Bhakti Yoga

Drumasena was among the warriors who surrounded and killed Abhimanyu in the Chakravyuha when he was trapped without weapons. He crushed Abhimanyus skull with a mace, though Abhimanyu managed to kill him before dying. Dushasanas sons were later slain by the Upapandavas in revenge.

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.

At Hinglaj, Satis head fell, making it the most significant Shakti Peetha. When Parashurama pursued Sahasrarjunas descendants seeking vengeance, Hinglaj sheltered them. They transformed, abandoning warrior ways, and Parashurama spared them.

Guru Arjan Dev had the foundation laid by Muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir, symbolizing interfaith harmony. Unlike Hindu temples with single entrances, the Guru designed the temple at a lower level with four doors, symbolizing humility and accessibility to all regardless of caste, creed, or religion.

After Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought Shivas forgiveness for killing kinsmen. Shiva disguised himself as a bull and hid. When Bhima grabbed the bull, Shiva dove into earth, his body emerging in five parts at five locations (Panch Kedar): hump at Kedarnath, arms at Tunganath, navel at Madhyamaheshwar, face at Rudranath, and hair at Kalpeshwar.

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.

While young Nanak slept in a field, a venomous cobra spread its hood to shade him from the scorching sun. Rai Bular witnessed this and recognized Nanaks divine nature. Nature serves the enlightened.

After Sati's death, she is reborn as Parvati. She performs rigorous penance to win Shiva's love. Shiva tests her by appearing as a brahmin who criticizes himself, but Parvati defends him. Impressed, Shiva reveals his form and marries her in a grand cosmic ceremony.

When playmates complain Krishna ate mud, Yashoda demands he open his mouth. Inside she sees the entire cosmos: stars, planets, infinite universes. To preserve her maternal love, Krishna makes her forget this cosmic vision.

Born from sacrificial fire with fish-shaped eyes and three breasts, Meenakshi became an undefeated warrior who conquered all kings and even the gods. When she met Shiva, her third breast vanished, revealing her as Parvati reborn.

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.

Sada Kaur became one of the most powerful women in Punjab after her husband was killed. She allied with young Ranjit Singh, becoming his mentor and mother-in-law. She commanded troops in battle, negotiated with other chiefs, and helped forge the Sikh Empire. Her political and military acumen helped establish one of the most powerful kingdoms in India.

A lion terrorizes the forest until animals agree to send one victim daily. When a clever hares turn comes, he tells the lion of a rival lion in a well. The lion sees his reflection, attacks it, and drowns. Intelligence defeats brute strength.

Guru Nanak asked disciples to eat a corpse. While others fled in horror, Bhai Lehna asked Where shall I start? At the head or the toes? When he lifted the sheet, the corpse had transformed into sacred food (prashad). This demonstrated his complete surrender to the Gurus will.

When Brahmas vital yajna required his wifes presence and Saraswati arrived late, she found Brahma had married Gayatri to complete the ritual. Enraged, she cursed that Brahma would never be worshipped on earth - explaining why he has only two temples.

Karva, an extremely devoted wife, uses her sheer will and prayers to protect her husband from death by a crocodile. She binds Yama (God of death) with cotton yarn and threatens to curse him, compelling him to restore her husbands life.

The demon brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha conquer the three worlds. When they demand Goddess Ambika marry Shumbha, she vows to wed only one who defeats her in battle. The Goddess manifests various forms including Kali and the Matrikas, destroys demons Chanda, Munda, and Raktabija, and ultimately slays both brothers to restore divine order.

Yogananda meets Giri Bala, a Bengali woman saint who had not eaten or drunk anything since 1880 - over 56 years. Shamed by her mother-in-law for gluttony as a young bride, she received initiation into a kriya technique that freed her body from dependence on food.

A snake keeps eating a crows eggs. Unable to fight directly, the crow follows a foxs advice: steal the queens necklace and drop it into the snakes hole. When royal guards retrieve it, they kill the snake. Wit defeats strength.

A hungry jackal finds a drum making frightening sounds when wind hits it. Instead of fleeing, he investigates and discovers harmless noise plus food nearby. Only the brave who investigate the unknown find rewards.