Amar Chitra Katha Series by Anant Pai, S.K. Ramachandra Rao, Kamala Chandrakant, Abid Surti, Yagya Sharma

Krishna is the most endearing divine hero of India in human form. Krishna's story is full of exciting events all through his life. Wicked men, women and creatures are often up against him but he defeats them all. Whether as a cowherd or as a prince he commands love as well as respect from all.Kamsa imprisoned his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva because it was prophesied that one of their children would cause his death... moreKrishna is the most endearing divine hero of India in human form. Krishna's story is full of exciting events all through his life. Wicked men, women and creatures are often up against him but he defeats them all. Whether as a cowherd or as a prince he commands love as well as respect from all.Kamsa imprisoned his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva because it was prophesied that one of their children would cause his death. He slew seven children born in captivity, but Krishna, the eighth one, survived because Vasudeva carried the newborn baby secretly to find shelter with the cowherd community. Krishna grew up there as a son of Nanda and Yashoda and the brother of Balarama.Krishna's life can be divided into three periods. His childhood in Gokul and Brindavan, his youth in Mathura when he killed Kamsa and restored the throne to Kamsa's father, and his later years as friend and guide of the Pandavas.He is most known for his role in the Mahabharata and his teachings during the war which form the text of the Bhagavad Gita. less

Shakuntala was the daughter of a nymph and a sage who abandoned her in the woods. Sage Kanva brought her up. King Dushyanta on a visit to the hermitage was struck with Shakuntala's beauty and they got married in a non-traditional ceremony. The king eventually returned back, leaving with Shakuntala a ring that carried his seal. After a when she came to live with the king, he did not remember anything about her and asked for proof of their being together... moreShakuntala was the daughter of a nymph and a sage who abandoned her in the woods. Sage Kanva brought her up. King Dushyanta on a visit to the hermitage was struck with Shakuntala's beauty and they got married in a non-traditional ceremony. The king eventually returned back, leaving with Shakuntala a ring that carried his seal. After a when she came to live with the king, he did not remember anything about her and asked for proof of their being together. Shakuntala had lost the ring and could not produce any proof. So rejected by the king, she was carried away by her mother. The ring was one day found by a fisherman and produced before the king, this brought back his memory of Shakuntala and he longed to meet her. One day, on the way back from a great battle victory Dushyanta visited the sage Maricha's hermitage where Shakuntala and her son Bharata were living. Many were the signs by which the king recognized Bharata as his son. He asked Shakuntala for forgiveness and took both of them with him. Later, Bharata became an illustrious king and it is said that India's name "Bhaarata" is formed to mean 'the land of Bharat'. This story from Mahabharata provided the plot for a renowned play by the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa of the 5th century. The play was translated into English by William Jones at the end of the 18th century. It won praise from the German poet Goethe then and has been widely translated and read worldwide. less

Rama was happy living in the forest with his wife and brother. Palace intrigue may have forced his exile, but the next fourteen years promised to be quite pleasant. Suddenly, this idylic life was thrown into turmoil. His beloved wife Sita was kidnapped! With unmatched skill as a warrior, Rama destroyed the ten-headed Ravana. And along the way, he won a host of very grateful friends.

Nala, king of Nishadha, was handsome and brave. He was skilled in the use of arms and horses and in games of chance. Narada, the sage ever on the move, told Nala of the beauty and intelligence of Damayanti, daughter of the king of Vidarbha. Nala, longing

Even the gods were charmed by this most honorable of kings. Fate had snatched away his palace, his wealth, his wife and his son. Worse sorrows were to pour down on him and yet Harischandra would not abandon the righteous path. He revealed the true mettle of a great king, protecting his honor and that of his family, with single-minded determination.

No one dared challenge the might of King Rama of Ayodhya. Famous for his valour and skill as a warrior, he confidently set out to become the King of the World. But then, his force came up against two little boys roaming the forest wilds. Luv and Kush laughed at Rama's powerful weapons and knocked his seasoned generals off their war chariots. Little did the king realise that this young duo could effortlessly capture his soldiers as well as his heart.

Hanuman stands for extraordinary physical strength, courage and humility. Above all, he is known for his devotion to Rama. So, it was little wonder that Rama entrusted Hanuman with the task of carrying his message to Sita in Lanka. Again, it was Hanuman who brought him the life-giving Sanjeevani to revive his beloved brother Lakshmana who had been grievously injured on the battlefield. Even today, Hanuman is regarded as the epitome of unfaltering devotion and unparalleled strength.

Chanakya also known as Kautilya, the hero of this story is the author of the well-known Sanskrit classic Arthashastra. Chanakya helped Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, in gaining the throne of the Nandas. According to many scholars, Chandraguptas success as a king can be ascribed to Chanakyas advice and guidance. According to Chanakya, the king at the time of coronation had to take an oath of service to the people... moreChanakya also known as Kautilya, the hero of this story is the author of the well-known Sanskrit classic Arthashastra. Chanakya helped Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, in gaining the throne of the Nandas. According to many scholars, Chandraguptas success as a king can be ascribed to Chanakyas advice and guidance. According to Chanakya, the king at the time of coronation had to take an oath of service to the people. If the king misbehaved, his people had the right to remove and replace him. Kautilyas Arthashastra is a book on public administration. It discusses the duties as well as the rights of kings, ministers and other officers. It lays down the details on the various affairs of the state, or trade and commerce, of law, of war and peace, of diplomacy, or marriage and divorce, and of military strategy. Arthashastra still remains an excellent textbook of political diplomacy. The story retold here is inspired by the classic Sanskrit play Mudra Rakshasam (The signet ring) written in the 9th Century A.D. by Vishakhadatta of Pataliputra which is believed to be the city of Patna today. less

Hinduism, like any other living religion, produced its share of free thinkers. Prince Siddhartha who became Gautama the Buddha was the most noteworthy of them all. The Hinduism that Siddhartha saw had lost much of its primal energy and its pristine purity. He refused to subscribe to the caste system which had ceased to be Dharma and had become a tool of oppression. He would not accept the power drunk priests as sole agents of God. He questioned the authority of the Vedas... moreHinduism, like any other living religion, produced its share of free thinkers. Prince Siddhartha who became Gautama the Buddha was the most noteworthy of them all. The Hinduism that Siddhartha saw had lost much of its primal energy and its pristine purity. He refused to subscribe to the caste system which had ceased to be Dharma and had become a tool of oppression. He would not accept the power drunk priests as sole agents of God. He questioned the authority of the Vedas. And he was convinced that penance and meditation as mere rituals without the accompanying sincerity and contemplation were futile. So he set out alone to seek the ultimate truth. His search led him to the enlightenment that liberated him as he pondered under a Bodhi tree. He returned to preach what he had known and experienced and he did this out of compassion for his fellow beings as converting them was never his aim. Today, he has followers all over the world but the largest number are concentrated in the far-eastern countries. less

The world saw him as the son of a lowly charioteer, but Karna had the bearing of a prince. With his skill as a warrior, he could have re-written the tale of the Mahabharata. Fate, however, had other plans. This haunting tale of passion and loyalty presents the other side of the war and a hero as shining as the sun.

Parvati was born a maiden of the mountain. The mighty god Shiva was practicing meditation in the dense forest. Desiring to win over Shiva, Parvati went to serve him. But Shiva paid no attention to her. At this time, the gods were being tortured by an invincible demon, so the prayed to the supreme god for a saviour. He assured them that the son of Shiva and Parvati would be the one. So the gods sent Kama, the god of love, to lead Shiva into marrying Parvati... moreParvati was born a maiden of the mountain. The mighty god Shiva was practicing meditation in the dense forest. Desiring to win over Shiva, Parvati went to serve him. But Shiva paid no attention to her. At this time, the gods were being tortured by an invincible demon, so the prayed to the supreme god for a saviour. He assured them that the son of Shiva and Parvati would be the one. So the gods sent Kama, the god of love, to lead Shiva into marrying Parvati. But when the god of love worked his charm, Shiva was disturbed and turned him to ashes. Parvati redoubled her efforts at penance. One day a young hermit approached her, berating her for wasting efforts on the uncouth Shiva. Parvati refuted the hermit's challenge and was pleasantly surprised to find the hermit to be Shiva in disguise. She asked him to approach the elders. That done, Shiva and Parvati were married. less

The tenth book of the Bhagvata Purana, gives in detail the life story of Lord Krishna: his birth, early childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The many incidents narrated are full of adventure and romance and at the same time inspire, enlighten and guide human beings whose aim is to ennoble their lives and attain God. The story of Sudama (a great devotee and childhood friend of Lord Krishna), which has retained its popularity with children down the ages, occurs in the same tenth book... moreThe tenth book of the Bhagvata Purana, gives in detail the life story of Lord Krishna: his birth, early childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The many incidents narrated are full of adventure and romance and at the same time inspire, enlighten and guide human beings whose aim is to ennoble their lives and attain God. The story of Sudama (a great devotee and childhood friend of Lord Krishna), which has retained its popularity with children down the ages, occurs in the same tenth book. The love of Krishna for Sudama forms the theme of many a devotional song and this story has been a source of sustenance of faith to the poor in the land. Sudama has understood the principle of non-attachment. He lives in the same dire poverty and yet is happy. His wife too is content to do the same till some children are born to them. How Sudama's wife coaxes him to see Krishna, his prosperous and generous childhood friend, and what happens when Sudama does is retold in this Chitra Katha. less

The Kauravas had made a fateful error. Lusting after their cousin's kingdom, they underestimated young Abhimanyu's determination and ability to defend it. Brilliantly distilled in this handsome and much-loved Pandava prince were his father Arjuna's courage, Lord Krishna's wisdom and the patience and the strength and gentle humility of his uncles. Even as he thwarted his enemies' ambitions' Abhimanyu earned their grudging admiration and a very special place in the saga of the Mahabharata.

She was only a child of five and he a mere image of the Lord Krishna, but little Mira loved him with all her heart. So strong was her devotion that it rendered even irate kings and murderous relatives powerless. Mirabai became a queen, but she continued to serenade her lord through the ups and downs of her eventful life. Her hymns to Krishna, which are sung to this day, left even the great Mughal emperor Akbar spellbound.

A demon performed severe penance and obtained a boon: "My death be not caused by man or beast, during day or night, indoors or outdoors." And using this power he conquered the gods.Prahlad, the demon's son was devoted to the protector god Vishnu and proclaimed the same even to his father. The demon was upset and tried various means to punish him. Prahlad believed that his god was everywhere. His father wanted to test if he was in the pillar, so he hit it... moreA demon performed severe penance and obtained a boon: "My death be not caused by man or beast, during day or night, indoors or outdoors." And using this power he conquered the gods.Prahlad, the demon's son was devoted to the protector god Vishnu and proclaimed the same even to his father. The demon was upset and tried various means to punish him. Prahlad believed that his god was everywhere. His father wanted to test if he was in the pillar, so he hit it. And out came a lion-faced human who fulfilled all the conditions to be able to slay the demon.This is the story of how that happened less