Author: Anant Pai
Publisher: India Book House
Year: 2006
Language: Hindi
Pages: 128
ISBN/UPC (if available): N/A
Description
SHAKUNTALA VOL- 530
The story of Shakuntala originally appeared in the first book of the Mahabharata where the lineage of the chief characters is detailed. It was later adapted with minor changes into a play by Kalidasa, the great Sanskrit poet and dramatist.
Shakuntala was the daughter of sage Vishwamitra and Menaka, a celestial maiden. When Shakuntala was born she was abandoned by Menaka. Sage Kanva found her and made her his foster daughter. One day King Dushyanta hunting in the forest met and wed her and returned to his palace promising to send for her. Later when Shakuntala goes to his court he denies her. But in the end the truth of her claims is proved and the couple are united forever. And it is claimed that it was their son, Bharat, a direct ancestor of the Pandava and Kaurava princes, who gave our country its name-BHARAT.
TALES OF VISHNU VOL- 512
Vishnu, the Preserver, is the second of the Hindu triad. Whenever evil is on the ascendant, Vishnu descends on earth to uphold righteousness and to destroy evil.
The tales of these descents or avatars told in various puranas have contributed in no small measure to make Vishnu the most popular of Hindu deities. His worshippers are called Vaishnavas. Of the eighteen major puranas six are known as the Vaishnava Puranas as they eulogise Vishnu and depict him as the Supreme Self.
Vishnu is more a love-inspiring than a fear-inspiring deity. The Bhagavata Purana, from which these tales are adapted, abounds in narratives of the benevolent acts of Vishnu. Although he is kind and sympathetic, he is never taken in by the apparent devotion of evil men. Even when they succeed in wresting favours from other gods, Vishnu manoeuvres to bring about their destruction without falsifying the boons given to them by the gods.
HARISCHANDRA VOL- 577
India is a land of countless legends and stories. A few of them have survived the onslaught of time and remained alive over the centuries. One such story is that of Harischandra, the king whose honesty was unmatched.
The story as it has come down to us has many variations from the original narration in the Markandeya Purana. This is the story of a king, who when pitted against forces immensely more powerful than himself faces them with an unflinching faith in integrity.
NAL AND DAMAYANTI VOL 507