Stories

Hanuman's Journey to Lanka

Hanuman crosses the sea to find Sita, and all of Lanka learns who he is. Each part follows the last.

1. Part 1: The Ring in the Ashoka Grove
   Hanuman searches all of Lanka by moonlight and finds Sita, with Rama's ring and a message of hope. Ages 6–9.
2. Part 2: The Messenger in the Court
   Hanuman lets himself be caught so he can stand before Ravana and give Rama's message, with no fear at all. Ages 6–9.
3. Part 3: The Burning of Lanka
   Ravana sets Hanuman's tail on fire, Sita prays for him, and the fire turns cool. Ages 6–9.
4. Part 4: Home with the Jewel
   Hanuman flies home across the sea, the monkeys feast on honey, and Rama holds Sita's jewel at last. Ages 6–9.

Rama Crosses to Lanka

Rama's army reaches the sea, and before any battle Rama does what is right: he shelters the one who comes to him, and waits for a way across.

1. Part 1: Vibhishana Seeks Refuge
   Ravana's own brother tells him to give Sita back, crosses the sea, and asks Rama for shelter. Rama makes a promise. Ages 6–9.
2. Part 2: The Bridge of Stones
   Rama waits three nights on the shore for the Ocean to answer. When it does, Nala leads the monkeys in building a bridge all the way across the sea. Ages 6–9.
3. Part 3: Angada's Message
   Rama sends a monkey warrior, Angada, into Lanka with a message for Ravana. Angada says it word for word, and leaps home. Ages 6–9.

Bharata and the Sandals

Bharata is offered his brother’s crown and refuses it, then goes to bring Rama home. Each part follows the last.

1. Part 1: The Prince Who Would Not Be King
   Bharata comes home to terrible news and is offered his brother’s crown. He says no, and sets out to bring Rama back. Ages 6–9.
2. Part 2: Bharata Meets Rama
   Bharata finds Rama in the forest and begs him to come home. Rama says no, because he will keep his father’s word. Ages 6–9.
3. Part 3: The Sandals on the Throne
   Rama gives Bharata his sandals, and Bharata carries them home and sets them on the throne. He rules for his brother and waits. Ages 6–9.

The Goddess and the Gods

The gods lose their heaven, and a Goddess is born from their joined light. Each part follows the last.

1. Part 1: The Light That Came from the Gods
   The gods lose heaven and go to Vishnu and Shiva for help. Their light joins into one, and a Goddess appears and is welcomed with gifts. Ages 6–9.
2. Part 2: The Goddess Rides to Battle
   The asuras come out against the Goddess. She stays calm, her helpers appear, and the asura chief’s generals face her. Ages 6–9.
3. Part 3: The Gods Sing
   Mahishasura comes himself and meets the Goddess in many shapes. Then the gods sing their thanks to her. Ages 6–9.

Ambarisha Keeps Ekadashi

A king keeps his Ekadashi fast and still puts his guest first, even when the guest grows angry. Each part follows the last.

1. Part 1: The King Who Kept the Fast
   King Ambarisha must end his Ekadashi fast in time, but his guest, a great sage, is still at the river. A sip of water, an angry sage, and the Lord’s disc. Ages 6–9.
2. Part 2: The Sage Who Ran
   The Lord’s disc chases the angry sage Durvasa through every world. Who can bring him peace? Only the king he wronged. Ages 6–9.

Friends in Kishkindha

Rama and Sugriva become friends and make each other a promise, and the vanaras set out to find Sita. Each part follows the last.

1. Part 1: Hanuman Meets Rama
   Two strangers with bows walk towards Sugriva’s mountain. Hanuman goes down to meet them in disguise, and a fire of friendship is lit. Ages 6–9.
2. Part 2: The Garland of Flowers
   Sugriva’s brother Vali is the strongest of the vanaras. When the two brothers fight, Rama cannot tell them apart, so Lakshmana hangs a garland of flowers on Sugriva, and Rama keeps his promise. Ages 6–9.
3. Part 3: The Promise Remembered
   The rains end, but Sugriva forgets his promise. Hanuman reminds him, Tara calms the angry Lakshmana, and the vanaras set out to find Sita, with Rama’s ring in Hanuman’s care. Ages 6–9.
4. Part 4: The Bird Who Saw Lanka
   The south group searches the Vindhya mountains, gets lost in a dark cave and runs out of time. Then a huge old eagle with burnt wings tells them where Sita is. Ages 6–9.

Rama and the Sage

Young Rama and Lakshmana leave home with the sage Vishvamitra. Each part follows the last.

1. Part 1: The Sage at the Palace Door
   A great sage asks King Dasharatha to lend him young Rama. The king is afraid, but he keeps his word, and Rama guards the sage’s holy fire for six days and nights. Ages 6–9.
2. Part 2: The River from the Sky
   By the river Ganga, the sage tells Rama how King Bhagiratha’s long, patient tapas brought the Ganga down from heaven to free his ancestors. Ages 6–9.
3. Part 3: The Bow No One Could Lift
   In the city of Mithila, King Janaka keeps a great bow that no king can even move. Young Rama lifts it, and a promised wedding comes true. Ages 6–9.

• Rama Comes Home
  Rama flies home after fourteen years, and Bharata, who has waited all that time, gives the kingdom back. Ages 6–9.
• Krishna Holds Up the Hill
  When a great storm sweeps over Vraja, little Krishna lifts the hill Govardhan with one hand, and everyone shelters beneath it. Ages 6–9.
• Nachiketa and Yama
  A boy is sent to Death, waits in Yama’s house, and turns down wealth, sons and a long life to hear one answer. Ages 6–9.
• Krishna and the Stolen Earrings
  Naraka has taken Aditi’s earrings and held many princesses. Krishna rides Garuda to his fortress, sets the princesses free, and brings the earrings home. Ages 6–9.
• Lakshmi Rises from the Ocean
  When the three worlds lose their good fortune, the devas and the asuras churn the Ocean of Milk together, and Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune, rises and chooses Vishnu. Ages 6–9.
• Rahu and the Amrita
  The gods and the asuras churn the Ocean for amrita, the drink that lets you live forever. When the gods drink at last, one drinker in disguise is not a god. Ages 6–9.
• The Sun Grows Gentle
  The Sun is so bright that his wife Sanjna must shut her eyes. A shadow takes her place, a secret comes out, and the Sun makes his light gentle. Ages 6–9.
• The Leap Across the Ocean
  No one can cross the sea to Lanka, until old Jambavan tells quiet Hanuman who he is, and Hanuman leaps all the way across. Ages 6–9.
• Dhruva Becomes the Pole Star
  A little prince is not allowed on his father’s lap. He goes to the forest to pray, and wins the one seat in the sky that never moves. Ages 6–9.
• Svetaketu and the Salt
  A proud young scholar comes home sure he knows it all. His father teaches him with clay, a seed and salt in water: “You are that.” Ages 6–9.
• Shiva and the Three Moving Cities
  Three asura brothers win three moving cities that only one god with one arrow can bring down. The whole world becomes Shiva’s chariot, Brahma drives it, and Shiva waits for the three cities to become one. Ages 6–9.
• Twenty-Seven Sisters in the Sky
  Daksha gives his twenty-seven daughters, the nakshatras, to Soma, the Moon. Soma stays only with Rohini, a curse makes him grow thin, and a bath at Prabhasa brings his cool light back. Ages 6–9.