Stories for when you feel Feeling Hopeless

When Draupadi completely surrendered to Krishna during her disrobing, he miraculously protected her with an endless sari. Complete surrender brings complete protection.

When Akbar imprisoned Tulsidas demanding miracles, Tulsidas recited Hanuman Chalisa. A horde of monkeys sieged the palace until he was released. True bhakti manifests divine protection.

Bibi Rajni was married to a leper as punishment for crediting God rather than her father for her sustenance. While she gathered food, her husband observed crows emerging white from the pool after entering black. He bathed in the water and was healed. The ber tree became known as Dukh Bhanjani Beri (tree that relieves afflictions).

When ash-smeared Shiva arrived for his wedding with ghosts and serpents, Parvatis mother fainted. To calm her parents and harmonize the union, Parvati transformed into Chandraghanta, adorning a crescent moon bell on her forehead whose soothing resonance reassured everyone present.

During her tapasya, Parvatis body darkened from dust and elements. Shiva bathed her in Ganga waters, restoring her radiant beauty - white as conch shell. An alternate version says her dark skin separated to become Kaushiki while Parvati became luminous Mahagauri.

Krishna is born in Kansa's prison at midnight. Vasudeva carries the divine infant across the flooding Yamuna to Gokul, exchanges him with Yashoda's newborn daughter, and returns. When Kansa tries to kill the baby, she transforms into goddess Yogamaya and warns that his destroyer has already escaped.

Yogananda and his friend Jitendra travel to the holy city of Brindaban without any money to test their faith in divine providence. Despite moments of doubt and hunger, they are miraculously provided for at every turn.

During Rathayatra in Puri, Lord Jagannathas chariot refused to move despite being pulled by wrestlers and elephants. Chaitanya placed His head against the back of the chariot and pushed lightly, causing it to roll forward effortlessly while the ropes lay slack.

The sage Atri and his companions were trapped by the Dasyus in narrow straits and earth fissures filled with heat. The Ashvins, responding to his prayers, freed him from his confinement and restored him to safety.

When the young Bhujyu was abandoned at sea by his father or evil companions, the divine twin physicians Ashvins rescued him using flying ships with one hundred oars, three chariots, and six horses with one hundred feet, bringing him safely home.

Beautiful lyrical hymns personifying the Dawn as a radiant goddess who dispels darkness, brings light to the world, and awakens all creatures. She is described as ever young, driving away evil spirits and revealing the path of cosmic order.

Agni, the fire god, is the sacred messenger between humans and gods, carrying sacrificial offerings to heaven. The first hymn of the Rig Veda is dedicated to him as the priest of the sacrifice, invoker, and bestower of blessings.

Aghasura, brother of previously killed demons, transforms into an eight-mile python to swallow Krishna and all his friends. When they enter the demon's mouth, Krishna expands inside, suffocating the demon. As Aghasura dies, his soul is liberated and ascends to heaven—saved by contact with the Divine he tried to destroy.

Kubja, a hunchbacked perfume-maker for Kansa, offers her sandalwood paste to Krishna when he enters Mathura. He accepts her gift and straightens her bent spine with a touch, transforming her into a beautiful woman. Krishna later visits her home, honoring the devotion she showed when she had nothing but her offering.

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.

Murderer Angulimala, wearing a necklace of victims' fingers, tries to kill the Buddha but cannot catch him. The Buddha's calm presence transforms him into a monk. Despite being beaten by villagers, Angulimala becomes so gentle that his blessing heals a difficult childbirth. No one is beyond redemption.

Ahalya was cursed to become stone. Ramas touch liberated her, showing divine grace can redeem even the fallen.

Kansa's minister Akrura, secretly a Krishna devotee, is sent to bring Krishna and Balarama to Mathura for a deadly trap. Despite knowing the trap, he goes joyfully for the chance to meet Krishna. During the journey, he sees a divine vision of the brothers in the Yamuna. Krishna thanks him for bridging two worlds through his conflicted but faithful service.

Pandit Lal Chand questioned the young Gurus ability to understand the Bhagavad Gita. Guru Har Krishan called an illiterate water-carrier named Chhaju Ram who, with the Gurus grace, was able to expound the philosophy of the Gita perfectly. The humbled Pandit became a Sikh.

A contemplation on why Narasimha emerged from an ordinary pillar - because Prahlad's complete faith declared God's presence there, teaching that the Divine manifests wherever pure devotion perceives Him.