Vishnu

The celestial sage Narada travels between worlds spreading devotion and sometimes mischief. His interventions often lead to important divine events and teach lessons about ego, devotion, and cosmic order.

The celestial dancer Urvashi falls in love with mortal King Pururavas after he rescues her from demons. Banished from heaven by a curse, she lives with him under a condition that leads to their eventual separation.

Guru Arjan Dev founded Indias first dedicated home for lepers near the sacred pool of Tarn Taran Sahib. He personally cared for the lepers by providing them medicines, clothing, food, and encouraging them to bathe in the healing waters.

Sushila escaped her cruel stepmother by marrying Kaundinya. She learned the Anant Vrat from women at the river and prospered. When Kaundinya mocked and discarded the sacred thread, poverty returned. After fourteen years of fasting, Lord Vishnu restored their happiness.

The Golden Temple in Amritsar serves over 100,000 free meals every day to people of all religions, castes, and backgrounds. Run by 450 staff and hundreds of volunteers, this is the worlds largest free kitchen where everyone sits as equals to eat.

The only female Alvar saint, Andal (Kothai) dedicated herself completely to Lord Vishnu, composing the Thiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi. Legend says she merged with the deity at Srirangam.

Testing the gods, Sage Bhrigu kicked sleeping Vishnus chest where Lakshmi dwelt. Vishnu apologized, proving his humility, but Lakshmi was furious her sacred dwelling was violated. She left Vaikuntha, later reborn as Padmavati at Tirupati.

Demon Bhasmasura gains boon to turn anyone to ash by touching their head. He tries to use it on Shiva. Vishnu as Mohini tricks him into touching his own head. Evil destroys itself.

Princess Vasumati, sold as slave Chandanbala, was starved by her jealous mistress. Mahavira had vowed to only accept food from someone meeting impossible conditions. After five months, he came to Chandanbala - when she wept with heartbreak at his turning away, her tears completed the conditions. Upon accepting her offering, divine powers restored her hair and royal attire.

At the end of Kali Yuga when dharma has almost vanished, Vishnu will be born as Kalki in Shambhala village. Trained by Parashurama and blessed by Shiva with a divine white horse Devadatta and celestial sword, Kalki will ride across earth slaying millions of corrupted rulers, destroying the demon Kali, before inaugurating the new Satya Yuga.

When the Muslim magistrate Chand Kazi banned kirtan and broke mridanga drums, Chaitanya organized the first nonviolent civil disobedience movement with 100,000 devotees carrying torches. After philosophical discussion, the Kazi became a devotee and promised his dynasty would never obstruct sankirtana.

A deer and a crow share a strong friendship until a cunning jackal manipulates them apart through deceit. The tale highlights the dangers of allowing outsiders to interfere in trusted relationships.

When Haridas Thakur was about to leave his body, all the devotees performed kirtan around him. He fixed his eyes on Chaitanyas face, clasped His feet to his heart, and departed while chanting Sri Krishna Chaitanya. The Lord personally carried his body and buried him in the sand.

The sacred idol at Guruvayur was originally worshipped by Mahavishnu in Vaikunta. During Dwapara Yuga, Krishna himself worshipped this four-armed Vishnu idol at Dwaraka. When Dwaraka was about to be submerged, disciple Uddhava rescued the idol and entrusted it to Brihaspati and Vayu, who installed it where Vishwakarma built the temple.

King Harishchandra surrenders his entire kingdom as dakshina to Vishwamitra, sells his wife and son, and works as a cremator. Despite unbearable suffering, he never deviates from truth, ultimately being restored by the gods moved by his unwavering dharma.

Obsessed with his wife, Tulsidas crossed a river on a corpse and climbed a snake to reach her. She chided: Direct half this devotion to God and attain liberation. He instantly transformed and composed Ramcharitmanas.

Guru Arjan Dev became the first Sikh Guru to be martyred. Arrested in Lahore, he was ordered to remove references from the Adi Granth and pay a fine. He refused. He was tortured by being made to sit on a burning hot plate while red hot sand was poured on his body. After five days, he entered the river Ravi and attained martyrdom on May 30, 1606.

King Mitrasaha (Kalmashapada) was cursed to become a Rakshasa for twelve years after inadvertently serving human flesh to his preceptor. When sprinkled with sacred Ganga water by a brahmana chanting Vishnus names, he regained human form and attained liberation, demonstrating the purifying power of the holy river.

Child devotee Prahlad refuses to stop worshipping Vishnu despite his demon-king father's persecution. His faith survives every torture, and Vishnu finally manifests as Narasimha to destroy Hiranyakashipu. Prahlad's devotion is so pure he asks forgiveness for his murderous father.

Five-year-old Dhruva, humiliated by his stepmother and ignored by his father, enters the forest to find Vishnu through meditation. His six-month tapas is so intense that Vishnu appears. Transformed by the vision, Dhruva asks only to always remember God—and becomes the Pole Star, eternally fixed.