Bhakti Yoga
318 stories
Tenali Rama and the Two Thieves
Tenali Rama Tales
Overhearing thieves hiding in his garden, Tenali loudly tells his wife to throw valuables in the well. Thieves spend all night drawing water, finding only stones. At dawn, Tenali thanks them for watering his plants.
Mahabalipuram - Curse of the Shore Temple
Local folklore; Tamil traditions; Seven Pagodas legend
Legend holds that Mahabalipuram once had seven grand pagodas, but Indra grew jealous of its earthly splendor rivaling heaven. He unleashed a devastating storm that submerged six of seven temples, leaving only the Shore Temple standing. The 2004 tsunami revealed underwater structures, lending archaeological credibility to these ancient tales.
The Six Goswamis Mission to Vrindavan
Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila, Chapters 19-25
Rupa and Sanatana Goswami, former ministers to the Muslim sultan, met Chaitanya and received His mercy. The Lord instructed them to go to Vrindavan with a fourfold mission: uncover lost holy sites, install Deities, write books on devotional science, and teach devotional practices.
Construction of Akal Takht
Sikh Historical Traditions - Guru Hargobind
Guru Hargobind established the Akal Takht (Throne of the Timeless), building it with his own hands alongside Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha. He defied Mughal authority by raising the platform to 12 feet when imperial edicts prohibited anyone but the Emperor from sitting higher than 3 feet.
The Blissful Devotee Master Mahasaya
Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 9
Yogananda visits Master Mahasaya (Mahendranath Gupta), the recorder of The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, at his small school in Calcutta. This humble saint, whom Yogananda called the greatest man of humility I ever knew, became a major influence on his spiritual development.
Banasura and Aniruddha - The Battle for Love
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapters 62-63
Krishna's grandson Aniruddha is magically transported to princess Usha's chambers by her companion. When Usha's father Banasura discovers them, he imprisons Aniruddha. Krishna leads an army to rescue him, fighting and defeating Shiva himself who was protecting Banasura. After cutting off 996 of Banasura's thousand arms, Krishna spares him and the young lovers are properly married.
The Brahmanas Offering to Child Nimai
Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 14
A visiting brahmana tried to offer food to Lord Krishna in meditation, but child Nimai appeared and ate it three times. Even when locked in a room, Nimai miraculously appeared to accept the offering, revealing His divine identity.
Uttara - The Prince Who Fled and Found Arjuna
Mahabharata, Virata Parva (Sections XXXVIII-LXI)
Prince Uttara was sent to defend Viratas kingdom when Kauravas raided cattle, with disguised Arjuna as his charioteer. Upon seeing the vast Kaurava army, Uttara fled in terror, but Arjuna caught him and reversed their roles. Arjuna single-handedly defeated the Kauravas, while Uttara was later killed by Shalya on the first day of war.
Narasimha - The Impossible Avatar
Bhagavata Purana, Narasimha Purana
Lord Vishnu manifests as Narasimha to save Prahlad by slaying Hiranyakashipu in a form that honored every condition of the demon's boon while still destroying him.
Bakasura - The Crane Demon
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 11
The crane demon Bakasura swallows Krishna whole. Inside the demon's throat, Krishna becomes unbearably hot, forcing the demon to spit him out. When Bakasura attacks with his beak, Krishna catches it and tears the demon apart.
Aghasura - The Serpent of Death
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 12
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 heavenβsaved by contact with the Divine he tried to destroy.
Brahma Vimohana - When Brahma Stole the Calves
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapters 13-14
Creator god Brahma, doubting Krishna's divinity, steals all the cowherd boys and calves. Krishna responds by expanding himself into identical copies of each one. For a year, the village unknowingly loves Krishna in the form of their children. When Brahma returns and sees this, he realizes the depth of his error and surrenders.
Shakatasura - The Cart Demon
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 7
The demon Shakatasura possesses a heavy cart and tries to crush the infant Krishna. The baby kicks the cart with his tiny foot, destroying it completely and killing the demon. The villagers are amazed that a newborn survived such destruction unharmed.
The Death of Kansa - Krishna Fulfills the Prophecy
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapters 42-44
Krishna travels to Mathura for Kansa's wrestling tournament. He kills the mad elephant Kuvalayapida, defeats the champion wrestlers Chanura and Mushtika, and finally kills his uncle Kansa, fulfilling the prophecy that had haunted the tyrant since Krishna's birth. He frees his parents from prison and restores the rightful king.
Vatsasura - The Calf Demon
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 11
The demon Vatsasura disguises himself as a calf to infiltrate Krishna's herd. Krishna sees through the disguise, and when the demon attacks, Krishna grabs him by the hind legs and throws him into a tree, killing him instantly.
The Forest Fire - Krishna Swallows the Flames
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 17
When a forest fire surrounds Krishna and the cowherd boys with no escape, Krishna tells them to close their eyes. He then inhales the entire fire, swallowing the flames completely. When the boys open their eyes, the fire is gone as if it never existed.
Damodara Leela - Bound by Love
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapters 9-10
When Yashoda tries to tie mischievous Krishna to a mortar for stealing butter, no rope is long enough. Finally, seeing her love and determination, Krishna allows himself to be bound. He then drags the mortar between two trees, uprooting them and freeing the cursed sons of Kubera who were trapped inside.
Dhenukasura - The Donkey Demon of Talavana
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 15
The donkey demon Dhenukasura has claimed a palm forest filled with delicious fruit, killing anyone who enters. Krishna and Balarama enter anyway. Balarama kills Dhenukasura by swinging him into a tree, then the brothers destroy all the demon's companions, liberating the forest for Vrindavan's enjoyment.
Trinavarta - The Whirlwind Demon
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 7
The whirlwind demon Trinavarta abducts baby Krishna into the sky, intending to dash him to death. But Krishna becomes impossibly heavy, grabs the demon's throat, and falls with him to earth. The demon dies; Krishna sits laughing on his corpse, completely unharmed.
Kaliya Naag - The Serpent of the Yamuna
Bhagavata Purana - Book 10, Chapter 16
The serpent king Kaliya poisons a stretch of the Yamuna river. When Krishna dives in, Kaliya attacks but cannot harm him. Krishna dances on the serpent's hundred heads, subduing him. At the plea of Kaliya's wives, Krishna spares the serpent and sends him to the ocean, purifying the river.