Sanatan Dharma

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.

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.

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.

After Chandraguptas first direct attack failed, a village woman scolded her son for eating bread from the center instead of cooling edges first. She said Chandragupta was equally foolish. Chanakya learned to conquer smaller kingdoms first before the capital.

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.

Birbal gives servants equal-length sticks claiming they grow longer if held by a thief. The real thief cuts his shorter fearing exposure. The sticks were ordinary - the guilty conscience betrayed him. Truth always prevails.

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.

During a famine, sage Ushasti begs for leftover beans from an elephant keeper. He accepts food (emergency ethics) but refuses leftover water since it wasn't necessary for survival. Later, he demonstrates profound knowledge of Prana at a king's sacrifice - true wisdom transcends circumstances.

Prajapati, the Lord of Creatures, emerged self-created from the primordial state through tapas (austerity). He then created the universe, the gods, demons, and all beings through his creative heat and desire. He gave himself up in sacrifice, creating the sacrificial ritual.

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.

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 first three Agnis (fire gods) chosen by the gods as Hotr priests died in service. The fourth Agni hid in the waters from fear, but was discovered by fish (who he later cursed). The gods brought him forth, and he became the eternal sacrificial fire.

Sage Jaimini approaches Markandeya with questions about the Mahabharata. Markandeya directs him to four wise birds in the Vindhya mountains - sons of Drona cursed to bird form. The birds answer four profound questions: Why was Vishnu born as a mortal? Why did Draupadi marry five husbands? Why did Balarama perform penance? Why were Draupadis sons killed?

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.

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.

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, 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.