into the woods. Dhruva was a devout believer in God. Dhruva went to the palace one day to see his father. Uttam was seated in his father’s lap, he noticed. Dhruva saw this and asked his father to let him sit on his lap. Suruchi, his stepmother, came up as soon as he requested this and asked the King not to heed his request. Dhruva departed the palace, heartbroken and enraged. When he returned, he inquired of his mother as to why he was not welcome in the palace of his father’s life. Suniti had no answers to his questions. "You stated god is good to people who pray and believe in him," Dhruva replied. Now I'm going to look for God." Dhruva decided to visit the jungle and pray to the gods. He encountered Narad Muni one fine day, who was concerned that a young boy like him would confront numerous problems in the forest. Dhruva, however, was adamant about not leaving the forest until he found Lord Vishnu. Narad Muni, impressed by his perseverance, taught him two crucial lessons: how to survive in the forest and the mantra "Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya." Lord Vishnu arrived in front of Dhruva, pleased with his devotion. Dhruva was given a spot on his father’s lap. After his death, he was also given a permanent home in the sky. Dhruva’s solitude in the jungle was discovered by King Uttanpada. He felt bad about what he’d done. Narad Muni told him about the difficulties Dhruva had in worshipping Lord Vishnu. Dhruva was summoned from the forest by the King’s men. On the day Dhruva returned to the palace, King Uttanpada embraced his son and clasped him in his arms. He declared that a youngster who could handle a variety of problems at such a young age would be an excellent candidate for the position of king. King Uttanpada decided to live in the wilderness after repenting of his prior sins. Dhruva ascended to the throne and ruled for a long time. He continued to preach the ideas of peace, equality, and justice across his realm. After his death, he was elevated to the status of Dhruv

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ARIN KUMAR SHUKLA

Tara, a permanent star in the sky. Unlike the other stars, the Dhruv Tara remains stationary in the sky throughout the year.

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