The Hare And The Tortoise

This classic story about a race between one of the fastest creatures on earth and one of the
slowest has been a favourite for generations. This truly is a timeless tale that engages kids
from the ages of 2-6

Moral:
Don’t underestimate a task, ensure you see it through without letting your ego swell up.
Sometimes a slow pace and patience considered a better tool to face a challenge.

A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

A timeless tale of a wolf who used the flayed skin of a sheep to disguise itself and fool the
other sheep into thinking it is one of their own. This story contains an important lesson that
we all must learn at some point in our lives.

Moral:
Appearances can be deceptive. One must never take people or circumstances at face value.
A little bit of precaution can go a long way in self-preservation.

The Three Little Pigs

A tale to illustrate the folly of pigs who do not listen to their mother and build houses that
are unstable. It’s a story where you can add a lot of effect and have your little one enthralled
by the suspense of the fate of the big bad wolf.

Moral:
The story teaches children that doing a job well is as important as getting the job done in
the first place. Integrity and motivation of your actions go a long way.
The Crow and The Jug

A tale everyone grew up with. A telling of a crow and his thirst and his infallible attitude of
never giving up. The crow uses his ingenuity and resourcefulness to solve his problem and
fly away a happy bird.

Moral:
Do not give up at the first sign of adversity. Use what you have around you to solve any
problem and achieve your goals and dreams.
Goldilocks and The Three Bears

The classic tale of a young girl who crosses the path of a bear family. The spoilt girl finally
learns her lesson when the three bears are not taken in by her beauty and are upset at their
home being used unannounced.

Moral:
Always think of the consequences of your actions on the people surrounding you especially
when your actions directly affect them.
Sour Grapes

A tale of a hungry fox and the grapes he cannot reach. After trying a few times, he declares
them to be sour anyway and gives up promptly. His hunger remains unsatisfied.

Moral:
Try till you succeed and do not be a sore loser. Accept defeat graciously and learn from your
failures

rather than trying to lay blame on other things,

7. Belling the Cat

The story of a family of mice and their fear of the cat ruling the house. A large discussion
ensues on the possible solutions including a bell for the cat in order to receive warning of
the cat’s approach.

Moral:
Talking about doing something might be well and good until the action has to be carried
out. It might be unpleasant and hard though and recognizing the pitfalls of seemingly good
ideas is important.
8. The Hound And The Rabbit

A story of a hound chasing a rabbit. The hound becomes tired and gives up the chase. Upon
being mocked by a herd of goats, the hound explains that the rabbit ran faster because it
was fighting for its life.

Moral:
The best incentives give the best results. Motivation is a key factor in any work being done.
9. The Ugly Duckling

A classic tale of a duckling who finds that all his brothers and sisters and even his friends
are more beautiful than he is. Completely dejected, he leaves his family and cloisters
himself in a secluded part of the lake. After he goes by a few visiting birds tell him that he
has now grown into a beautiful swan.

Moral:
Everyone is beautiful just the way they are even if they do not meat the ideals set by the
world around them.
10. Two Cats and A Monkey

This is the story of two cats who were arguing over a cake. A monkey sees them and offers
to help by diving the cake equally. After he breaks it in half, he says that the pieces are not
equal. He takes a bite out of the bigger piece. He then takes a bite out of the other piece
since it is now the bigger one. He does this until all of the cake is gone.

Moral:
When we fight, others will benefit from us.
11. The Lion And The Mouse

The story of a lion who spares the life of a mouse after it promises the lion of helping the
lion when it can. Soon enough, the lion gets trapped in a net put up by poachers. The tiny
mouse sees the lion in distress and quickly chews away at the net and sets the lion free.

Moral:
You never know who can become a great friend so be kind to everyone. Everyone will then
be kind to you.
12. The Country Mouse And The City Mouse

The city mouse visits his cousin in the country who feeds him a dish of beans and rice. The
city mouse turns up his nose at the food and takes his cousin to the city for a meal of cake
and ale. While they are eating, two dogs chase the mice who run for their lives.

Moral:
It is better to be happy with ordinary things that you can enjoy in peace than look for luxury
that cannot be enjoyed.
13. The Monkey and The Crocodile

The story revolves around two friends – a monkey and a crocodile. The monkey used to give
the crocodile an apple every day from the tree he lived on. The crocodile’s wife becomes
greedy and asks for the monkey’s heart. The crocodile carries the monkey on its back to his
wife. Once the monkey realizes what is happening, he tells the crocodile that his heart is on
the tree and they must return to fetch it. Once they return, the monkey climbs onto the bank
and runs away.

Moral:
Staying calm and thinking clearly even in stressful situations can help you immensely.
14. The Elephant And His Friends

Juno the elephant was lonely and tried to make friends with the other animals in the forest.
But, the other animals refused to play with Juno because of his size. One day, all the animal
were running away from Dera the tiger who was eating everyone he could find. Juno went
and gave Dera a swift kick who immediately ran away. Juno was now everyone’s friend.

Moral:
Your inherent abilities are your best qualities and the reason for your success.
15. The Foolish Lion

A lion is hungry and goes in search of prey. He finds a cave whose inhabitant has gone out.
He decides to lay in wait for the unsuspecting animal. The owner of the cave, a jackal,
however suspects something is wrong when he arrives near the cave. The jackal asks the
cave to reply to his calls. The foolish lion replies and the jackal escapes.

Moral:
In haste, we make foolish decisions. One should always be calm and think of all the options
before acting out.
16. The Monkey and The Dolphin

A dolphin saves a monkey in a storm and they swim to an island. The dolphin asks the
monkey if he knows the island. The monkey says that he does know the island, and that he
is in fact the prince of the island. The dolphin leaves the monkey at the island and swims
away and the monkey finds himself all alone on the deserted island.

Moral:
Boasting will not get you anywhere. Be careful of what you claim, you might actually have to
behave accordingly.

17. The Clever Frog

In a pond was a large community of aquatic animals who all loved to play with each other.
One day, two fishermen see the pond and the animals at play and talk about fishing at the
pond but they leave as it was late. The frog tells everyone they must escape before the
fishermen come back. However, everyone is sure of their ability to escape and decide to
stay. The fishermen come the next day with strong nets and catch everyone except the frog
who had left the pond.

Moral:
It is better to err on the right side of caution. Assessing risks is a vital part of life.

18. Two Goats

There was a small creek over which was a fallen tree. A goat decides to cross the creek by
walking over the tree. However, from the other side, another goat had the same idea and
was crossing too. The fallen tree was not wide enough for them to pass each other, and
they were too proud and stubborn to let the other one go. They readied their horns and
charged at each other over and over with much force. Soon, the tree broke and both goats
fell into the creek.
Moral:
Being stubborn will not take you far. If you value your pride over everything else, you will
suffer.

19. Friendship

This is the story of a dog Pepsi who wouldn’t play with the street dogs because he thought
they were too dirty. One day, two thieves entered his house while his master was out and
tried to push him into a sack. He cried for help and suddenly the dogs who lived on his
street came and bit the thieves who dropped the sack with Pepsi and ran away. Pepsi
learned his lesson and became friends with the dogs on his street
Moral:
One must never discriminate against others based on their status or the things they own.
Friendships are important.

20. The Roaring Lion

Sheru the lion liked to scare everyone by roaring as loud as he could with no warning. Soon,
everyone in the forest became miserable with his roaring and stopped playing with him. One
day he convinced Rinku to play catch with him. As the game got more intense, Rinku passed
the ball hard just as Sheru began to roar. The ball got stuck in his throat and the entire forest
had to help him remove it. Sheru swore never to roar unnecessarily again.
Moral:
One must not annoy the people around them just because it entertains us.

21. The Lazy Donkey

Mamboo was a lazy donkey and would always try to get out of the work his master the
washerman gave him. One day, he ran away from the house just as the washerman started
to look for him. As he slept in the farm, a huge dust storm began. Afraid, Mamboo decided
to go home. He was also afraid that the washerman would give him a beating. But the
washerman was just happy that Mamboo was safe. Mamboo was ashamed of himself and
decided to never be lazy again.
Moral:
You must always do your work with sincerity.

22. The Evil Snake

An evil snake would steal the eggs of a crow couple when they would go out to hunt.
Worried and heartbroken they asked the fox to help them. The fox told them to steal the
princess’s chain when she came to bathe in the river. Sure enough, the crows stole the
necklace and flew to the snake’s hole and threw the necklace in it. The princess’s guards
dug into the hoe to retrieve the necklace when the snake appeared angry at the disturbance.
The guards killed the snake and took away the necklace.

Moral:
Anyone who does evil will have a similar fate lying in wait for them.

23. The Mouse and The Saint

A mouse was chased into a saint’s house by a cat. Seeing his plight, the saint changed the
mouse into a dog. A few days later the dog ran into the saint’s house as he was being
chased by a lion. Seeing this, the saint changed the dog into a lion. The lion went to the
jungle and defeated the other lion and ruled the jungle A few days later he went to the
saint’s house so that he could gobble him up. The saint immediately changed the lion back
into a mouse and told him to never come back.

Moral:
Do not bite the hand that feeds you.

24. The Goat

Asha was going out and instructed her maid to close the door if she was going to do any
work outside. After a while the maid went out without closing the door. A goat entered the
house and ran into Asha’s bedroom. He saw another goat in the mirror and charged at it and
destroyed the mirror. Asha came home to see the destroyed mirror and fired her maid
immediately.

Moral:
Doing your duty is of utmost importance.

25. The Cow’s Bell

Nasir was looking after his father’s cows who had a beautiful bell each. One day, a stranger
came by and offered to buy the most beautiful cow’s bell for a large price Nasir agreed and
sold the bell, but he could no longer tell where the cow went. The stranger waited for Nasir
to lose the cow and then stole it. Nasir went home crying where his father was displeased
with him.

Moral:
We must never let greed cloud our thinking.
The Needle Tree

There were once two brothers who lived at the edge of a forest. The elder brother was very
mean to his younger brother. He ate up all the food and took all his brother’s good clothes.
One day, the elder brother went into the forest to find some firewood to sell in the market.
As he went around, chopping the branches of tree after tree, he came upon a magical tree.
The tree said to him, ‘Oh kind sir, please do not cut my branches. If you spare me, I will give
you golden apples’. The elder brother agreed, but was disappointed with the number of
apples the tree gave him. Greed overcame him, and he threatened to cut the entire trunk, if
the tree didn’t give him more apples. The magical tree, instead, showered upon the elder
brother, hundreds upon hundreds of tiny needles. The elder brother lay on the ground crying
in pain as the sun began to lower down the horizon.

The younger brother grew worried and went in search of his elder brother. He found him
laying in pain near the tree, with hundreds on needles on his body. He rushed to his brother
and removed each needle with painstaking love. After he finished, the elder brother
apologised for treating him badly and promised to be better. The tree saw the change in the
elder brother’s heart, and gave them all the golden apples they could ever need.
Moral Of The Story
It is important to be kind and gracious, as it will always be rewarded.

Counting Wisely

Akbar once put a question to his court that left everyone puzzled. As they all tried to figure
out the answer, Birbal walked in and asked what the matter was. They repeated the question
to him.

‘How many crows are there in the city?’

Birbal immediately smiled, went up to Akbar, and announced that the answer to his
questions was twenty-one thousand, five hundred and twenty-three. When asked how he
knew the answer, Birbal replied, ‘Ask your men to count the number of crows. If there are
more, then the crows’ relatives from outside the city are visiting them. If there are fewer,
then the crows are visiting their relatives outside the city.’ Pleased with the answer, Akbar
presented Birbal with a ruby and pearl chain.

Moral of The Story

Having an explanation for your answer is just as important as having an answer.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

There was once a boy whose father one day told him that he was, now, old enough to watch
over the sheep while they were grazing. Every day, he had to take the sheep over the grass
fields and watch them as they grazed to become strong with thick wool. The boy was
unhappy though. He wanted to run and play, not watch the boring sheep. So, he decided to
have some fun instead. He cried ‘Wolf! Wolf!,’ until the entire village came running with
stones to chase away the wolf before it could eat any of the sheep. Once they saw that
there was no wolf, they left muttering under their breath about how the boy was wasting
their time and giving them a good fright while at it. The next day, the boy cried once
more,‘Wolf! Wolf!’ and, again, the villagers rushed there to chase the wolf away.
As the boy laughed at the fright he had caused, the villagers left, some angrier than the
others. The third day, as the boy went up the small hill, he suddenly saw a wolf attacking his
sheep. He cried as hard as he could, ‘Wolf! Wolf! WOLF!’, but the villagers thought he was
trying to fool them again and did not come to rescue the sheep. The little boy lost three
sheep that day, all because he falsely cried wolf.

Moral of The Story

Do not make stories up for attention, for no one will help you when you actually need it.

The Golden Touch

This is the story of a very greedy rich man who chanced upon meeting a fairy. The fairy’s
hair was caught in a few tree branches. Realising he had an opportunity to make even more
money, he asked for a wish in return for helping the fairy. He said, ’All that I touch should
turn to gold’, and his wish was granted by the grateful fairy.

The greedy man rushed home to tell his wife and daughter about his new boon, all the while
touching stones and pebbles and converting them into gold. Once he got home, his
daughter rushed to greet him. As soon as he bent down to scoop her up in his arms, she
turned into a gold statue. He realised his folly and spent the rest of his days searching for
the fairy to take away his wish.
Moral of The Story
Greed will always lead to downfall.

The Milkmaid and Her Pail

Patty the milkmaid had finished milking her cow, and had two full pails of fresh creamy milk.
She put both pails of milk on a stick and set off to the market, to sell them. Along the way,
she started to think of all the milk in her pails, and the money she would get for them.

“Once I get the money, I’ll buy a chicken,” she thought. “The chicken will lay eggs and I will
get more chickens. They’ll all lay eggs, and I can sell them for more money. Then, I’ll buy the
house on the hill and be the envy of everyone in the village. They’ll ask me to sell the
chicken farm, but I’ll toss my head like ‘this’, and refuse”. So saying, Patty, the milkmaid
tossed her head, and the pails of milk fell. The milk spilled onto the ground, and all Patty
could do was cry.

Moral of The Story

Do not count your chickens before they hatch.

6. When Adversity Knocks

This is a story explaining how adversity is met differently by different people. Asha’s father
placed an egg, a potato, and some tea leaves in three separate vessels with boiling water.
He asked Asha to keep an eye on the vessels for ten minutes. Once these ten minutes were
over , he asked Asha to peel the potato, peel the egg and strain the tea leaves. Asha was left
puzzled.

Her father explained , ‘Each of these items was put in the same circumstance of boiling
water. See how they’ve responded differently. The potato is now soft, the egg is now hard,
and the tea has changed the water itself. We are all like one of these items. When adversity
calls, we respond in exactly the way they have. Now, are you a potato, an egg, or tea leaves?’

Moral Of The Story

We can choose how to respond to a difficult situation.

The Proud Rose

Once upon a time there was a rose who was very proud of her beautiful looks. Her only
disappointment was that she grew next to an ugly cactus. Every day, the rose would insult
the cactus on his looks while the cactus stayed quiet. All the other plants in the garden tried
to make the rose see sense, but she was too swayed by her own beauty.

One summer, the well present in the garden grew dry, and there was no water for the plants.
The rose began to wilt. She saw a sparrow dip her beak into the cactus for some water.
Though ashamed, she asked the cactus if she too could have some water. The kind cactus
readily agreed and they both got through the tough summer as friends.

Moral of The Story

Never judge someone by the way they look.

The Tale of the Pencil

Raj was upset because he had done poorly in his English test. His grandmother sat beside
him, and gave him a pencil. A puzzled Raj looked at his grandma and said he didn’t deserve
a pencil after his performance in the test. His grandma explained, ‘You can learn a great
many things from this pencil because it is just like you. It experiences a painful sharpening,
just the way you have experienced the pain of not doing well on your test. However, it will
help you be a better student. Just as all the good that comes from the pencil is from within
itself, you will also find the strength to overcome this hurdle. And finally, just as this pencil
will make its mark on any surface, you too shall leave your mark on anything you choose to’.
Raj was immediately consoled and promised himself that he would do better.

Moral of The Story

We all have the strength to be who we wish to be.
The Crystal Ball

Nasir found a crystal ball behind a banyan tree in his garden. When the tree told him it
would grant him a wish, he thought and thought, but could not come up with anything he
wanted. So, he kept the crystal ball in his bag and waited till he could decide on his wish.
Days went by without him making a wish but his best friend saw him looking at the crystal
ball. He stole it from Nasir and showed it to everyone in the village. They all asked for
palaces and gold, but could not make more than one wish. In the end, everyone was angry
because no one could have everything they wanted. They became very unhappy and
decided to ask Nasir for help. Nasir wished that everything would become as it once was,
before the villagers had tried to satisfy their greed. The palaces and gold vanished and the
villagers grew happy and content once again.

Moral of The Story

Money and wealth do not bring happiness.

Bundle of Sticks

Three neighbours were having trouble with their crops. All three fields had crops that were
wilting and infested with pests. Each day, they would try different ideas to help their crops.
The first one tried using a scarecrow, the second used pesticides, and the third built a fence
on his field, all to no avail. One day, the village head came by and called all three farmers. He
gave them each a stick and asked them to break it. The farmers could break them easily. He
then gave them a bundle of three sticks, and again, asked them to break it. This time, the
farmers struggled to break the sticks. The village head said, ‘Together, you are stronger than
when you work alone’. The farmers pooled their resources and got rid of the pests in their
fields.

Moral of The Story

There is strength in unity.
A Glass of Milk

As Hari walked home after school one day, he suddenly felt faint with hunger and knew his
mother would not have any food ready for him at home. He grew desperate and went from
house to house asking for food. Finally, a girl gave him a tall glass of milk. When he tried to
pay her she refused and sent him on his way. Years later, the girl, now a grown woman, fell
very sick and could not find anyone who could cure her. Finally, she went to a large hospital
with the city’s greatest doctor. The doctor spent months treating the woman until she was
finally cured. The woman was happy but was also afraid she could not pay the bill. When the
hospital handed the bill to her, she opened it to read, ‘Paid in full, with a glass of milk’.

Moral of The Story

A good deed never goes unrewarded.

The Fox and the Grapes

A fox was once very hungry and went in search of some food. He searched everywhere, but
couldn’t find anything that he could eat. Finally, with his stomach rumbling, he came upon a
farmer’s wall. On top of the wall were the biggest, juiciest grapes the fox had ever seen. The
rich purple colour told the fox that they were ready to be eaten. The fox jumped high in the
air to catch the grapes in his mouth, but he missed. He tried once more, and missed again.
He tried a few more times, but kept missing. Finally, the fox decided to go home all the while
muttering, ‘I’m sure the grapes were sour anyway’.

Moral of The Story

It’s easy to hate what you can’t have.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

There were two best friends – an ant and a grasshopper. The grasshopper liked to relax the
whole day and play his guitar. The ant, however, would work hard all day. He would collect
food from all corners of the garden, while the grasshopper relaxed, played his guitar, or
slept. The grasshopper would tell the ant to take a break every day, but the ant would refuse
and continue his work. Soon, winter came. The days and nights became cold and very few
creatures went out. The grasshopper couldn’t find any food and was hungry all the time.
However, the ant had enough food to last through the winter, without any worries at all.
Moral of The Story
Make hay while the sun shines.

The Wet Pants

Ajay was a small boy who loved his school and schoolmates. One day, as he sat at his desk,
he suddenly felt damp and realized he had wet his pants! Mortified, Ajay did not know what
to do or say, as he knew everyone in class would make fun of him for wetting his pants. He
sat at his desk, praying for any kind of help. Diksha was carrying water in a jug to water the
class plants. As she approached Ajay’s desk, she suddenly tripped and dumped the whole
contents of the jug onto his lap. Everyone rushed to help Ajay. The teacher reprimanded
Diksha and gave Ajay a spare set of shorts. At the end of the day, Ajay met Diksha on the
bus. He asked, ‘You did that on purpose didn’t you?’ Diksha replied, ‘I’ve wet my pants before
too.’

Moral of The Story

Help others in need.

The Bear and Two Friends

Two best friends were walking a lonely and dangerous path through a jungle. As the sun
began to set, they grew afraid, but held on to each other. Suddenly, they saw a bear in their
path. One of the boys ran to the nearest tree and climbed it within a jiffy. The other boy did
not know how to climb trees by himself, so he lay on the ground, pretending to be dead. The
bear approached the boy on the ground and sniffed around his head. After appearing to
whisper something in the boy’s ear, the bear went on its way. The boy on the tree climbed
down and asked his friend what the bear had whispered in his ear. He replied, ‘Do not trust
friends who do not care for you.’

Moral of The Story

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

10 Fascinating Lord Ganesha Stories

for Children with Morals
Amongst a multitude of Gods that are present in the pantheon of Hindu mythology, Lord
Ganesha is perhaps one of the most popular ones. His idols are omnipresent in nearly every
corner of the country and there is a huge interest around celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi.
That might also be due to the very source of the name Ganesha, which has been formed
from two words. “Gana” means the masses of people and “isha” is used to refer to a god.
This, quite literally, makes Ganesha as the Lord of the masses. Lord Ganesha has been
worshipped for many years and his stories have gained quite a lot of popularity amongst
people.

Interesting Stories of Lord Ganesha for Kids

Kids may not be interested in the long pujas and worship procedures of Lord Ganesha.
However, you can introduce them to various stories that surround this mythological deity
and let them be awestruck by how wonderful some of them are.

1. The Story of His Birth

Let’s begin from the start with the lord Ganesha birth story.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati would stay on Mount Kailash, making it their abode. Most
of the times, Shiva would be out fulfilling other responsibilities while Parvati was alone at
the mountain.

One day, on such a similar occasion, Parvati had to go to take a bath and did not wish to be
disturbed by anyone at all. Parvati ended up making a statue of a child from turmeric and
breathed life into him. She called the child Ganesha, and he was absolutely loyal to her. She
asked him to guard the home while she took a bath. Yet again, Shiva showed up and
proceeded to enter the house. But this time, he was stopped by Ganesha who refused to
move aside. Shiva did not know who this unknown child was so he asked his forces to
destroy the child. But Ganesha had the powers bestowed on him by Parvati and defeated
Shiva’s army. Shiva, known for his extreme fury, lost control on his temper and ended up
beheading Ganesha.

When Parvati stepped out and saw the dead body of her creation, her fury knew no bounds.
She lashed out at Shiva and threatened to destroy the entire universe as a consequence of
those actions. Now, the universe was the responsibility of Bramha, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Brahma witnessed the wrath of Parvati and apologized on behalf of Shiva to her, advising
her to not destroy the universe. Parvati relented on the conditions that Ganesha be brought
back to life and be worshipped as the primary God. Shiva, too, realized the mistake he
committed in his rage and apologized to Parvati. He advised his troops to go into the forest
and get the head of the first animal they spot. Incidentally, they came across an elephant
and brought back his head. This was then placed over the body and Shiva brought him to
life, also accepting him as his own son. This is how Ganesha was born as we know and is
now worshipped as the god of gods.

Moral
As much as this story talks about the birth, it teaches us an important lesson on how anger
can cause harm to our near and dear ones and how necessary it is to rectify our mistakes
as soon as we can.
2. The Story Of The Missing Conch
This is a wonderful story that showed how even Lord Vishnu had to relent to Lord Ganesha’s
antics.
Vishnu was known to have a conch with him that he kept with himself at all times. One fine
day, he noticed that the conch was missing and it was nowhere to be found. This got him
extremely annoyed and he rallied all his powers into finding the conch.

As the search for the conch was on, Lord Vishnu suddenly began hearing the sound of the
conch emanating from a distance. He began searching for it in that direction and soon
realized that the sound was coming from Mount Kailash itself. As he reached the mountain,
he found out that the conch had been taken by Lord Ganesha and he was busy blowing it.
Knowing that Lord Ganesha will not relent easily, he sought out Shiva and asked him to
request Ganesha to return the conch back to him.

Shiva said he, too, didn’t have any power of Ganesha’s wishes and the only way to appease
him is to perform a puja for him. So Lord Vishnu did do that. He set up all the necessary
elements for the puja and worshipped Ganesha with his heart. Seeing this, Ganesha was
extremely pleased and he returned Vishnu’s conch back to him.

Moral
The story quite interestingly reveals the fun side to Lord Ganesha and his antics.
Furthermore, it teaches us about humility by showing how a God as great as Vishnu, did not
hesitate to worship Ganesha.

3. The Story of Shiva’s Failed Battle

Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha have many stories together. However, this story goes beyond
the relationship between father and son and teaches a very important lesson.

When the elephant head was procured and Ganesha was brought back to life, Shiva heeded
Parvati’s wishes and made it a rule that before beginning with any new endeavour, it was
necessary to worship Lord Ganesha and get his blessings. However, Shiva forgot that the
rule applied to him as well.

On one such occasion, Shiva was heading out to war with the demons and proceeded to
take his entire army along with him for it. But in the rush of leaving for the battle, he forgot
to worship Ganesha first. This led to them facing many problems even before reaching the
battlefield. On the way to the location of the battle, the war-carriage wheel was damaged
and the progress came to a halt. This seemed like divine intervention to Shiva and he
suddenly remembered that he had totally forgotten to worship Ganesha before heading for
battle.
Stopping all his troops, Shiva proceeded to set up the puja then and there and completed
the rituals worshipping Ganesha. With Ganesha’s blessings, Shiva proceeded ahead and he
and his army were successful in defeating the demons completely.

Moral
This just goes to show that no matter who you are, once you have created a rule, it applies
to everyone equally.
4. The Story Of Ganesha’s Wisdom
Lord Ganesha is called the god of knowledge and wisdom and there is a spectacular story
that illustrates why it is so.
Ganesha had a younger brother called as Karthikeya. Both would get along well but, just like
all other siblings, they would have moments of arguments and fights. On one such day,
Ganesha and Karthikeya both ended up finding a unique fruit in the forest and grabbed it
together. They refused to share it with each other and started claiming the fruit for
themselves.

When they reached Mount Kailash and presented this predicament to Shiva and Parvati,
Shiva made a proposition. He recognized the fruit and said that this fruit is known to grant
immortality and extensive knowledge when eaten by the rightful bearer of it. To choose who
gets it, Shiva proposed a challenge. He asked Ganesha and Karthikeya to circumvent their
world 3 times. Whoever would do so first and return to Mount Kailash, would be the rightful
owner of the fruit.

Karthikeya immediately hopped onto his pet peacock and flew speedily to complete three
revolutions across the Earth. Ganesha was a little stocky compared to Karthikeya and his
pet was a rat who couldn’t fly. Having listened to Shiva’s proposal properly, Ganesha started
walking around Shiva and Parvati and completed three circles around them. When asked by
Shiva, Ganesha replied that Shiva had asked them to circumvent their world. And for
Ganesha, his parents were more than the world. They were the entire universe.

Shiva was touched and impressed by Ganesha’s wisdom and saw him as the rightful owner
of the fruit.

Moral
Not only does this story give a great example of how using your wisdom can help resolve a
situation smartly, but it also teaches that your parents should be given the respect and love
they deserve.

5. The Story Of Parvati’s Wounds

This wonderful story is a great example of how the entire world is a single unit.

Ganesha was known to be a mischievous child and he would indulge in a number of

naughty activities. One time, he came across a cat while he was playing, and proceeded to
mess around with it. He picked up the cat and threw it on the ground, pulling its tail and
having fun with it, while the cat meowed in pain. Ganesha failed to notice it and played
around until he was tired and then came back home.

On reaching Mount Kailash, Ganesha was shocked to see Parvati lying down outside the
home, with wounds all over her body, and crying in pain. Ganesha rushed to her and asked
her who did this. To which Parvati replied that Ganesha himself had done this to her. The cat
was actually a form of Parvati, and she wanted to play around with her son. But Ganesha
treated her unfairly and ruthlessly and his actions on the cat have reflected on his own
mother.

Ganesha was utterly sorry for his behaviour and took an oath to treat all animals in a gentle
manner with care and affection.

Moral
This story gives a very important lesson that does unto others as you would want others to
do unto you. And this also includes animals, being careful of them, and not causing anyone
any harm.
6. The Story Of Kubera’s Downfall
Kubera was a renowned God who was very popular for being the wealthiest of them all in
the entire universe. He had a treasure trove of wealth and would hoard everything to himself
with pride.
One day, he invited many guests over for dinner, including Shiva and Parvati. But they both
could not attend the dinner, so they sent over Ganesha as their representative. Ganesha’s
noticed how Kubera’s behaviour was and he decided to let his antics loose. He began
devouring the dinner speedily and ended up finishing all the food leaving barely anything for
the other guests. Yet his hunger was not satiated. So he ended up entering Kubera’s wealth
collection and start eating all the gold and wealthy items. Still unsatisfied, Ganesha then
proceeded to eat Kubera himself, who ran to Mount Kailash for protection.

Shiva, seeing the reason behind Ganesha’s doing, offered a simple bowl of cereals to
Ganesha. He ate them and immediately was satisfied. Kubera learnt not to amass wealth
greedily and agreed to distribute it amongst everyone.

Moral
The story shows how greed and pride can be harmful to a person and it is necessary to be
considerate towards everyone.

7. The Story Of Kaveri’s Creation

It begins with the wish of a sage called Agastya who wished to create a river that would
benefit the people staying in the southern lands. The Gods heeded his wish and presented
him with a small bowl containing water. Wherever he would pour the bowl, the river would
originate from there.

Agastya decided to create the origin beyond the mountains of Coorg and proceeded to
travel there. On the journey, he got tired and began looking for a place to take some rest.
Just then, he came across a small boy who was standing alone. He requested him to hold
the pot of water while he went and relieved himself. The boy was Ganesha himself. He knew
what the pot of water was for and realized that the location he was at was perfect for the
river. So he set the pot down.

When Agastya came back, he saw the pot on the ground and a crow attempting to drink
water from it. He shooed away the crow, who flew away but not before tipping the pot on
the ground. This resulted in the river originating from that place itself, which is now called
the Kaveri river.

Moral
Sometimes, things may not always work out in the way we wish them to. Nevertheless, what
happens does happen for a good reason.
8. The Story Of Ganesha’s Single Tusk
There are many versions that explain this but this Bal Ganesh story does it best.

As legend has it, Mahabharata is Ved Vyas’ creation but it is said to be written by Lord
Ganesha himself. Ved Vyas approached Ganesha so that he could transcribe the epic story
as he narrated it to him. The condition was that Vyas had to narrate it without break and
Ganesha would write it in a single go.

As they progressed in writing the story, there came a point where the quill that Ganesha was
using to write it down broke and he had no other quills with him at that moment. Ved Vyas
could not stop narrating the story since the condition was already set in stone for him.
Without wasting any time, Ganesha quickly broke off one of his own tusks and fashioned it
into a pen, using it to continue writing the epic without interruption. This allowed the epic to
become a holy one and Ganesha and Vyas ended up completing it together.

Moral
This story of Ganesha shows very clearly how necessary it is to be disciplined and
determined to complete a task once you have accepted to complete it, no matter what
happens. A personal sacrifice might also be necessary to complete something epic.

9. The Story of The Lunar Curse

This story follows right after the proceedings of Kubera’s dinner.

After eating to his will, Ganesha’s stomach had become terribly large and he got a pot belly.
Walking around with it became difficult for him and as he moved, he ended up losing his
balance and stumbled and fell down. The moon, who was watching all of this, began
laughing at Ganesha’s predicament. Seeing moon humiliate him, Ganesha cursed the moon,
making it completely invisible. The moon, realising its mistake, began pleading to Ganesha
for forgiveness. Relenting to his incessant apologies, Ganesha then decided to set in a cycle
where the moon appeared and disappear every 15 days.

Moral
One should never laugh at somebody else’s problems or deformities. This is impolite and is
not a sign of good behaviour.
10. The Story Of The Sweet Kheer
Ganesha once entered a village in the form of a boy, holding rice in one hand and milk in the
other. He began asking for help to make some kheer but everybody was busy.
He reached a poor woman’s hut who agreed to make the kheer for him. As she mixed it
together and set the pot to cook, she fell asleep and the boy went out to play. On waking up,
she realized the kheer had cooked and was extremely delicious.

She was too hungry and couldn’t resist it. But before eating the kheer, she took out some of
it in a bowl and offered it to the Ganesha idol and then began eating the kheer. No matter
how much she ate, the pot never emptied. When the boy returned, the woman gave him the
entire pot and confessed that she ate before him because she was hungry. The boy replied
saying he ate it too when she offered the bowl to the Ganesha idol. The woman began
crying at his feet and Ganesha blessed her with wealth and health.

Moral
Before taking care of your own needs, make sure to worship God and keep something aside
for others as well.

Telling your kids the Lord Ganesha marriage story and numerous others from the trove of
mythology is a great way to introduce them to Lord Ganesha. Various pujas and rituals may
always be a part of the home, but what’s necessary is to hold God in your heart and adhere
to the principles put forward by him.

The Sad Peacock

This beautiful story about making the best of what you have is our first pick for this list.
Though ambition is not a bad thing, there is usually a very thin line progressing to greed. It
can run both ways, parents may end up pushing their children so hard, that kids end up
frustrated. On the other hand, kids may end up demanding for more, without regard to what
they have already.

Here is a wonderful story about a peacock who almost went the same way.

here was this once a beautiful peacock who was all, but dancing on a rainy day. While he
was busy admiring his plumage, his rough voice reminded him of his own shortcomings. All
the joy beaten out of him, he was almost in tears. Suddenly, he heard a nightingale singing
nearby.

Listening to the nightingale’s sweet voice, his own shortcoming once again became very
evident. He began wondering why he was jinxed in such a manner. At that moment, Juno,
the leader of the Gods, appeared and addressed the peacock.

“Why are you upset?” Juno asked the peacock.

The peacock complained about his rough voice and how he was sad because of it. “The
nightingale has such a beautiful voice. Why don’t I?”

After listening to the peacock, Juno explained, “ every living being is special in his or her
own way. They are and made in a certain manner that serves the greater purpose. Yes, the
nightingale is blessed with a beautiful voice, but you are also blessed – with such a
beautiful and glittering plumage! The trick is acceptance and making the most of what you
have.”

The peacock understood how silly he had been in comparing himself to others and
forgetting his own blessings. He realised that day, that everyone was unique in some way or
the other.

Moral Of The Story

Self-acceptance is the first step to happiness. Make the best of what you have, rather than
being unhappy about what you don’t.

2. The Turtle and the Hare

This story has been told and retold over the ages, but is certainly a story that will teach your
child an important lesson that will stay for life. You can stick to the classic or make your
own version with different variables that will nonetheless impart the valuable lesson that
your child needs to learn.

The hare is not only a beautiful little creature but is known for its speed and cleverness.
Turtles, on the other hand, are amphibians that are more down to earth and, of course,
slower in all aspects of life.

One fine day, the hare bragged and came up with the idea of holding a race with the turtle.
The turtle agreed, and the race began.
The hare managed to get a good lead over the turtle because he was an excellent runner.
However, such was the ego of the hare that he not only raced way ahead of the turtle, but
decided to take a nap at some distance, just before the finish line. He was convinced that he
would easily win, even if he slept for some time.

The turtle, on the other hand, was far slower than the hare. However, he kept up with the
race, without cutting corners. The turtle managed to reach the finish line, just as the hare
was waking up! He, nevertheless won the race, even though he was a far slower runner than
the hare, and not once, did he rub his victory it in the hare’s face.

Moral Of The Story

As long as you are steady and determined, you will always win, no matter what your speed
is. Laziness is your enemy, as is pride.

3. The Two Gardeners

Letting go is probably one story lesson that can teach, both the child and the parent
valuable lesson. Children are hands down very impressionable and sensitive, and there are
times when you, as a parent, might not want to accept that a line needs to be drawn, as
children need to become independent.

Here is a story that talks about the challenges of learning to do things on your own, through
stronger roots.
Once, there lived two neighbours who used to grow the same plants in their respective
gardens. One neighbour was fussy and took extreme care of her plants. The other
neighbour did what was required, but left the leaves of the plants alone to grow as they
pleased.

One evening, there was a huge storm, accompanied by heavy rainfall. The storm destroyed
many of the plants.

The next morning, when the fussy neighbour woke up, she found that the plants had been
uprooted and destroyed. However, when the more relaxed neighbour woke up, she found
that her plants were still firmly rooted in the soil, having weathered the storm.

The plant of the relaxed neighbour had learnt to do things on its own. So, it had done its bit
of work, grown deep roots, and made a place for itself in the soil. Thus, it had stood firm
even in the storm. However, the fussy neighbour used to do everything for the plant, thereby
not teaching the plant how to sustain on its own.

Moral Of The Story

Sooner or later, you have to let go and become independent. Unless you stop fussing,
nothing will work on its own.

4. The Mouse and the Lioness

Our next pick is yet another classic. This story with the mouse and the lioness never gets
old and teaches kids a wonderful lesson that should stay with them and help them grow.

The lioness, as we know, is fierce, proud, and tends to look down upon smaller animals. One
such lioness was once skirting the jungle when a thorn pricked her paw. Being proud, the
lioness decided not to ask for help. She went around the jungle, getting weaker and
bleeding.

One day, she chanced upon a humble mouse. The lioness was in a lot of pain. The mouse,
though quite scared, was courageous enough to offer help. The little mouse, after much
pain, a managed to pull out the thorn from the lioness’s paw and freed her from pain.
Even though the lioness was so big and powerful, and the mouse was so tiny and humble, it
was the mouse’s kind gesture that saved the lioness’s life.

Moral Of The Story

Be humble and never forget that size is no guarantee of power or usefulness.

5. The Three Fish

Rounding off the list is this beautiful story about three fish. Once again, this story is about
teaching your child how to be wise when encountering a problem and never to forget to help
others in need.

There were three fish living in a pond. They were friends and practically did everything
together.

One day, a fisherman came across the pond and was delighted to see the fish. He made
plans to cast a net and catch them. .

The wisest of the fishes made plans to find a different pond. While one of the fish agreed,
the other one denied, saying that the pond was home and he shall not vacate it. The third
fish further said that there had never been any danger in the pond. “I don’t see the point of
leaving this pond. I think it is cowardly.”

The first two fish were unable to convince their friend, and so they decided to part ways.

The next day, when the fishermen cast his net, the first two fish escaped. However, the third
one got caught. He had been unable to identify and act upon the problem, and was now
paying the price of neglecting danger.

Moral Of The Story

It pays to be wise when faced with a problem. Remember that every problem is different,
and therefore, has a different solution.

Tips on Reading Inspirational Stories

1. The best time to read inspirational stories is during the daytime, as your kid will be alert,
and not weary, ready to go to bed. This allows for better concentration and understanding of
the story.

2. Just because it’s an inspirational story, doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Read it as you
would any other story. Use different voices and pitches throughout, to make it interesting.

3. Ask questions to your child at the end of the story. You can ask your child what he/she
would do in place of the character, or what the moral of the story is.
4. You can tweak the story to make it more relevant to your child. Work by your child’s likes
and dislikes, which will keep him/her more interested in the story.

5. If you feel your child spacing out in between, pause the story and ask for predictions on
what happens next. In fact, you can even make this a regular practice. Asking your child for
a prediction helps boost imagination.

So, these are some of the best stories that both, you and your child will appreciate. Don’t
forget though that each one of us has a story within us – a story that can not only motivate
children and teach them valuable lessons, but also encourage them to imagine and dream.
You can encourage your child to develop his/her imagination and wording skills with
an activity box that contains super-engaging and fun things that boost creativity. You never
know, your child may come up with his/her own stories in the future!

Top 10 Inspirational Indian

Mythological Stories With Moral
Lessons for Kids
By
Mrunal
-
June 19, 2019

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2142
 In this Article
 What Do Children Learn From Mythology?
 Best Mythological Stories for Your Children to Read

Every culture has its own mythology – a set of stories that involve heroic characters,
mythical beasts, gods, advanced technology, and fantastic locations. While their validity is
questionable, their existence shows the incredible fascination that we, as humans, have for
these stories. Indian mythology contains a vast and ancient array of tales, which are
stimulating, entertaining, and have a moral lesson behind them.

What Do Children Learn From Mythology?

Mythology teaches moral values to children in a way that holds their interest. Here are some
things that children imbibe from mythology.

1. Iterates Good vs Evil

Mythology teaches children the difference between good and evil, iterating, each time, the
importance of good deeds. It also proves that good always conquers evil.

2. Encourages Imagination
Mythology is a world of its own, with advanced technology, mystic beings, and breathtaking
imagery. This sets the minds of children running, as they imagine each thing they are told
about. It also shows them that nothing is impossible, if you have a creative mind.

3. Exposes Kids to Culture

Children learn the importance and meaning of festivals and customs that are frequently
seen in Indian culture. Mythology teaches them why things are the way they are, satisfying
their curiosity and engaging their minds.

4. Teaches Respect
Respect goes hand in hand with discipline. Mythology teaches kids to respect their elders,
teachers, and peers. This leads to better discipline in children.

5. Showcases the Power of Love

Whether it is love for family, teachers, God, Mythology teaches kids that love conquers all,
and there’s nothing greater than staying true to the people you love, against all odds.

Best Mythological Stories for Your Children to Read

Introducing your children to mythology will help them learn about their culture, faith,
language, and ethical beliefs. You can also create some fond memories with your children
by narrating these stories to them, which will not only develop their imaginative skills, but
also linguistic abilities and good values. Here is a list of ten Hindu mythological stories for
kids that detail the trials and tribulations of 10 different mythological characters and the
lessons that can be learnt from them.

1. The Dedication of Ekalavya

Ekalavya was a young boy living with his tribe, deep in the forest. His aim in life was to
become the finest archer the world had ever seen. However, when he asked to become
Drona’s student, he was refused, due to the low status of his birth. Despite this, Ekalavya
created a statue of Drona and practised archery before it, until he became incredibly skilled.
However, when Drona encountered him and learned of his accomplishments, he was afraid
that a tribal boy would surpass his best student, Arjuna. He demanded that Ekalavya
sacrifice his own right thumb as payment for learning under his name. Without questioning
Drona, Ekalavya immediately cut off his right thumb and gave it to him, and was, therefore,
unable to become the best archer in the world.

Moral Lesson:

Your child will learn about hard work, respect and dedication, especially for teachers and
instructors.

2. The Devotion of Surdas

Surdas was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Krishna. He loved Krishna so much that he
wrote over a lakh of devotional songs in his honour. Surdas was a blind man, according to
the story, who once took away Radha’s anklet when she was following him. When asked to
return it, he refused, stating that he could not confirm her identity as he was blind. At this
point, Krishna blessed him with sight, after which Surdas begged Krishna to take his sight
away again. When asked why, he said that he had seen Krishna, and there was nothing else
he wanted to see again.

Moral Lesson:
This story will teach your child to love unconditionally and exhibit devotion towards the
things he/she cares about.

3. The Courage of Abhimanyu

Abhimanyu was one of the greatest warriors in the Kurukshetra war. While his mother,
Subhadra, was pregnant with him, his father, Arjuna, narrated the Chakravyuha battle
formation technique to her. Abhimanyu learnt the entire technique, from the womb, but fell
asleep right before Arjuna revealed how to escape the formation. During the war,
Abhimanyu was trapped inside the Chakravyuha created by the Kaurava army. Even though
he didn’t learn how to escape, he gave up his life fighting for his parents and family.

Moral Lesson:
Abhimanyu’s sacrifice will teach your child about loyalty to family, bravery, dignity, and love.
4. The Integrity of Rama
Everyone knows of the Ramayana, the epic which chronicles the stories of the sixth
incarnation of Mahavishnu, Lord Rama. In the Ramayana, Rama is forced to leave his
kingdom and go into exile with his brother, Lakshmana, and wife, Sita. Near the end of his
exile, Ravana, the king of Lanka, kidnaps his wife and holds her hostage. Facing all terrible
odds, Rama manages to fight Ravana and his enormous army, and defeat them, rescuing
his wife.

Moral Lesson:
The moral of this story is the bond shared between two brothers, and a husband and wife. It
will teach your child about friendship, integrity, and love.

5. The Strength of Durga

When the asura-king Mahishasura defeats Indra, the king of the gods, and takes his place in
heaven, the great goddess Durga is created from the divine energies of all the gods
combined. She then takes on Mahishasura, the Buffalo Demon, and defeats him and his
entire army, saving the world.

Moral Lesson:
Durga shows little boys and girls that women, too, possess great courage, strength and
righteousness.

6. The Faith of Prahlada

Prahlada, the son of the demon Hiranyakashipu, was a great Vishnu devotee. However, his
arrogant father hated Vishnu, as he considered himself to be the one true God, due to the
boon he had received from Lord Brahma. He tried to have Prahlada killed by many methods,
but Prahlada was always saved by Vishnu. After Hiranyakashipu’s last attempt on
Prahlada’s life, he got killed by Narasimha, the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu.

Moral Lesson:
This story will teach children about the values of faith, devotion and patience.

7. The Focus of Arjuna

When the Pandavas were young, they trained under Drona, the master of combat. Drona
wanted to test his pupils, so he stuck a toy bird in a tree and asked all of them to aim their
bows at its eye. When he asked them what they could see, the Pandavas gave different
answers, such as the bird, the leaves, the tree, and so on, and missed. Only Arjuna, without
missing a beat, said he could see nothing more than the eye of the bird. Pleased, Drona
asked Arjuna to shoot. Arjuna’s arrow pierced the bird’s eye, perfectly.

Moral Lesson:
This is a story about focus and determination, which will show your kids that knowing
exactly what they want and working towards it will help them achieve their goals.

8. The Strength of Sita

After Rama and Sita returned to Ayodhya, they were crowned king and queen, and began a
prosperous rule. However, rumours began to spread about Sita, who had lived with another
man, Ravana (even though it was against her will). To control these rumours and ensure the
continued faith of his subjects, Rama banished Sita to the forest, where she stayed with
Valmiki. Here, she gave birth to twin boys and raised them as a single mother, all by herself.

Moral Lesson:
This story explains how, even in the face of such adversity, women can still be strong, brave,
and independent.

9. The Loyalty of Shravana

Shravana was a poor teenage boy. helping his parents on a pilgrimage to all the religious
sites in India. As they were old and blind, he was carrying them in two baskets slung over
his shoulders. While crossing the forests of Ayodhya, Shravana is hit by a wayward arrow
shot by Prince Dasharatha, and dies. Even with his dying breath, he begs Dasharatha to
carry water to his thirsty parents.

Moral Lesson:
Shravana is the embodiment of kindness and loyalty. This story will help your children
understand the virtues of compassion and taking care of one’s parents.

10. The Patience of Mandodari

Mandodari was the wife of Ravana. While he performed misdeeds and cruelties, she spent
her days trying her best to convince him to be just and honourable. She even asked him to
free Sita, although her advice fell on deaf ears. Till the end, she stayed loyal to her husband.

Moral Lesson:
This lesson teaches your children to be patient with loved ones, even if they are committing
mistakes, without giving up on them. Loving someone means supporting them, even if not
supporting their actions.

Indian mythological stories are an intricate tapestry with interwoven threads of politics,
morality, philosophy, parenting, love, war and religion. These inspirational stories have
inspired many for hundreds of years and will teach your child the many virtues and ethics
required to live life as a compassionate and just person. Art is an extremely helpful medium
through which a child can understand the world while sharpening her qualities. Encourage
this development through engaging craft kits for your kid – this way, she can sharpen her
physical and intellectual abilities in a way that is not boring or tiresome.

Top 15 Childhood Krishna Stories for

Kids
By
Mrunal
-
October 10, 2017

Like
Comment
2498
Story telling is not only a way for parents and children to bond but also an easy and fun way
of discussing morality and imparting values. Read on to discover Lord Krishna’s childhood
stories which children are sure to love.

Stories Of Lord Krishna With Morals For Children

Lord Krishna is one of the most popular Hindu Gods amongst children and adults alike. His
stories are anecdotes filled with fun, laughter and good ideals. Here are the top 15 stories of
the Lord for children to enjoy:

1. The Story of Krishna’s Parents

A long time ago, there was a King named Ugrasen, who had two children – a son named
Kansa and a daughter named Devaki. Devaki was a gentle person, but Kansa was evil. When
he grew up, he put his father in jail and took over the king’s throne, while his sister got
married to King Vasudev.
One fine day, Kansa heard a warning from the skies (akashvaani) – “The eighth son of your
sister will one day grow up to kill you.” This shook the evil Kansa to the core, and he wanted
to kill his sister., But Vasudev begged for her life and agreed to let Kansa kill their eighth
child. Kansa imprisoned his own sister and her husband. The eighth child of the couple was
Lord Krishna, who survived all the attempts Kansa made to kill him, and eventually
vanquished his evil Uncle.
Moral – If you are evil and have evil intentions, you will be punished for your sins. Always be
positive and think of doing good deeds to others.

2. The Birth of Lord Krishna

Devaki and Vasudev were imprisoned by her brother Kansa. Every time she would give birth
to a child, Kansa would himself come and kill the baby with his bare hands. Devaki
miscarried her seventh son, but he was mystically transferred to the womb of Queen Rohini
in Vrindavan, who came to the world as Krishna’s brother – Balarama.

Their eighth child came to the world at midnight and was born in jail. This was Lord Krishna
and that special day is celebrated as Janmashtami.

Moral – If something good is to happen, it always will. Good will always prevail over evil.

3. How Vasudev saved Krishna’s life

Krishna was born in the form of Vishnu, and his parents prayed that he would turn into an
ordinary baby so they could hide him from Kansa. The Lord advised his father to take him to
Vrindavan and exchange him with a new-born baby girl. Then, magically, the guards at the
prison fell into a slumber and all the locks and chains opened by themselves.
Vasudev took little Krishna and left for Vrindavan. When he came across the Yamuna River,
it was flooded. As Vasudev still attempted to cross the river, carrying little Krishna over his
head, the waters receded almost mystically, as soon as they touched Krishna’s toe, allowing
him to carry on his journey. He then reached Yashoda’s house, exchanged the babies and
returned to the prison with the baby girl. Devaki and Vasudev hoped that Kansa would spare
the girl as the prophecy had predicted a boy would kill Kansa, but he did not care. He
snatched the baby from their hands and hit her against a stone to kill her. But the girl
transformed into Goddess Durga and told Kansa that Krishna was alive and would punish
him for his bad deeds.

Moral – Sometimes, there are forces beyond one’s control. If you only have evil intentions,
you will never succeed.

4. Krishna and the Witch Putana

Krishna’s uncle Kansa was desperate to kill him, so he told a witch called Putana to go
ahead with the task. The witch dressed up as a beautiful woman and flew to Krishna’s
nursery.

She had smeared poison on her nipples and offered to feed Krishna some milk. Krishna’s
mother did not know her real intentions, and she allowed Putana to feed him. But Krishna
closed his eyes and sucked the life out of her, killing her. The poison did nothing to him, but
since she had done a good gesture by offering her milk to Krishna, her soul was freed.

Moral – Never hurt anyone intentionally, as you will end up paying for it.

5. Lord Krishna’s love for butter

Lord Krishna loved eating butter. Everyone in the town of Vrindavan was aware of his
mischief and attempts to steal butter, that’s why he was called ‘Maakhan Chor’. Krishna’s
mother Yashoda would tie the butter high above the ground to hide it from Krishna!
Once, when Yashoda was not around, Krishna called his friends. They climbed one on top of
the other, and he managed to reach the pot of butter! They all brought it down and relished it
immensely! But unfortunately for them, they did not realise that Yashoda had come back! All
his friends ran back to their houses, but Krishna got reprimanded for being naughty.

Moral – Always listen to your elders and never steal.

6. Lord Krishna and Yashoda

Lord Krishna was a mischievous child, and his mother Yashoda was tired of it! One day, she
decided to tie him up to stop his antics. Yashoda brought a rope to tie him, but realised it
was too small. She then brought a bigger one, but that one turned out to be small too! She
got a third one, but that also fell short! That’s when she realised there was something
miraculous about her son. But after that, Lord Krishna allowed his mother to tie him up, just
so that she could become happy!

Moral – Believe in miracles, they can happen. Always do things to make your parents happy.

7. Krishna eats mud

One day, Krishna and his elder brother Balarama were collecting fruits and berries in the
garden. Since Krishna was still a toddler, he couldn’t reach the trees, so he picked up mud
from the ground and stuffed it into his mouth. The other children saw what he did and
complained to his mother. Yashoda ran to him and asked him whether he had eaten mud.
He shook his head as if to say no! Yashoda asked Krishna to open his mouth, but he was so
scared, he refused! But when his mother gave him a stern look, he opened his mouth.

When Yashoda looked inside, instead of mud she saw the whole universe inside his mouth!
Stars, skies, mountains, oceans- everything! She was dumbstruck, and all Krishna gave her
was one sheepish smile! That’s when she realised that he was no ordinary child, but the
Lord himself!

Moral – Always listen to your mother and never lie.

8. Krishna and Kaliya

One day when Krishna and his friends were playing by the banks of the river Yamuna, their
ball fell into the river where the hundred-and-ten headed serpent Kaliya ruled and lived with
his family.
Krishna dived in to retrieve the ball, but Kaliya started poisoning the water with his venom.
Krishna encountered him and asked him to stop poisoning the water, but Kaliya refused.
That’s when Krishna fought and defeated the large serpent by dancing on his head. He
ordered the serpent to leave the river and never return.

Moral – Peace is a better solution than war.

9. Lord Krishna and Arishthasura

One day, a massive bull came to Vrindavan and started attacking the people. Nobody knew
where it came from, and everyone started running helter-skelter to save their lives. They
then came to Krishna to ask for his help.

When Krishna came face to face with the bull, he realised it was actually a demon! But
Krishna being powerful, managed to tackle the bull and pierce his horns! When the fight
ended, the demon left the bull’s body and bowed before the Lord. He told him he was a
disciple of Lord Brihaspati and was cursed to become a demon bull because he did not
respect his teacher.

Moral – Never disobey your elders and teachers

10. Krishna and Keshi

After Krishna defeated the demon bull Arishtasura, a sage called Narada went to Kansa and
told him that Krishna was the eighth born of Vasudev and Devaki, and was fated to end his
life. This angered Kansa so much that he summoned the long-haired horse Keshi to kill
Krishna.

The horse demon went and scared the people of Vrindavan, hoping to kill Krishna. But
Krishna was not scared! He challenged Keshi to a fight, and knocked out all his teeth with
his elbow! Krishna then choked the demon horse to his death, and was given a new name
after that- Keshava, the one who killed Keshi.

Moral – Do not be scared and stand up for yourself.

11. Lord Krishna and Lord Brahma

Lord Brahma decided to play a prank on Krishna once. He told all Krishna’s friends to take
the cows and hide inside a cave. When Krishna was not able to find anyone, he took all their
avatars and returned to Vrindavan. Flummoxed and confused, Lord Brahma came to
Vrindavan to see Krishna as everyone, and realised he should not have tested him!

Moral – You should always help your friends.

12. Lord Krishna and the Hill

Lord Indra is the God of rain, and that’s why everyone prayed to him for a timely monsoon.
But one year, Lord Krishna suggested that the villagers should rather worship the Govardhan
hill. This made Lord Indra very angry, so he raised a storm over Vrindavan.

Krishna, however, protected his people by lifting the whole mountain of Govardhan hill on a
single finger! This made Lord Indra realise his mistake, and he apologised to Krishna for the
storm.

Moral – Never take rash decisions in anger, they can never be fruitful.
13. Krishna and Kamadhenu
One fine day, a cow called Kamadhenu approached Lord Krishna. Kamadhenu told Krishna
that she had come from a place called Devaloka, which is the kingdom of heaven. She said
she wanted to do Krishna’s crowning ceremony.

The cow bathed the Lord in the holy water from the heavens and even thanked him for
protecting all beings. After that, Lord Indra himself appeared with Airavata, and declared
that Krishna would be known as Govinda, which means Indra of the whole world!

Moral – Respect everyone- humans and animals.

14. Krishna and Aghasura

One day when Krishna was playing with his friends, they reached a cave in a mountain.
What they did not know was that the cave was the home of the witch Putana’s brother,
demon Aghasura. Aghasura took the form of a giant snake to kill Krishna and his friends.
They did not realise that Aghasura opened his mouth as wide as the cave’s opening so that
they would walk right in and he would eat them.

Krishna realised something was wrong and decided to enter the cave himself. All the
demons became happy while the Gods became upset, thinking Krishna had met his end. But
the demigods pleaded to Krishna, who then understood what was happening. He grew
larger and larger in size till he choked the snake demon to death. He was just, as he then
gave liberation to the demon’s soul.

Moral – Always listen when someone gives you good advice.

15. Krishna kills Kansa

When Krishna defeated all the demons and witches sent by him, Kansa got anxious. He sent
his servant Akrura to bring Krishna and his brother Balarama back to Mathura. He plotted to
challenge the boys to a wrestling match with two of his strongest wrestlers. Krishna and
Balarama accepted the challenge, and easily defeated their opponents and killed them.
Kansa lost his temper and ordered his soldiers to banish the boys and kill Vasudev and
Ugrasena too. Hearing this, Krishna jumped into the stands, knocked Kansa’s crown off and
dragged him by his hair to the wrestling ring. Desperate to prove he’s a better fighter, Kansa
accepted the offer to fight Krishna. Krishna however, killed him with one nifty blow! Kansa’s
eight brothers attacked them, but Balarama single-handedly killed them all with his club.
Krishna was then united with his birth parents, Devaki and Vasudev.

Moral – Truth and goodness shall always prevail.

These stories and many more form a vast pool of knowledge for children to learn from.
Start your journey into storyland with your little ones, and help them find their way to a good
life, and rewarding relationships.
15 Fascinating Stories from Ramayana
for Kids
By
Aparna
-
March 13, 2018

3 Like
Comment
833
The greatest Indian epic, the Ramayana was written by the famous sage Valmiki. This
famous Hindu scripture was composed in the poetic form in Sanskrit. The Ramayana is the
tale of the triumph of good over evil, where Lord Ram fought and killed Ravana to rescue his
wife Sita. The epic is filled with lessons of our culture and also helps us understand the true
meaning of love, devotion, courage, and valour.

Short Stories from Ramayana for Children

The original epic is written in Sanskrit language and it may be difficult for your kid to
understand it. However, if you want your little one to get a sneak peek into one of the
legendary epics, here are few short stories for kids from the epic Ramayana.

1. Why is Hanuman Called Bajrangbali?

The ever-curious Hanuman once saw Sita mata adorning her forehead with vermilion.
Hanuman asked, “Sita Mata, why are putting vermillion on your forehead?” Sita was amused
by the curiosity of Hanuman and answered, “I apply it to ensure the long life of Lord Rama.”
Listening to this, Hanuman smeared his whole body with vermillion. Lord Rama was so
amused that he burst into laughter. He called Hanuman close to him, and said, “I am
amazed by your love and devotion for me and from now on, people will also know you as
Bajrang Bali.” Bajrang in the word Bajrangbali means orange.

2. Lord Rama’s Sister Shanta

Lord Rama also had a sister, apart from his three bothers. Not many know, and it is also
believed that all four sons of king Dashrath were not told about the existence of their sister
Shanta. Shanta was the eldest child of King Dashrath and Queen Kaushalya. Queen
Kaushalya had an elder sister, named Vershini, who did not have any children of her own.
So, during one of her visits to her younger sister Kaushalya, Vershini asked for Kaushalya’s
child. King Dashrath agreed to give Shanta to Vershini.

3. The Story of Hanuman Disobeying Lord Rama

Hanuman was considered the biggest devotee of Lord Rama. It was believed that he never
disobeyed his Lord, however, there was this one time when Hanuman did not agree with
Lord Rama. This incident happened after the coronation ceremony which made Hanuman
extremely sad and disappointed. To get over his morose and sullen state, Hanuman starting
meditating, sitting in one corner. But he was so sad, that tears would not stop rolling from
his eyes. Seeing him deeply saddened, Sita mata informed Lord Rama about Hanuman’s
plight. Lord Rama went up to Hanuman and told him that he is in no position to give
anything to Hanuman in return for his love and devotion. Further, Lord Rama offered that he
can only take Hanuman with him to Vaikuntha. Listening to this, Hanuman’s face lit up, and
he asked Lord Rama if he would be accompanied by Lord Rama to Vaikunth. Lord Rama
replied that he would be present there but in the form of Mahavishnu. Hanuman got
disheartened and thus refused to go to Vaikunth. He did not want to be present in any place
where Lord Rama was not there.

4. The Story of a Squirrel

The king Ravana had abducted Sita mata and taken her along with him to Lanka. There was
a massive ocean that Lord Rama had to cross in order to get Sita mata back. The entire
Vanar sena (army of monkeys) and all the animals started helping Lord Rama to make the
bridge to get to Lanka. Lord Rama was deeply moved seeing the dedication and passion of
his entire army. He noticed that a tiny squirrel was also working tirelessly. The squirrel
picked up tiny stones in her mouth and kept putting them near the boulders. The
enthusiasm of the little squirrel was crushed by a monkey when he made fun of her saying
that she should stay away from the boulder or she would get crushed. Seeing the monkey
laugh, all the other animals also started making fun of the little squirrel. The squirrel was
hurt and started crying. The upset squirrel went running to Lord Rama and complained
about the whole incident. Lord Rama then assembled everyone and showed them that how
the pebble thrown by the little squirrel was acting as a connector between the two boulders.
Lord Rama also stated that no contribution is small or big, but what matters is the intent
and devotion. Appreciating the hard work and effort of the squirrel, Lord Rama lovingly
stroked the squirrel’s back. The gentle stroke left three stripes on the squirrel’s back. It is
believed that before this incident squirrels did not have stripes on their body. This is a
great moral story for kidswhich will help them recognise the importance of both little and
big efforts.
5. The Story About How the Demon King Ravana Got Ten Heads
Ravana was the biggest devotee of Lord Shiva. To please Lord Shiva he underwent severe
penance. One day in order to appease Lord Shiva, Ravana decided to chop off his head.
When he chopped off his head, it grew back again. He kept chopping off his head till his
austerity pleased Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva thus blessed Ravana with ten heads and Ravana
became one of the greatest and the most powerful king. The ten heads of Ravana are
symbolic of the six shashtras and four Vedas that he mastered.

6. The Story of Mandodari And Sita Mata

It is a well-known fact that Sita mata was the daughter of King Janaka. But, according to
one of the references in Adbhuta Ramayana, Mandodari was the mother of Sita mata. It is
believed that Ravana would store the blood of all the saints killed by him in a large pot. One
of sages Gritsamada stored milk obtained from Darbha grass in a pot for practising
penance and to have Goddess Lakshmi as his daughter. Ravana got hold of the milk pot by
sneaking into Gritsamada’s house and poured the milk into his own pot. Queen Mandodari
got so offended by this evil act of Ravana that in order to commit suicide she drank the
contents of the pot stored by Ravana. After drinking from Ravana’s pot, queen Mandodari
did not die, rather she became pregnant with Sita. After Sita’s birth, one of the incarnations
of Goddess Lakshmi, Mandodari left the baby in Kurukshetra and that is how King Janaka
found Sita.

7. The Story of Hanuman’s Birth

This is an interesting Ramayana story for children that talks about the birth of Hanuman.
Once king Dashrath was performing a Yagna in order to have children and Anjana was also
worshipping Lord Shiva to beget a son, at the same time. God of Fire gave prasad to King
Dashrath that had to be shared amongst his three wives. Due to a divine intervention, an
eagle snatched some prasad and the deity of wind, Lord Vayu transported some of the
prasad into Anjana’s hands, which she ate. Soon after this Hanuman was born to Anjana.

8. The Story of the Incarnation of Lord Rama’s Brother

Lord Rama is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and it is believed that his brothers Bharat and
Shatrughan are the incarnations of the Sudarshan chakra, Lord Vishnu’s weapon, and
Sheshnag, his seat in Vaikunth. Laxman was the incarnation of Balram.
9. The Story of Shurpanakha
Shurpanakha was Ravana’s sister, and it is believed that she was the stimulus of the battle
between Lord Rama and Ravana. There are different versions of the stories of how
Shurpanakha was the reason behind the battle, but according to Valmiki’s version,
Shurpanakha approached Lord Rama to ask for marriage, but he refused her proposal of
marriage. She then turned to Laxman. Laxman too refused her proposal and baffled she
decided to harm Sita mata. On Lord Rama’s order, Laxman chopped off Shurpankha’s nose.
Insulted and disheartened she went to her brother Ravana who abducted Sita mata in order
to seek revenge from Lord Rama and Laxman.

10. The Story of the Death of Lord Rama

Lord Rama once deceived Hanuman when it was time for him to die. This was because
Hanuman would not let Yama claim Lord Rama’s soul and thus it was impossible for Lord
Rama to die. To distract Hanuman, Lord Rama threw his ring in a crack and asked Hanuman
to get it. Hanuman got himself into the size of a beetle and jumped into the crack which led
him to Naag Lok (where serpents reside). He asked the King Vasuki of Nag Lok for the ring,
who guided him towards the pile of rings, all of which belonged to Lord Rama. Hanuman
was aghast seeing all this, to which Vasuki informed him that he was tricked by Lord Rama.

11. The Story Of Ravan’s Soul

It is believed that before going for battle with Lord Rama, Ravana deposited his soul with a
hermit called Fire-Eye. The hermit was supposed to guard Ravana’s soul and keep it safe till
he came back for it. During the battle, Lord Rama was surprised to see that none of his
arrows that struck Ravana could harm him. The secret about Ravana’s soul was known to
one of Lord Rama’s allies, who transformed himself into Ravana and went to the hermit
asking to return his soul. As soon the soul was set free, Lord Rama killed the demon King
Ravana.

12. The Story Of Laxman’s Sleep

Laxman wanted to protect Lord Rama and Sita mata in the period of exile and for that, he
wanted to be devoid of sleep. In order to defeat sleep Laxman approached Nidra, the
Goddess of Sleep and asked her to take back his sleep for fourteen years. The Goddess
agreed by saying that someone else would have to sleep on his behalf for fourteen years.
Laxman went to his wife Urmila and asked her if she would take his sleep, to which she
agreed. Urmila slept for 14 years and thus helped Laxman to help Lord Rama.

13. The Story Of Hanuman’s Death Sentence By Lord Rama

Once on being instigated by Narada, Hanuman unknowingly insulted Vishwamitra. This
happened when Hanuman greeted all the sages in Lord Rama’s court but didn’t greet
Vishwamitra because he wasn’t a saint by birth. Vishwamitra felt offended and ordered Lord
Rama to issue a death sentence for Hanuman. The death sentence was executed but none
of the arrows or even Brahmastra could harm Hanuman. This happened because Hanuman
kept chanting Lord Rama’s name all the while.

14. The Story Of Kumbhakaran’s Sleep

Lord Brahma once asked all the three brothers Ravana, Vibhishana, and Kumbhakaran for a
wish. Being well aware of Kumbhakaran’s wit and valour, Indra requested Goddess
Saraswati to tie his tongue, because of which Kumbhakaran asked for the wish of eternal
sleep. Ravana could not see his brother’s plight and thus pleaded to Lord Brahma to take
back his brother’s wish. Lord Brahma could not undo the entire wish but he said that
Kumbhakaran would sleep for half a year and will stay awake for the other half. During the
battle with Lord Rama, Kumbhakaran was asleep and many attempts were made to wake
him up.

15. The Story Of Lord Rama’s Victory

Ravana had organised a Yagna towards the end of the battle for his victory. The condition
for the success of the Yagna was that Ravana could not leave the Yagna in between. When
Lord Rama learnt about this Yagna, he sent Angad along with a group of monkeys to
distract Ravana, but all the efforts went into vain. Finally, Angad dragged Ravana’s wife
Mandodari by her hair in front of him. Mandodari kept pleading Ravana for help, but it did
not move him. It was when Mandodari taunted Ravana by taking Lord Rama and Sita mata’s
example that Ravana got up from the Yagna and was defeated and killed in the battle.

There are great values and lessons in these short stories from Ramayana. These stories are
not only entertaining for your kid but also help your child learn about the various reasons
that led to the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana. Indian mythology is full of interesting
stories; you can also tell Krishna stories to your kids.