Indian mythology is a treasure trove of interesting tales that resonate across multiple generations. Children can learn practical lessons from the stories while enjoying the twists that come with them. Ramayana and Mahabharatha are the biggest epics with infinite stories for children and adults alike. But, apart from them, there are so many options for narration. Let us examine a few interesting ones here. Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of fables.
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Power of perseverance
Lord Krishna exemplifies the art of overcoming challenges and triumphing against all odds in life. One such instance that illustrates the importance of hard work in achieving favourable results is the Govardhan Hill episode.
When the entire village of Vrindavan gathers to perform pooja to Lord Indra, Lord Krishna suggests that they offer prayers to the Govardhan Mountain instead. This angers Indra, who unleashes torrential rains upon the village. At this juncture, Lord Krishna steps in and lifts the hill with his finger and instructs everyone to take refuge under the hill.
Our takeaway is to stay determined and focussed during adverse circumstances and face challenges head-on. The sweetest rewards are found after persevering during tough times, sometimes for a long duration.
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Uphold truth with integrity
The best example from our mythology has to be Yudhishtira, the eldest of Pandavas, from Mahabharatha. He was the very embodiment of truth, as he strove to speak only that all his life, irrespective of whether it was easy or difficult to do so. Whether it was during the infamous game of dice, where deceit abounded or the Yaksha’s test, he always stuck with truth in all situations.
The lesson to learn from him is how speaking the truth paves the way for honour and respect and is the foundation for a meaningful life.
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Love and respect parents
Lord Ganesha taught us that our parents are our world and worshipping them is the greatest virtue. The story begins when sage Narada comes with a divine mango and proclaims that the first person to race around the Universe thrice will obtain the fruit.
Lord Muruga seizes the opportunity, mounts his peacock and begins to travel around the world. Meanwhile, Lord Ganesha circles his parents thrice and is declared the winner, for he states that his parents are his Universe and circling them symbolically equals going around the cosmos. The takeaway from this tale is that respecting our parents is the biggest virtue. Another point to note is how wisdom can help you ace the toughest of all challenges (be it physical or otherwise). True respect involves not just obedience but heartfelt acknowledgment of the love, care, and guidance that elders provide.
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Humble yet heroic
Lord Hanuman is fascinating for the young and old, alike. There seems to be nothing impossible for him - he can shrink or expand himself as per his will. However, things were not this rosy earlier. Due to a curse he received as a child, he did not remember his greatness until he was reminded of the same after many years.
Once he remembered his powers, he used them to help Lord Rama find Ma Sita and eventually stood by his side during the battle in Lanka. His heroic deeds will always be admired, but the point to remember is that he was never arrogant about it. He had no sense of false pride and attributed victory after miraculous feats to Lord Rama. Humility and selflessness are values that children need to learn from him.
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Abhimanyu’s fearless stand
Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers in the epic Mahabharata. Inside his mother’s womb, he learnt about a specific war strategy that his father explained to his mother. However, he could only hear a part of it as his mother fell asleep during the part where the escape route was explained. In the actual Kurukshetra battle, he got into the war arrangement and was stuck at the centre, unable to escape. He valiantly fought on the battlefield, despite knowing that he wouldn’t make it. The takeaway is to take on adversities and fight till the end, irrespective of the result.
These tales are only a drop in the ocean that is Indian mythology. You can give your child a book of moral stories or mythology-based tales and discuss them to comprehend how much your child has assimilated from reading them. Let them dive into this fabulous world and savour each moment of fun and learning.
