Heart Touching Story

There once was a little boy who lived with his mother. They were very poor. The boy was very handsome and extremely smart. As he grew older, he became even more handsome and smarter. However, his mother always remained sad.

Once, the boy asked his mother, “Mother, why are you always sad?” Mother replied, “Son, a fortune teller once told me that whoever has teeth like yours will become very famous.” Then the boy asked, “Will you not like it if I become famous?”

“Oh my son! What kind of mother wouldn’t like it if her son became famous? I’m always sad because I keep thinking that you will forget me and leave me once you become famous.”

Upon hearing this, the boy started to cry. He stood there in front of his mother for a while and then ran out of the house. He picked up a rock from outside and smashed his front two teeth. He started to bleed from his mouth.

 
His mother ran out and was shocked to see what he had done. She asked, “Son! What did you do?” In reply, the boy held his mother’s hands and said, “Mother, if these teeth cause you pain and make you sad, I don’t want them. They are of no use to me. I don’t want to be famous with these teeth. I want to be famous by serving you, and through your blessings…”
My friends, this boy was none other than the "GREAT Aarya CHANAKYA".

The bag, cap and the whistle

The bag, cap and the whistle

Ram, Bhim and Arjun were brothers. They were very poor. So when they grew up they decided to go out in the world and earn money. They walked together for a long distance and saw a mountain of silver. Ram said “Let us take some silver from this mountain and go home.” Bhim and Arjun laughed at him and told him, We should not be satisfied with this. We have to go further.” Ram did not agree to this and took as much silver as he could and returned home

Bhim and Arjun had to cross several mountains and forests. At last they reached a mountain which was made of gold. Bhim told Arjun, “ This is a mountain of gold. Let us take as much as we want and return home. We would live as wealthy people,” But Arjun said that he was not satisfied. So Bhim returned home with lot of Gold.

Arjun walked further. The forests he had to cross were very big and the mountains very tall. But he crossed them. After crossing many mountains and forests, he came to a very dark forest. He climbed on a tree to see whether there was any city near by. On the tree he saw a table cloth. He took the table cloth and climbed down. Then he thought that if only I had good food, I would not feel tired. Then a table appeared before him. His tablecloth spread on that table. Very good and tasty food appeared on the table. He ate as much as he could and started walking further with his tablecloth. In the next city, he saw a poor black smith. When Arjun met him, the black smith offered him two Chapathis. But Arjun told him, “but I can give you good and tasty food.” Then he took his tablecloth and wished for food for two people. All sort of nice food appeared on the table. The black smith ate everything and told Arjun, “If you give this table cloth to me, I will give you a magical bag.” Arjun wanted to test the magical bag. The black smith took the magical bag and tapped on it once. Ten very strong men with horses, bows and arrows appeared and asked the blacksmith, “master, what can we do to you?” Black smith replied, “At present nothing “and all those men vanished. Arjun gave the tablecloth to that black smith and took the bag from him. As soon as he walked a mile he took the bag and tapped it once. Ten very strong men with horses, bows and arrows appeared and asked the blacksmith, “master, what can we do to you?” Then Arjun told them, “Go back to the black smith’s house and bring my tablecloth. “. All of them rode immediately to the black smith’s house and easily brought back Arjun’s tablecloth

Arjun walked further. This time he came to the house of a poor mason. The Mason offered him one cup of rice. But Arjun took out his tablecloth and ordered for very good food. The mason was very happy and told Arjun,” You give me this table cloth and I will give you a magical cap”. Arjun wanted to test the magical cap. As soon as he put the magical cap and turned it twice, a huge army with horses and elephants came and asked him, “master, what should we do?” Arjun told them at present nothing. He gave the tablecloth to the mason and put on the cap and walked further. As soon as he walked one mile he tapped the bag once Ten very strong men with horses, bows and arrows appeared and asked the blacksmith, “master, what can we do to you?” He told them, “Go to the house of the mason and bring back my table cloth.” They immediately went there and brought back his tablecloth.

Arjun walked further. This time he came to the house of a woodcutter. The woodcutter offered him some cooked maize. But Arjun took out his tablecloth and ordered food for two people. The woodcutter ate lot of food and asked Arjun, “why don’t you give this table cloth to me? I will give you a magical whistle.” Arjun wanted to test the whistle. When he started playing it, furious storm blew from there and started destroying everything. Then Arjun stopped playing the whistle and gave his tablecloth to the woodcutter. But after walking a mile, he again tapped the bag. Ten very strong men with horses, bows and arrows appeared and asked the blacksmith, “master, what can we do to you?” Arjun told them, “My table cloth is with the wood cutter. Go and get it.” The ten men went immediately to the house of the woodcutter and got his tablecloth.

Arjun felt satisfied now and returned back to his village. He was still wearing dirty cloths and looked very poor. His brothers laughed at him and drove him out of their house. Arjun got very angry and tapped his bag three times. Thirty horseman came and asked, “Master, what should we do/” Arjun replied, “Go and teach my brothers a lesson. They went and started breaking the houses of Ram and Bhim. They both complained to the king. Then the king sent his army. Arjun then wore his cap and turned his hat twice. A very huge army came and defeated the king’s army. The king himself came and asked for the pardon of Arjun and took him to his palace. In the palace Arjun showed him the trick of his bag and cap. That day, the king’s men stole Arjun’s bag and cap, and drove him out of the palace. Arjun was furious. He started blowing his whistle. A huge storm came and all houses and palaces started falling down. The king came out and requested Arjun to stop. He also gave back Arjun’s bag and cap. Arjun then married the king’s daughter and became a king of his own country.

Subban the astrologer

Subban the astrologer

In a small village near Thanjavur there lived a lazy man called Subban. He never used to do any work. His wife daily used to request him to earn some money. But Subban never cared. One-day Subban’s wife took a loan of ten rupees from her friend without the knowledge of Subban. But Subban was watching this from a distance. Then she wanted to hide it in such a place where he can never find it. So she put it in the bottom of their tin of rice. Subban was watching this through the window. Immediately Subban went to the temple, borrowed some sandal paste and Kumkum. He applied sandal paste on his forehead. In the center of the forehead he made a dot with the Kumkum. He returned home. His wife was surprised to see him like this. She asked him, “What happened to you? Why all this unusual marks on your forehead?” Subban told, Today I met a great saint. He has blessed me that I will get knowledge of astrology immediately. So I went to the temple. Now I am going to tell my first prediction. When I was not at home, you went to your friend’s house borrowed a ten rupee note. You have hidden it in our rice tin. “ Subban’s wife was terribly surprised at his foretelling. She went and told all her friends, that Subban has learnt astrology from a saint. One of her friends was not ready to believe it. She told Subban’s wife, “ I do not believe it. Subban is good for nothing; I am now going to make Dosa for our dinner. Let him come and tell me after our Dinner, how many dosas I made.” Subban’s wife came and told this to Subban. Subban immediately went out and hid himself behind the kitchen of her friend’s house. When oil is poured over dosa, it makes a sound “Soi”. For every dosa oil is poured twice. So Subban counted the number of Sois as 20. He then went to his home and pretended to be asleep. When his wife’s friend came, he told her, “ You do not believe that I know astrology. But I can tell you that you have made 10 dosais for your dinner.” The friend was surprised by the accuracy and told every body about it.

Next day the goat of Subban’s neighbour was lost. So he came to Subban and told him, “ Your wife tells me, that you are an astrologer. If you find my goat I will give you 50 rupees.” Subban told him, “I will surely find it. But I have to do Pooja all the night. You come tomorrow. Then after his neighbour went away, Subban started searching for the goat all over the village and the nearby forest. He could locate it in a nearby forest; He tied the goat to the Temple Banyan tree and went to his home. Subban’s neighbour came to his house next day. Subban told him, “I had great difficulty to find your goat. Now I know where it is. Go to the temple. Your goat would be tied by a reed rope on the south side of the temple Banyan tree,” The neighbour found his goat in exactly same place. So he happily paid Subban 50 rupees.

There was a very rich man in that village. His name was Sharma. One-day Sharma’s wife lost her diamond bangle in her house. They sent for Subban. The rich man told Subban, “My wife has lost a very costly gold bangle. But she has not gone out of the house. If you can find it out, I will give you one thousand rupees.” Subban told, “I suspect some spirits must have taken it. So all of you should go out of the house for a day. I will shut myself inside and do great Pooja. By tomorrow morning, I will get you your bangle.” The rich man agreed. After all of them left Subban searched the house thoroughly and he was able to locate the bangle, below the kitchen sink. He hid the bangle in the Pooja shelf and then slept. He opened the door only next day. He told the rich man, “I found out your bangle using astrology. It was extremely difficult. At last the spirit told me that the bangle is below Lord Ganesa in the Pooja shelf. “ The rich man and family found the bangle below the Ganesa. They gave Rs.1000 to Subban. Suddenly Subban became very famous and started earning lot of money.

When things were like this, the king of the nearby town lost all the ornaments of the queen. He sent two police people to bring Subban. As soon as he saw Subban, the king shouted, “They say you can find anything. We have lost all the ornaments of the queen. If you find out, we will give you million rupees. If not we will cut of your ear and nose.” Subban was terribly shocked. He knew that he couldn’t search for the ornaments. So to gain some time he told the king, “I need 41 days of Pooja to find out the ornaments. Only servants should come to the place of worship. They should bring daily lot of flowers.” Subban did not know any mantra for performing the Pooja. So he started chanting, “Mookaya Nama” and “ Kathaya Nama”, “Mooku” in Tamil language means nose and “Kathu “in Tamil means ears. Actually two servants called Mookamma and Kathappa stole the jewels. One day they came with flowers to the Pooja. When they heard what, Subban was chanting, they were terribly afraid of Subban. They thought that Subban knew their names and will tell the king. They fell at the feet of Subban and told him, Sir, we only stole the jewels. We will give everything back. We will also give you ten lakh rupees for not informing about this to the king. If he knows that we have stolen he will kill us.” Subban smiled and told them, “Ok, I knew that you have stolen it, the first day itself. Since you are giving me ten lakhs rupees, I will let you free. But you should go away from the palace.” They agreed, returned the jewels as also the money.

After that, one-day night while every one was sleeping, Subban took all the jewels and buried them below a big tamarind tree. When 41 days Pooja was over, he came out and told the king, “This was a big challenge. The jewels had been stolen by a devil that is sitting on the big tamarind tree in the palace. The devil has told, that he has buried it beneath the tamarind tree, He has told me to stop practicing astrology and I have agreed.” Subban then took the king and others to the tamarind tree. All of them were very much afraid of the devil and did not come near the tree. Subban dug out everything and gave the jewels back to the king. Since Subban cannot practice astrology from then on, the King gave him a big palace and 20 lakh rupees. Subban lived in the palace happily again doing nothing

Sharma the proud

Sharma the proud

Once upon a time there lived a man called Sharma near to the town of Patali puthra. Sharma was a very religious man and wanted to become a saint. He had a wife and three children. He decided to leave them in the town and do Tapas. All of them cried and told him that they would not get any food and starve, if he goes to do Tapas. For to do Tapas, you have to go to the forest, close your eyes and meditate on God. Sharma went to the nearby forest. Then daily he used to close his eyes and meditate upon God. One day when he was doing Tapas like this, a bird flew over his head. It was carrying a fish in its beak. It dropped this fish on the head of Sharma. Naturally Sharma opened his eyes and stared at the bird. To his surprise, the bird was burnt to ashes. This made Sharma think that he was a saint and had magical powers. So he left the forest and came to Patali puthra.

He dressed himself in ochre cloths and carried a staff with him. Since he became hungry, he stood before a big house and shouted, “Bhiksham Dehi” meaning, “Give me alms”. The lady of the house, who was busy, told him, that she was looking after her child. As soon as her job is over, she would give him alms. This made Sharma very angry. So as soon as the lady came out, he stared at her. She told Sharma, “Do you think, I will be burnt like that bird of the forest?” Sharma was terribly surprised that she knew that a bird was burnt by his stare. She further told him, “Your anger and stare will not do anything to me. Because I was late because I was doing my duty.” Sharma asked for her excuse and asked her, “I am sorry that I stared at you. Do you know any great saint in this town?” The lady replied, “Definitely. You go to the house of Shankar the wood cutter, He is a great saint.”

Sharma then went to the house of Shankar the woodcutter. He reached the house of the woodcutter, early in the morning. He shouted, “Bhiksham Dehi”. Shankar came out and told him, “ Please be seated. I am very busy. If you wait for sometime, I would give you whatever I can.”

Then Shankar went in side the house. His very old parents had just woken up. He slowly gave them break fast. Then he helped them take their bath. Later he cooked and gave them food. Then he made them take rest. He then went to the forest and cut some wood. He brought the wood and sold it in the town. With whatever money he got, he again purchased some food for himself and his parents. He then came home. Sharma was waiting all this time. Shankar then gave him some food. Then Sharma asked him, “Yesterday I met a lady and she told me that you are a great saint. But so far, You have not even called the name of God once. I thought sages were supposed to meditate on him.” Shankar replied, “A man becomes a sage by doing the duties allotted to him sincerely and not necessarily by doing Tapas. The duty of the lady whom, you met yesterday was to look after her baby. My duty is to look after my parents. We both are sages even though we do not do any Tapas. Your duty is to look after your wife and children.”

Sharma realized what Shankar was telling was correct and went to his home. He looked after his wife and children sincerely and became well known as a sage.

Ravi, Ramesh and Kittu

Ravi, Ramesh and Kittu

There was a poor but wise man called Arjun in a village. He had three sons-Ravi, Ramesh and Kittu. They had a cow. The cow used to give lot of milk. One day Arjun asked Ravi to take the cow for grazing, He told him, you should return only after the cow is satisfied and its belly is full. Ravi took the cow to a nearby forest and allowed it to graze. The cow ate plenty of grass. Ravi asked the cow in the evening. “Moo, moo, little cow, Is your belly full? The cow replied “Yes, yes my master, My belly is full. Only a foolish cow, Can eat anything more.” Ravi brought the cow home. After some time Arjun returned. He went to the cow and asked. “Moo, Moo, little, cow, Is your belly full?” The cow replied, “No, no, my master, Starving, I am, For I saw no grass, Where I grazed.” Then Arjun got very angry and drove out Ravi from the house. Next day it was the turn of Ramesh. . Arjun told Ramesh, you should return only after the cow is satisfied and its belly is full. Ramesh took the cow to a far away forest and allowed it to graze. The cow ate plenty of grass. Ramesh asked the cow in the evening. “Moo, moo, little cow, Is your belly full? The cow replied “Yes, yes my master, My belly is full. Only a foolish cow, Can eat anything more.” Ramesh brought the cow home. After some time Arjun returned. He went to the cow and asked. “Moo, Moo, little, cow, Is your belly full?” The cow replied, “No, no, my master, Starving, I am, For I saw no grass, Where I grazed.” Then Arjun got very angry and drove out Ramesh from the house. Next day it was the turn of Kittu. Kittu took the cow to a very healthy forest, and allowed it to graze till evening. The cow ate plenty of grass. Kittu asked the cow in the evening. “Moo, moo, little cow, Is your belly full? The cow replied “Yes, yes my master, My belly is full. Only a foolish cow, Can eat anything more.” Kittu brought the cow home. After some time Arjun returned. He went to the cow and asked. “Moo, Moo, little, cow, Is your belly full?” The cow replied, “No, no, my master, Starving, I am, For I saw no grass, Where I grazed.” Then Arjun got very angry and drove out Kittu also from the house. The next day it was the turn of Arjun himself as he was all alone. He took the cow to a far away forest full of green grass and allowed it to graze till nightfall. The cow ate plenty of grass. Arjun asked the cow in the evening. “Moo, moo, little cow, Is your belly full? The cow replied “Yes, yes my master, My belly is full. Only a foolish cow, Can eat anything more.” Arjun brought the cow home, when it was night. He went to the cow and asked. “Moo, Moo, little, cow, Is your belly full?” The cow replied, “No, no, my master, Starving, I am, For I saw no grass, Where I grazed.”

Then Arjun got very angry and drove out the cow also from the house. Arjun was all alone and became very poor.

Ravi who was driven out reached a small village. He went to a carpenter and asked him for a job. The carpenter readily agreed and taught him how to make tables chairs doors and windows. Ravi worked very hard. After one year, Ravi approached his master and told, “ Sir, My father Arjun is in my village. I feel like visiting him, Can I go?” The carpenter who was very much pleased with Arjun gave him a magical dining table and told him, “Since you are a very good boy, I am giving this table to you. Set up this table and say, “Table, table, we are all hungry, bring us lot of food.” Then the table will give you lot of food. Ravi became very happy and started walking to his village. Since his village was very far off, he stayed in a hotel for a night. The hotel owner asked him, whether he wanted any food. But Ravi told him, that, “Sir, I have a magical table, which will give food. I also will give you food.” Then he spread the table and told, “Table, table, we are all hungry, bring us lot of food.” Lot of food came and all the people in the hotel ate the food. At night Ravi slept well. The hotel owner made a similar table urgently and that night while Ravi was sleeping, he took away the magical table and replaced it with the new table. Ravi was not aware of this and he went home. Arjun who was starving asked him, “Ravi, have you earned some money. I am feeling very hungry,” Ravi told his father, “Papa I have brought a magical table. Then he spread the table and told, “Table, table, we are all hungry, bring us lot of food.” Nothing happened and no food came. Ravi was terribly disappointed and went back to work

Ramesh who was driven away by his father reached another village. Here he approached a washer man and asked him for work. The washer man was very happy and taught him all the washing work. Ramesh who was a very good boy learnt the work very well. After one year he approached his master and told, “Master, my father Arjun is in my village. I would like to go and see him.” The master, who liked Ramesh very much, gave him a donkey as a present. And told him, “Whenever this donkey laughs lot of gold coins will fall. “ At that time the donkey laughed. Lot of gold coins fell. Ramesh was very happy and started towards his village. He also stayed in the same hotel where Ravi stayed. The master of the hotel asked him, whether he wants any food. Ramesh asked him to wait and tickled the donkey. It laughed. Lot of gold coins fell. Ramesh gave few gold coins to the master of the hotel and took food. That night when Ramesh was sleeping, the master of the hotel brought another similar looking donkey and took away the golden donkey. Ramesh was not aware of this and so he went home with the donkey. Arjun asked Ramesh, “Ramesh, have you brought any money?” Ramesh smilingly went near the donkey and tickled it. Nothing happened. Then he told the whole story to his father Arjun. Arjun who was intelligent understood that the master of the hotel has stolen both the magical table and the golden donkey, He asked Ramesh to go back to work but asked him to go and meet Kittu and tell him about the magical table and the golden donkey.

Kittu had also reached another village and there he had met a policeman and asked him for work. The policeman appointed Kittu as his assistant. Kittu worked very hard and satisfied the policeman. After one year, Ramesh came to his village and told him all about him and their elder brother Ramesh. Kittu told the story to his master and told him, Sir, I want to go and meet my poor father and give him some money, because he is very poor.” The policeman gave Kittu some money and also a gunny bag and told him, “If any body else except you opens this gunny bag, a big stick will come out of it and start beating the man who opened it. Only you can command the stick to stop the beating .You also go and stay in the same hotel where your brothers stayed.” Kittu went to the same hotel. When the master of the hotel asked whether he wanted food for night, Kittu gave him some money and took the food. The master of the hotel asked him, “What is in the gunny bag?” Kittu told him, “ I cannot tell you that but it is a magical gunny bag.” That night when Kittu was sleeping, the master of the hotel brought another similar looking bag and replaced it. Then he took the magical bag to his room and opened it. A very big and stick, came out of the bag and started beating the Master of the hotel. He started running here and there. But the stick chased him and beat him. Shouting and crying he went to Kittu and requested him to stop the stick. Kittu told him, “You are a thief. You have stolen the magical table and golden donkey of my elder brothers. Return them.” The master of the hotel ran inside and brought both the magical table and golden donkey. But the stick was still beating him. Then he requested Kittu to pardon him and ask the stick not to beat him. Kittu told him, “Because of you both my father and brothers have suffered. Give me one big bag of gold coins to take home.” The master of the hotel readily agreed and gave a big bag of gold coins to him. Kittu went home. Sent word for his brothers. They all became very rich and lived very happily

Ramesh who wanted to learn shivering

Ramesh who wanted to learn shivering

There was a small village in Kerala called Branthan (mad people) Kavu. Here lived a cultivator called Shiva. He had two sons, called Rama and Ramesh. Rama was a very good boy and learnt how to till the land. He always learnt new things. All people said Rama was a very good boy. But Ramesh was more handsome than he was. He never learnt how to cultivate. He used to spend days together without doing anything. Shiva used to chide him daily. “You should learn cultivation. You should learn new things like Rama.” But Ramesh never bothered.

In the Branthan Kavu, one day there was torrential rain accompanied with thunder and lightning. Everybody was shivering with fear. But Ramesh was not bothered. He was singing and playing. Shiva asked him, “Are you not afraid? Don’t you shiver?” Ramesh just laughed and told, “ What is fear, what is shivering? I want to learn that. Tomorrow I am going to learn shivering.” All villagers laughed at Ramesh. One of them danced before him with a tiger’s mask. Another pushed Ramesh in to the well. Another shouted at him, when he was not expecting. But Ramesh did not bother. He only told, “Will some body teach me how to shiver?”

Shiva got wild and told Ramesh, “There is nobody in this village who can teach you to shiver. So you go out some where and learn at least shivering.” Ramesh agreed to this and went out of his village. He started walking away from his village. After some time he came to a big town.

He met one woodcutter in this village. Woodcutter asked him, “Child why have you come here. What do you want to learn.” Ramesh replied, “I want to learn to shiver.” Woodcutter laughed aloud and told, “OK, I will teach you how to shiver.”

That wood cutter took Ramesh to the forest at night and tied him to a big tree and told him,” I will come tomorrow. By that time you would have learned to shiver.” That night one tiger and one lion came near the tree. But Ramesh was not afraid of them, because he knew who they were. Then suddenly some black body fell down on Ramesh. Ramesh was not at all afraid and slept well.” Next day the wood cutter came and to his surprise Ramesh told him, “Hey, I have not still learnt how to shiver.”

Then the woodcutter took him to the local thief. The thief was black and had big beard. He laughed very loudly. He asked, Ramesh, “What do want to learn.” Ramesh told him, I want to learn shivering. Then the thief told , you come again to my house alone at night. Ramesh said Ok. That night, Ramesh went to meet the thief. Thief had applied lot of charcoal on his face. When Ramesh met him, he also pushed Ramesh down and started to climb on him. Ramesh was a very strong boy. He pushed the thief down and told him, “You are looking funny?” and started laughing. The thief told, “I cannot teach you to shiver. Do one thing. Go to the King’s booth Bungalow and stay there for three days.”

Ramesh next day enquired with every body, “Where is the King’s Booth Bungalow? I want to learn shivering.” Some people took him to the king’s palace. He went to the king and told, “I am Ramesh who does not know how to shiver. People here tell me that you have a booth bungalow. I would like to live there for three days and learn how to shiver?” The king replied, “ It is very dangerous. But if you want you can go. While going you can only take three things with you.” Ramesh thanked the king and said, “Please give me lot of fire, a big knife and a broom.”

King agreed to all this and Ramesh was taken to the booth bungalow and left there. Till it was dark there were no problem. Ramesh swept a room, cleaned it well and raised a raging fire and sat near it along with the knife and a broom. That night after it struck ten, he heard a noise. When he turned he saw two big black cats with red eyes coming towards him. They were crying horribly. They told, “We are cold. Allow us to sit near the fire.” Ramesh welcomed them to sit near him. Both of them again started crying and told, “We both are hungry. We will eat you.” Ramesh told them,” By all means, but please cut your nails first. “He then asked them to show their nails. They agreed. He went near them and killed both of them with his knife and threw them in the fire. At that time it struck 12 and every thing became all right. Next day morning the king came and to his surprise found Ramesh all right.

The next night around 10 PM, suddenly a big cot came in to the room, where Ramesh was sitting. Ramesh thought wonderful and jumped on the cot. Then the cot started moving at a great speed. Ramesh tied himself to the cot with a bed sheet and started sleeping. Then suddenly lot of eagles came to the room. Ramesh liked those birds and invited them to play with him. When they came near, he hit them with a broom and put them in the fire. The clock struck 12 and the birds and cots vanished. Next day morning, again the king came to see Ramesh. Ramesh was happy and told him about the cot and the birds. The king asked him, “Where you not afraid?” Ramesh asked, “What is it to be afraid? I do not know.”

The third night at around 10 PM, some 4 people brought a very cold man in to the room. The man was not speaking. Ramesh sat near the cold man and started rubbing his body with his hands. But the cold man was only shouting horribly. Ramesh did not bother and took the cold man near the fire. Even then the man was cold. Then ramesh hugged the cold man and started sleeping. Around 12 those four people came again and took away the cold man. They told Ramesh, “You are very brave.”

Next day the king came and found that Ramesh has still not learned how to shiver. He liked Ramesh so much and gave his daughter in marriage to him. Ramesh thus became a king. But daily he would be muttering, I do not know how to shiver. One day the princess got wild and when Ramesh was sleeping put a frog and some ice inside the shirt he was wearing . Ramesh suddenly woke up and started running here and there. The frog was moving all over his body. Ramesh started shivering.

Rama-the gullible farmer

Rama-the gullible farmer

Rama was a poor farmer in a Tamil Nadu village. Once he sold some firewood and got Rs. 50/- When he was coming back home it became night, clouds gathered and frogs in a well started shouting, Croak, croak.” Rama was puzzled. He went near the well and told, “I did not get a crore of rupees. I only got Rs.50/-“

But the frogs were still shouting “Croak, Croak.” Then Rama counted his cash just in front of the well and told, “Hey, I just counted my money in front of you. It is only fifty rupees. Do you understand?” But the frogs continued to shout “Croak, Croak.” Rama as disgusted. He put the money in the well and told the frogs, “I have now given the money to you. You please count yourselves and tell me how much it is.” Still the frogs shouted, Croak, Croak”. Rama cursed the frogs and returned home

After a few days, Rama’s wife made some sweets and she wanted him to sell it in the nearest town. When Rama went near the sweet shop, he was surrounded by several dogs, who were barking, “Bow, Bow.” Rama told them, “My wife has prepared these sweets. I want to sell them. I cannot give it free to you.” But still the dogs, barked, “Bow, bow.” .Then Rama could identify one dog as belonging to the shop owner. He told that dog, “OK, I will give the sweets to you. But you should give money after three days.” He then gave all the sweets to that dog and returned home. The Dogs were barking, “Bow, bow,” After three days, he went to the shop and asked the owner, “Three days back. I gave sweets to your dog. Please give me the money for it. The shop owner laughed loudly. Then Rama told that dog asked me for the sweets. The shop owner got angry and drove Rama out.

Rama was very upset and he went to meet the king. The king asked Rama,” What is your complaint?” Then Rama told him how he gave money to the frogs and how he gave sweets to the dog. He told the king, “Please ask the frogs to return my money and the sweet shop owner my sweets.”

Hearing this the princess who was sitting near the king laughed loudly. This princess had never laughed since her birth. So the king was very pleased with Rama and told, “My daughter is very happy. You can marry her.”

Rama said, “King, I already have a wife so I do not want the princess.” The king did not like Rama’s reply and told, “You are an Idiot, you come after three days. I will give you five hundred.” Rama was very happy with this and was returning home

The sweet shop owner who heard all this thought that the king will give 500 gold coins and told Rama, “When the king gives you 500, give me 250. Now I will give you 500 rupees.” Rama was ver glad and took the 500 rupees. The watchman of the palace, who heard their conversation, told Rama, “You give me the rest 250 and I will also give you five hundred rupees.” Rama agreed and took the money from him also.

After three days, Rama went to the king along with the owner of the sweet shop and the watchman. As soon as the king saw Rama, he called his police inspector and asked him to give 500 beatings, The king said, “Let me see whether he will improve?”

Then Rama told him, “Sir we have an agreement, you have to give 250 to this shop owner and 250 to this watch man. For I have already sold your present of 500 to them.” The king laughed loud and asked the police to give beatings to the watchman and the shop owner. Rama went in peace to his house.

Lord Yama’s chair

Lord Yama’s chair

There was a marriage in Indra’s home. So Yama and all his people had to attend it. But since there should be some one to open the door when people come to heaven, they left Chithra Guptha to guard the gate of hell and heaven. Yama told him not to allow anybody inside heaven during his absence. Two hours after Yama left to Indra’s home, Chithra Guptha heard a knock at the door. He just peered outside and found a poor lame tailor outside the heaven. Chithra Guptha told him, “Hey tailor, you wait outside till Lord Yama comes back.” Then the tailor requested in a very humble voice, “Sir, I am lame and have been good all my life. If I stand outside my legs will start paining. Please allow me in to the heaven.” Chithra Guptha read his books and told the tailor, “You are not a good man. You have taken money out of many shirts, which have been given to you for repair. So I cannot allow you inside heaven. If Lord Yama comes back and he decides to pardon you, then you can come inside heaven. “ But the tailor persisted, ’Sir, all that money fell on my table while I was repairing the shirts. When the owners came, they did not ask for the money. So I am not responsible for that. Also, if you admit me in to heaven. I will stitch a very good shirt to Lord Yama, before he comes back.” Chithra Guptha took pity on the tailor and decided to admit him in to the heaven. He told him, “You be sleeping here. When Lord Yama comes here he would decide whether to send you to heaven or hell.” Then Chithra Guptha went inside his house and closed the door.

The tailor slowly started seeing round heaven. In one big room, he saw several chairs. One of the chairs was a golden chair. He wanted to sit on the chair and see. Since there was no body else, he went and sat on the chair. Suddenly he saw the world. He saw a Dhobhi taking money out of the pocket of his shirt, which he had given him for washing. He got very angry and threw his own chair on the Dhobhi. Suddenly he saw that Lord Yama was returning. He went to a corner and hid himself. When Lord Yama came, he straight came to the room where the tailor was hiding. He saw that his golden chair was not there. He called Chithra Guptha and asked him, “ Where is my golden chair? Did you allow somebody in to the heaven when I was absent?” Chithra Guptha asked for the Lord’s pardon and brought the tailor in front of Lord Yama. Lord Yama asked him, “Where is my golden chair?” The tailor then told him, “Sir, one Dhobhi was stealing my money from my shirt, which I had given for washing. So I got angry and threw the chair at him.” Then Lord Yama told the tailor, “How many times have you stolen money from the shirts given for repair? Had I thrown my chairs at you, there would not be any chairs in heaven. You got angry because some body was stealing your money. So I am asking you to go to hell.” The tailor was then sent to hell.

Kuppuswami

Kuppuswami

There was a rich farmer .He had three sons. The first two sons were very intelligent and clever. Everybody considered his third son as useless. People thought that he can never get anything done and called him Kuppuswami-the lord of rubbish. One day the first son wanted to go out and earn money. He said he would go to the forest and cut wood. His mother made lot of good sweets and also gave him Sherbet to drink. This boy went to the forest. There he saw an old man sitting on the floor. The old man asked the farmer’s son, “I am very hungry and thirsty. Can you give me something?” The farmer’s son refused and told that he had only a small quantity and he cannot give it to the old man. When he started cutting the tree, it fell on his hand and it broke. So he was forced to come home. Then the second son told his father, “I will go to the forest and cut wood.” .His mother made him few sweets and gave him lime juice to drink. He went to the forest and met the same old man. The old man asked him for food and something to drink. But because he was afraid that it will get over, he also told the old man, ”No, I cannot give you anything.” When he started cutting the tree it fell on his leg and his leg broke. He had to be carried to his home by others.

After a few days, Kuppuswami told his parents that he will go to the forest to cut trees. His parents made fun of him. When he insisted , his mother gave him white rice and water to take to the forest. When he went to the forest, he met the same old man, who asked him, “I am hungry and thirsty. Can you give me something.” Kuppuswami readily agreed but told him, “I have only small quantity of white rice and plain water. If you want it, you can share it with me.” The old man agreed and they opened the packets that Kuppuswami had brought. To Kuppuswami’s surprise, the white rice had become Payasam( Kheer) and the water had become Yoghurt(Lassi). Both of them shared this tasty food. Then the old man blessed Kuppuswami and went his way

Kuppuswami cut a tree. As soon as the tree fell down he saw a golden parrot below the tree. He took the golden parrot and came out of the forest. He had to stay in a hotel for that night. The hotel owner had three daughters. They all saw the golden parrot and wanted to steal the parrot from Kuppuswami. That night after Kuppuswami had slept the first daughter came and touched the cage of the parrot. Her hand got glued to the cage. When she was struggling, the second daughter came. She wanted to help her elder sister and touched her .Her hands got glued to the first sister. Then the third daughter came. Though her other sisters told her not to touch them, she touched the second sister and her hands got glued to the second sister.

Kuppuswami got up next morning, took the cage and started walking to the next town. He did not see the three girls attached to the cage. When they were walking, the cart man of the hotel saw the three girls following the parrot. He came near them and touched one of the girls. His hands got glued to her body. So Kuppuswami was walking with four people. The priest of the village saw that all these people were following Kuppuswami. He wanted to help them. He touched the cart man and his hands got glued to the cartman. When he was struggling, the assistant priest came out of the temple and saw that the priest was following all these people. He tried to pull the priest away and his hands also got glued. Kuppuswami was not aware of all these and reached the next town. This town had a king who had a daughter. This princess was always sad. So the king had told every body that, if somebody makes her laugh, then he will give lots and lots of money to him. When this princess saw Kuppuswami carrying the cage of golden parrot and followed by six people, she started laughing. The king became very happy and gave lot of money to Kuppuswami. Kuppuswami gave some of this to his brothers and parents and lived happily.

Kittu the Fisherman

Kittu the Fisherman

In the town of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu there was a fisherman named Kittu. He was a very nice man who was satisfied with whatever he had. His wife Muniamma was not like that. Kittu daily used to go to the sea to catch fish. One day, when the sky was clear and the wind was gentle, he went for putting his net in the water and he did not get any fish. At last he got a big turtle. He was terribly disappointed and was about to throw it on the beach. Then the turtle spoke to him, “I am actually a Deva but I have been cursed by a sage to become a turtle. Please put me back in the sea.” Kittu immediately released the turtle in the water. Then the turtle told him, “ You know I am a deva, can I give you something.” Kittu replied, “Poor deva, already you are in trouble, I do not want anything.”

When he went home without any fish, his wife Muniamma shouted at him. Then Kittu told her the story of the turtle deva. Muniamma became very angry and told him, “ Go back to the sea and call the turtle. Ask from him a good house for us. Because we are living in a hut.” Kittu went back to the sea and sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” As soon as he sang, the turtle came. IT asked him, “Kittu, what do you want?” Then Kittu told the turtle, “I really do not want anything but my wife Muniamma wants to live in a good house. We are now living in a hut.” The turtle replied, “Go back to your wife. She is already in a good house.” Kittu went back and was surprised to see that their house was now very good.

Next day morning, even before the Sun rose, Muniamma woke up Kittu and told him,” This house is OK but I feel I should live in a Bungalow and I should become the mayor of this town. Go and ask your turtle. Kittu did not like it at all. His wife started crying and howling. So he went to the sea. This time the sky was black and wind was howling. Kittu sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle deva came and asked Kittu, “Why have you come. Don’t you like your new house?” Kittu replied, “I am extremely happy but my wife is not. She wants to live in a Bungalow and she wants to be the mayor of this town.” Then the turtle replied, “Go back home. She is all ready the mayor of the town.” Kittu went back. His house was now very big. There were lots of servants in his house. His wife had also a car. He was extremely happy.

A week passed this way. One day when poor Kittu was singing happily, his wife sent for him, “ I am getting bored of becoming a mayor. I have now only one car. I want to become the governor of this state. Go and ask your turtle for this. Kittu was sad while going to the sea. The sky was jet black. There was storm outside. He went near the sea and again sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle deva gain came and asked Kittu, “Is your wife not happy being a mayor?” Kittu with lot of sorrow told him, “unfortunately, no. She wants to become governor of this state.” Then the turtle replied, “Go back home. Now it is Rajbhavan. Do not forget.” Kittu went back. Now his wife was governor, Their house was surrounded by a very big garden. They had a swimming pool. They were having ten cars. Kittu did not bother about all this and went to a small room and slept there. Another one month passed like this.

One day while Kittu was sleeping soundly, his wife woke him up. And told, “I now want to become president of this country. I want hundred cars and want to have my own plane. Go and ask your turtle deva,” Kittu was very sad. Tears were flowing from his eyes. The sky outside was pitch dark. There was a cyclone blowing outside. But he manage to go near the sea and sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle came and asked, “Its not your wife happy being governor? What does she want now? Then Kittu replied, “ I am really very, very happy. I do not want all these things. But she is not. She wants to be the president of this country.” The turtle deva laughed loud and told, “ Ok, your wife is already the president .Go back to your house. You now should go back to Rashtrapathi Bhavan.” Poor Kittu went back. His home now was Rashtrapathi Bhavan. There were very large numbers of servants. They had a plane to wherever they wanted. But Kittu found out the smallest room and slept there on the floor. Things passed on like this for one month. After dinner Kittu was about to sleep. Muniamma sent a servant to call him and told, “ I am bored of being the president. I now want to become a god. Go and ask your turtle deva.” Kittu was very, very sad and went all the way to the sea weeping. It was pitch dark outside. There was a big storm. In the beach there was Tsu Nami. In spite of all this Kittu went to the beach and sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle deva came and asked Kittu, “Is there anything big than being a president? What does your wife want now?” Kittu replied, “ I am afraid that she wants to become God.” The turtle laughed loudly and told, “God lives also in a hut. Go back now to your old hut.” Kittu went back and they were very poor and started living in a hut.

Gadbad Pattan

Gadbad Pattan

In the olden days, there was a very famous merchant in Mumbadevi called Shivnath. He owned three ships. He used to fill these ships with lot of material from Mumbai and go to different parts of the world. In different places he used to sell all his goods and earn lot of money. He had son called Shivnarayan. Shivnarayan grew up and started helping his father in the business. Shivnath always warned his son, “Along with these ships, you go to any part of the world you like. But do not go to Gadbad Pattan.” Shivnarayan also obeyed. After some time Shivnath died. Shivnarayan who was very curious wanted to go to Gadbad Pattan and do business. He just wanted to know what would happen.

So one year after the death of his father Shivnarayan filled up his ship with lot of goods and reached Gadbad Pattan. He reached there safely. He met several big merchants there and told them that he can sell his goods to them. The next day while he was walking on the road, one lady approached and asked him, “When your father was here last time, he married me. So you have to give a part of your wealth to me.” Shivnarayan tried to tell the lady that his father never visited Gadbad Pattan. But she did not agree. She took him to the king for justice. The king asked Shivnarayan to prove that the lady was not his father’s wife. Shivnarayan could not. So he ordered Shivnarayan to give one ship along with goods to her. Shivnarayan had to give her one ship.

Next day Shivnarayan was walking in the streets. One man with only one ear came to him and told him, “I had mortgaged one of my ears to your father and taken a loan of one hundred rupees. Take this one hundred rupees and return my ear.” Shivnarayan tried to tell that man that his father never came to Gadbad Pattan. Not only that he never gave loan. But that man did not agree and took him to the King. King asked Shivnarayan, to give back the man’s ear. When he was not able to do it, he ordered him to give one ship full of things to the man instead of the ear. Shivnarayan became very sad and gave one ship to the one-eared man. Shivnarayan became very sad for not obeying his father’s words.

The very next day Shivnarayan needed a haircut. He went with ten gold coins to the barbershop. The barber asked him, “What will you give me for a hair cut?” Shivanarayan told him, “I will make you happy.” After the hair cut Shivnarayan gave two gold coins to the barber. He said, “I am not happy.” Shivnarayan gave all the ten gold coins he had taken. Even then the barber told, “I am not happy. Make me happy as you have promised.” Shivnarayan was again taken before the king. King ordered Shivnarayan to make the barber happy. Shivnarayan could not make him happy. So the king ordered Shivnarayan to give one more ship to the barber

That night Shivnarayan, did not have anything left. So he went crying to the local temple. A sage who was sitting in the temple asked Shivnarayan, why he was crying. Shivnarayan told him his entire story. The sage then gave him, a divine sparkling garland and told him what he should do

Next day Shivnarayan went to the king’s palace. The one-year-old son of the king was playing in the palace. Shivnarayan put the sparkling garland on the baby’s neck. The baby was very pretty. The king saw this and asked Shivnarayan, whether he can help him. Then Shivnarayan told, “Great king, during the last three days, I have lost three ships because I did not know how to argue. Kindly call those people and again and conduct an enquiry. The king agreed.

First the woman who claimed, that Shivnarayan’s father has married her was called. Shivnarayan told her, “Madam, I agree that you are my father’s wife. There is a custom in our place that after the death of the husband, the wife should be burned. After burning you, I will give the share of my wealth to your relatives.” The woman refused to be burnt. So the king ordered her to return back the ship.

Next the man with one ear was called. Shivnarayan asked him, “Now I remember that my father used to give loan after taking ears. My father has lot of such ears. You please give me the other ear, so that I can take it home to find out your other ear.” The man refused to give his other ear. The king then ordered him to give back the ship.

Finally the barber was called. Shivnarayan carried the baby of the king along with the sparkling chain. He asked the barber, “ This is baby of the king. I am very happy to see him wear the sparkling garland. What about you?” Being afraid of the king, the barber had to say, “I too am happy.’ Then Shivnarayan told the king, “Sir, now I have made the barber happy. Ask him to please return my ship,” The king agreed and asked the barber to return the ship. Shivnarayan, after thanking the sage, immediately left Gadbad Pattan. He then never went to Gadbad Pattan.

Avinash who knew three languages

Avinash who knew three languages

There was a rich man in the city of Varanasi. He had a son called Avinash. From his birth Avinash was not interested in learning any thing. So Avinash’s father decided that he should be send him to Nalanda to learn under a great Guru. After one year, Avinash’s father asked him, “What have you learned,” and Avinash replied, “I have learnt the language of the dogs.” The rich man was very unhappy and decided to send him to study under a great Guru in Ujjain. After one year when the rich man asked Avinash, “What he has learned?” Avinash replied, “I have learned the language of the birds.” The rich man was terribly unhappy and decided to send him to learn under a Guru in Kanchi. This time Avinash replied, “I have learned the language of fishes.”

The rich man got very angry with Avinash and asked his people to take Avinash to the forest and leave him there. Avinash was not at all afraid of the forest. The birds there told him to go to the city of Patna and meet the king of Patna. Avinash did as told by them. He met the king of Patna and requested him for a place to stay. Then the king told him, “We have a very big palace full of dogs. These dogs keep on barking and none of us are able to sleep. Apart from that they also come out of the house and bite the people. We call it the palace of Dogs. Can you go and stay there?” Avinash agreed happily. When he went to the palace of dogs, he talked with the dogs. They were extremely happy with him .He requested them not to make any sound that night. Next day he went and met the king. King was surprised to see him. Then Avinash told him, “The dogs are really good. They have been kept there to guard a very huge treasure of a Rakshasa. If some body takes away the treasure they will happily go to the forest.”

The king requested Avinash to bring out the treasure. With the help of Dogs, Avinash brought the treasure and gave it to the king. The king was very happy and adopted him as his son.

While Avinash was living like this, the king of the enemy kingdom came with a big army to conquer the country ruled by Avinash’s father. While the king did not know what to do, Avinash’s heard the conversation of two frogs. They were telling each other that it is very easy to drive out the enemy king, because he disliked onion smoke. So Avinash made a big fire and put lot of onions in it. This made a strong smell. As soon the enemy king came he immediately ran away because of the onion smell.

The king then gave Avinash his kingdom and Avinash lived very happily.