Stories from Skanda Purana

lord muruga

The Skanda Purana is one of the eighteen Puranas, and it contains the details of Lord Skanda who is the son of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati. The text is considered as very holy by the Kaumara sects of people, who worship Lord Muruga as their chief god. This text describes his war with the […]

Role of Ganapathi in Marriage of Valli Devasena

How Ganapathi helped his brother marry Valli, a tribal princess? Here is the story of Sri Valli Devasena and the role of Ganesha in their marriage… Subramanya first married Devasena the daughter of Indra. Subrahmanya later during his travels in south fell in love with Valli who was a tribal princess. Though Valli loved Lord Subrahmanya she […]

Boons to Demons by Gods

We would have read in the ancient puranas, about the penance of Demons on Lord Brahma, and getting great boons after finishing their penance. But most of the demons have utilized their powers obtained through their boons only for destructive purposes. After getting great powers, through their powerful boons, they began to capture the divine […]

Goddess Lakshmi birth story (Lakshmi Janma Vrittantha)

Goddess Lakshmi birth story - Lakshmi Janma Vrittantha

What is Goddess Lakshmi birth story (Lakshmi Janma Vrittantha)? Here is the story behind the birth of Goddess Lakshmi (Mahalakshmi) as mentioned in the Padma Purana.. The story goes like this.. When Bhisma expressed his desire to know about the manifestation of goddess Lakshmi.. Pulastya replied – Once, after being defeated by the demons, the […]

Stories from Vishnu Purana

Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu

The Vishnu Purana is one of the Eighteen Mahapuranas, and it is considered as a holy text of Hinduism. It contains the details of Lord Vishnu, his avatars and about his famous devotees like Narada, Prahalada, Thumburu and Dhruva. According to Vishnu Purana, Lord Vishnu is considered as the main god and all the other […]

How Lord Vishnu protected Prahlada from Hiranyakashipu

How Lord Vishnu protected Prahlada from Hiranyakashipu? Lord Vishnu countered all the 18 attempts Hiranyakashipu had made to kill Prahlada and protected him from his father. This story is mentioned in Vishnu Purana’s 13th chapter. Hearing the news of Kritya’s failure to kill Prahlada, killing of teachers and their subsequent revival as effected by Prahlada, […]

Rukmanga Katha, Story of King Rukmanga (Ekadashi Vrat Story)

Rukmanga Katha: Story of King Rukmanga, Ekadashi Vrat Story. Ekadashi legend is also associated with King Rukmanga of Surya Vamsha. Story of Rukmanga, Ekadashi. As ‘Ekadashi’ or the eleventh day of any month is stated to be a special day for worship of Vishnu, observance of of ‘Upavas’ (Fasting), Puja and Vrata are stated to […]

Story of Sage Vishwamitra and Lord Indra

Many years ago, there was a terrible drought. There was no food to be had. The sage Vishvamitra had come to the banks of the river Goutami Ganga with his disciples. Vishvamitra’s wife, children and disciples were all hungry. The sage therefore sent his disciples out to look for food. They searched everywhere, but could […]

Hells in Vishnu Purana | Types of Naraka Lokas

Beneath the earth and water are situated the hells into which, the sinners are thrown. Raurav, Sukar, Rodha, Tal, Vishsan, Mahajwal, Taptakumbh, Lavan, Vilohit, Rudhiramabh, Vaitarni, Krimish, Krimibhojan, Asipatravana, Krishna, Lalabhaksha, Darun, Puyuvah, Pap, Vahnijwal, Adhahshira, Sandansh, Kalsutra, Tamas, Avichi, Swabhojan, Apratishthit and Aprachi are the main hells. These are all under the domain of […]

Importance of Monthly Shraddha Rituals

A Shradha carried out with devotion pleases the entire world including human beings, Brahma, Indra, Rudra, Ashwini Kumars, Surya, Agni, Vasugana, Marudgana, Vishwadeva, Pitragana, birds, animals, reptiles, sages and of course the dead ancestors. Moonless and eighth day in the darker phase of every lunar month are considered the best days for offering oblations to […]

Story of Krishna Avatar – Why & How Maha Vishnu incarnated as Sri Krishna

Sri Krishna Avatara is one of the Avatara of Lord Vishnu. The story of Krishna Avatara is also mentioned in Padma Purana. Once, goddess Parvati expressed her desire to know about all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Continuing with the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Lord Mahadeva told Parvati — Vasudev was the descendant of Yadu. His father was […]

Parashurama’s war with Ganesha – Story

Ganesha Fighting Parashurama

Story of Parashurama’s war with Ganesha, what is the story between Parashurama and Ganesha? How Ganesha lost his tusk and remained Ekadanta? After avenging his father’s death and the massacre of the erring Kshatriyas, Parashurama desired to personally pay homage to Bhagavan Shiva and reached Kailasa; he witnessed Nandeeswara, Maha Kaala, Ruru Bhairava, Rudraganas and Bhuta-Preta-Piscachas […]

Story of King Vidurath (Surya Vamsha King)

King Vidurath was a Surya Vamsha king. King Vidurath discovered a huge cavity of Earth in a forest in his Kingdom. A Muni in the forest informed that there was a demon of Patala called Kujrumbha made several such cavities in the forest through which the demon entered and killed the passers by including animals. The Muni however cautioned […]

3 Beautiful Stories from Shiva Purana

Puranas are ancient devotional texts, written by the great sage Veda Vyasa, and it covers the importance of various deities like Vinayaka, Muruga, Shiva and Parvati. In the eighteen Puranas, various devotional stories are also covered. It was written in Sanskrit, and later it was translated in many Indian languages, and Puranas help us to […]

Story of Kurma Avatar – Why Lord Vishnu incarnated as Turtle (Tortoise)

kurmavatara of Lord Vishnu Tortoise incarnation

Kurma Avatara is the second Avatara of Lord Vishnu. The story of Kurma Avatara is also mentioned in Padma Purana’s Uttara Khanda. Once, goddess Parvati expressed her desire to know about all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Lord Mahadeva replied — Durvasa was the son of Sage Atri. Once, he went to Indraloka to see Indra. At that […]

15 Wonderful Stories from Srimad Bhagavatham

15 Wonderful Stories from Srimad Bhagavatham… The Bhagavata Purana also popularly known as Srimad Krishna Bhagavatam, Bhagavata Navaratna and Bhagavatha Maharatna, is an ancient holy text, which was written by Sri Veda Vyasa, as per the instructions given by Deva Rishi Narada. The Bhagavata Purana, covers lot of areas including devotional stories, and also about […]

Puranas are stories of Fiction? How do I find God & Why should I believe?

Are Puranas stories of Fiction? Is God present? All these Puranas look like stories of fiction to me. How do I find God? How do I believe his presence, and why should I believe? To the above question posed by a devotee in his Satsang, Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji replied in his own words at Art of Living… […]

Sagara’s Vrittantha, Story of King Sagara

Trishanku’s son was Harishchandra and from Harishchandra was descended a king named Bahu. Bahu devoted too much time to pleasurable pursuits. The upshot of this was that the defence of the kingdom was not properly taken care of. Enemy kings seized this opportunity to attack Bahu’s kingdom. They drove Bahu out and Bahu went off […]

Ambarisha | Ikshvaku King, Son of Mandhata

Ambarisha was an Ikshvaku king and the son of Mandhata. He lived in Treta Yuga. He was a great devotee of Vishnu and through his great bhakti, lord Vishnu had offered him with Sudarshana Chakra. Once, Ambarisha performed the Ekadashi Vrata, and at the time of completion of Ekadashi, Sage Durvasa visited his place, and […]