Vishnu

King Harishchandra's commitment to truth is tested when sage Vishwamitra takes everything he has. He sells his wife, son, and himself into servitude. At the lowest point—refusing to waive cremation fees for his own dead son—the gods reveal it was a test. Truth held through fire purifies.

At heaven's gates, Yudhishthira refuses to abandon a stray dog that followed him faithfully. When Indra demands he leave the 'unclean' animal, Yudhishthira chooses the dog over paradise. The dog reveals itself as Dharma—the final test was simple: would he betray helpless trust for personal gain?

When Indra comes disguised to take Karna's invincible armor—knowing it will make Karna vulnerable to death—Karna gives it anyway, cutting it from his own body. His vow to never refuse a supplicant matters more than his life. Dharma is not transactional; honor transcends survival.

Harishchandra honors a promise made in a dream, losing everything. Even when demanding cremation fees for his own dead son from his own wife, he refuses to break his word to his master. Satya means truth is not situational—it either is or is not, regardless of circumstances.

When Krishna and Arjuna needed dry wood during rain, Karna cut the legs of his own bed to provide it, saying things can be remade but sending someone empty-handed is the greatest grief.

When Sage Narada chastised Vishnu for reclining while Lakshmi massaged his feet, Vishnu went to Badrinath to perform austere meditation. During his penance in harsh cold, Lakshmi transformed into a Badri tree (jujube) to shelter him. Pleased by her devotion, Vishnu named the place Badrika Ashrama.

Lord Vishnu as Kurma (the Tortoise) provides the foundational support for Mount Mandara during the churning of the ocean, enabling gods and demons to obtain the nectar of immortality.

Young Prahlad teaches his demon tutors the nine forms of devotion (Navavidha Bhakti) that he learned from sage Narada while still in his mother's womb.

Lord Vishnu as Vamana, the dwarf brahmin, asks King Bali for three paces of land and expands to cover the universe, while Bali's surrender earns him the Lord's eternal presence.

Despite torture, child Prahlad remained devoted to Vishnu. His aunt Holika, immune to fire, placed him on her lap in flames. Through divine grace, Prahlad emerged unharmed while Holika burned - her boon only worked when entering fire alone.

Dhanvantari teaches the sages about sacred healing herbs - Tulsi, Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Brahmi, and others - revealing that the greatest medicine is proper living itself.

The prophecy of Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, who will appear at the end of Kali Yuga to destroy adharma and usher in a new golden age of truth and righteousness.

Vritra, an enormous serpent (Asura), lay coiled around a mountain imprisoning all the waters. Indra, empowered by Soma and wielding the thunderbolt (vajra) fashioned by Tvashtri, battles and slays the dragon, releasing the waters to flow to mankind.

The story behind Onam - how Kerala celebrates the annual return of King Bali, honoring a ruler so righteous that his 'defeat' became the occasion for eternal devotion.

Young Prahlad faces countless attempts on his life by his father Hiranyakashipu, surviving each through unwavering devotion, culminating in the famous Holika incident.

King Harishchandra promised his son Rohita to Varuna as a sacrifice, but Rohita fled. A substitute, Shunahshepa, was bought from his impoverished father. Bound to the sacrificial post, Shunahshepa prayed to the Vedic gods and was miraculously freed when Ushas loosened his bonds.

During the Rathayatra festival, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu organized seven kirtan parties. Miraculously, He appeared simultaneously in each party, dancing with each group. The devotees were astonished to see the Lord present everywhere at once.

Child Prahlad speaks truth about Vishnu despite his demon-father's threats, torture, and murder attempts. He speaks not for outcome but because truth must be spoken. When Vishnu emerges from the pillar, it confirms what Prahlad knew: truth cannot be suppressed by any power.

The story of Bali Chakravarti's righteousness - how a demon king ruled more justly than gods, and why his 'defeat' by Vamana was actually his elevation to eternal grace.