Love & Relationships

Madhavendra Puri secretly desired to taste the famous sweet rice offered to Gopinatha but felt it was an offense. That night, Lord Gopinatha stole a pot of sweet rice and hid it under His cloth for the devotee. The Deity became known as Khirachora Gopinatha.

The Maruts are fierce storm gods, sons of Rudra and Prishni, who accompany Indra in his cosmic battles. Though they once quarreled with Indra over the sacrifice offered by sage Agastya, they remained his powerful companions in fighting demons.

Goddess Parvati performed intense penance to marry Lord Shiva. When her father arranged her marriage to Lord Vishnu, her friend abducted her to a forest. There, Parvati made a Shivalinga from clay and worshipped it. Lord Shiva appeared and granted her wish.

A merchants son was predicted to die from snakebite in his sixteenth year. After marriage, his wife observes Mangala Gauri fast as advised by her mother. The wife receives the blessing of eternal wifehood and her husbands destined death is averted.

Legend has it that Goddess Parvati herself observed the 16 Monday fast to attain Lord Shiva as her husband. Following her example, devotees, especially unmarried women seeking an ideal partner, observe this Vrat for 16 consecutive Mondays.

A woman named Sheela suffering in her marriage learns about the Vaibhav Lakshmi vrat from an old lady who was actually Goddess Lakshmi herself. After observing the Friday fast with devotion, her husbands nature transforms completely and their household prospers.

Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Narad Muni visited a forest where women came to offer food. Low-class women came first with simple offerings and received Parvatis blessings for marital bliss. This established that sincere early devotion is most precious to the Goddess.

Bhai Mardana, born into a Muslim family, was Guru Nanaks lifelong companion for 54 years. He accompanied the Guru on all his travels, playing the rabab while the Guru sang divine hymns. His poetry appears in the Guru Granth Sahib.

The only female Alvar saint, Andal (Kothai) dedicated herself completely to Lord Vishnu, composing the Thiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi. Legend says she merged with the deity at Srirangam.

Bharata refused the throne obtained through his mothers scheme. He placed Ramas sandals on the throne and ruled as regent for 14 years.

In ancient Ujjayini, impoverished Brahmin Charudatta falls for wealthy courtesan Vasantasena. When the vulgar courtier Samsthānaka tries to murder her, political revolution saves them. Love transcends class in this Sanskrit drama.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the autumn full moon, Krishna plays his flute and calls the gopis to the forest. He multiplies himself so each woman can dance with him personally. When pride enters their hearts, he vanishes, teaching them that divine love requires complete humility. The dance resumes when they learn to love without possessing.

Princess Rukmini, in love with Krishna but betrothed against her will to Shishupala, sends a secret letter begging Krishna to abduct her. Krishna rides through the night, takes her from outside a temple, defeats all pursuers, and marries her that same day in Dwaraka.