Dharma & Duty

Vishnu's gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya were cursed by the Four Kumaras to be born as demons three times. As Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu, they were slain by Vishnu's Varaha and Narasimha avatars. The curse was actually a blessing - faster return to Vaikuntha.

Forest-raised Shakuntala marries King Dushyanta. A curse makes him forget her. She raises their son Bharata alone until the truth is revealed. Story of love, memory, and perseverance.

The only Kaurava brother who stood up against Draupadi disrobing, questioning the legality of the bet. Despite being on the losing side, he chose dharma over family loyalty.

Demon Tarakasura receives a boon that only Shiva's son can slay him. Six divine sparks from Shiva form six babies raised by the Krittikas. Parvati merges them into six-headed Kartikeya, who leads the gods' army and defeats Tarakasura, restoring cosmic order.

Garuda undertakes a dangerous quest to steal amrita from the gods to free his mother Vinata from slavery imposed by her sister Kadru. His devotion to his mother and courage earns him a place as Vishnu's vehicle (vahana).

Kacha becomes disciple of demon guru Shukracharya to learn the Sanjivani mantra. Devayani falls for him but he refuses her love to protect the sacred knowledge, choosing duty over desire.

When demon Bhandasura arises from Kama's ashes and terrorizes the universe, Goddess Lalita Tripurasundari emerges from a great sacrifice. After a four-day cosmic battle, she destroys his army and slays him with the Kameshwarastra weapon.

Bhishma enchanted five arrows to kill the five Pandavas. Duryodhana kept them safe. Krishna reminded Arjuna to collect a debt - Duryodhana once owed Arjuna a boon and had to surrender the arrows to honor his Kshatriya word.

The demon Jalandhara, born from Shivas anger, becomes invincible because his wife Vrindas chastity protects him. Vishnu breaks her chastity in disguise, allowing Shiva to finally defeat the demon.

A young Brahmin needed divine witness for his marriage promise. Krishna himself came as Gopal to testify on his devotees behalf, leading to the famous Sakshi Gopal temple in Odisha.

Banasuras daughter Usha falls in love with Krishnas grandson Aniruddha through a dream. When Banasura imprisons Aniruddha, Krishna and Shiva battle each other as Shiva protects his devotee Banasura.

Born to Dhritarashtra and a maidservant, Yuyutsu was the only son of Dhritarashtra who fought for the Pandavas. He recognized dharma over blood loyalty and survived the war.

Vibhishanas daughter Trijata protected Sita in Lanka despite family opposition. She had prophetic visions of Ramas victory and comforted Sita through her captivity.

Guru Nanak stayed with poor carpenter Lalo rather than wealthy Malik Bhago. He squeezed Lalos bread producing milk (honest labor) and Bhagos rich food producing blood (exploitation). Honest work is sacred.

Ramas sister Shanta was given in adoption to bring prosperity to another kingdom. Her husband Rishyashringa performed the yajna that led to Ramas birth. Family sacrifice for greater good.

Emperor Akbar requested a song praising his glory. Surdas sang only of his love for Krishna. The court was stunned. Devotion to God surpasses devotion to earthly power.

When Ram Rai represented the Guru at Aurangzebs court, he altered a verse to please the Emperor - changing Musalman to Beiman. When Guru Har Rai learned of this distortion of scripture, he permanently disowned Ram Rai, establishing that the Gurus words must never be altered.

After losing all four sons, his mother, and most Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh composed the Zafarnama - a 111-verse letter to Emperor Aurangzeb rebuking him for breaking his oath sworn on the Quran. The letter had such a profound effect that Aurangzeb saw the Guru as his only hope for redemption and withdrew all actions against him.

When Sikhs were being hunted with bounties on their heads, two Sikhs - Bota Singh and Garja Singh - defied the persecution by setting up a toll booth on a busy road. They announced themselves as Sikhs and collected tolls from travelers to prove Sikhs still lived. When a Mughal army came, these two Sikhs fought hundreds, dying gloriously rather than living in hiding.

Banda Singh Bahadur was appointed by Guru Gobind Singh to avenge the execution of the Gurus younger sons at Sirhind. On May 24, 1710, at the Battle of Chappar Chiri, his forces defeated Wazir Khan, who was killed by Bandas arrow. This established the first Sikh territorial rule.