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Shankar Dev
Shankaravara could run faster than all his friends and swim across the brahmaputra when it was in spate but when his grandmother scolded him for not paying attention to his books, he took her words seriously named shankar dev by his guru, the young man fulfilled all his duties as a student and a householder before embarking on a voyage of self-discovery a voyage which led to his starting the vaishnava movement in assam.
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Basaveshwara
When the child Basava was born he did not cry or open his eyes for days. According to Sage Jataveda, who later became his guru, Basava had been in a yogic trance. Basaveshvara was a unique human being, a reformer way ahead of his times. Eight hundred years ago, at a time when society was ridden with the evils of a rigid caste system, he spoke of equality and believed in the emancipation of women.
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Dayananda
His grip could halt two galloping horses but it was his intellectual strength that instilled pride in the people of his country. Their old customs were often foolish and unjust, and it took Dayananda’s courage and wisdom to fight for reform. By establishing a string of Arya Samaj centres, he helped in uniting different classes of people who could, eventually, fight together for the freedom of their country.
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Zarathushtra
Good thoughts, good words and good deeds' was the simple message delivered by Zarathushtra, the prophet of ancient Persia. Strangely, no cry came from him when he was born over 8,000 years ago. Instead, the baby Zarathushtra smiled, and it was predicted - correctly - that he would preach love and justice to the world, but would have a hard time convincing vengeful rivals. Strong in their faith, his followers are known today as Zoroastrians; also known as Paris in India.
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Banda Bahadur
Inspired by Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Bahadur led the Sikh rebellion against the Mughal Empire. For eight years, he ravaged the whole of North India. The havoc he created in the Indo-Gangetic plain was of such magnitude that the Mughals could never restore their administration. Invasions by the Persian tyrant, Nadir Shah and the Afghan, Ahmed Shah Abdali hastened the decline of the once mighty empire. This helped the Sikhs to emerge as the rulers of Punjab. Banda Bahadur thus paved the way for the foundation of the Sikh Kingdom.
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Bagha Jatin
When a tiger attacked Jatin Mukherji, his friends felt sorry for the tiiger! The animal was killed and Jatin spent only a short time in hospital recuperating from his wounds. The young man went on to display grit and determination to combat the worst of British colonialism in Bengal. He inspired his countrymen, who were in awe of their British masters, to stand tall and proud.
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Amar Singh Rathor
Amar Singh Rathor was a commander in the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's army. The emperor held him in great esteem and valued his service. But once when Shah Jahan was tricked into imposing a heavy fine on the Rajput by jealous and scheming courtiers, Amar Singh was furious and defiant. In the ensuing battle for honour, the Rajput fought bravely and escaped but was killed by his treacherous brother-in-law. His body was, however, retrieved from the emperor's custody by two comrades and cremated with due respect.
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The Rani Of Kittur
When Chenamma, the queen of Kittur, lost her only son she was steeped in sorrow. But when her husband reminded her that even the people of Kittur were her children she pulled herself together and devoted her life to their well-being. So committed was she to the honour and welfare of her land that when the British came asking for its allegiance she took on their military strength and fought them to the end.
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Rana Sanga
Rana Sanga, the ruler of Mewar, had his eyes set on the throne of Delhi. However, the rising Mughal star Babur got rid of the Lodhi Sultan of Delhi. Thus the stage was set for the confrontation between the formidable Rana and an equally determined Babur who had just found a new home for his men, Hindustan.
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Baladitya And Yashodharma
In the 5th century AD the Hunas of Gandhara or modern Afghanistan had their eyes trained on the rich kingdoms of India. Toramana, the leader of the Hunas and after him his son, Mihirakula, were determined to conquer the prosperous kingdom of Magadha. But they had a formidable rival in its ruler, Narasimha Gupta Baladitya and when the Hunas turned their eyes on Malwa it was King Yashodharma who fought them off.
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Elephant Stories
An elephant's grace often matches his size. Amazingly patient and kind, he can put the petty greed of human beings to shame. But at times the odd elephant can turn nasty. What then can the smaller creatures of the world do to save themselves? Read the ancient wisdom of these Jataka tales to find out.
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Nandivishala
These Jataka tales are a wake-up call to all ungrateful, arrogant, hypocritical and self-serving liars. Full of humor and sound advice, they reveal the tyrannical power of money, the foolishness of superstition and the dangers of losing self-control. So, read and be entertained and laugh as you learn and remember, the good always triumph.
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Kesari The Flying Thief
Is there any end to want? Kesari, the flying thief, was delighted when he found a pair of flying shoes that would help him steal. Vasudeva was in a quandary as to how much money would satisfy all his needs. And Jinadatta hoped that his father-in-law would help him out of bankruptcy. These tales told by Jain monks in ancient times are as relevant today as they were long ago.
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Bird Stories
The heroes of these tales value their friends, their families and their honor. They are brave and selfless. Though each one of them is a bird they are almost always exceptionally wise, at times cunning and often blessed with a sense of humor, just the sort of role models people need to survive the workaday world.
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The Brahmin And The Goat
Three cunning men vex a Brahmin into throwing away a goat carried by him, by calling the animal as a calf, a dog and a donkey. An elephant heeds the request of mice not to trample them and is gratefully freed by them when trapped later. A sage turns a mouse into a girl. When she is grown up and asked to choose a groom, she rejects the sun, cloud, wind and mountain one by one and settles upon the mouse as the mightiest. This Panchatantra collection is a treasure house of a variety of such stories. A collection of tales compiled by Vishnu Sharma, for his young students some 2,200 years ago, the Panchatantra is still correcting common human weakness with its wry humor.
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The Priceless Gem
Is a glowing stone more valuable than wisdom? Is truth more precious than wealth? Answers to such questions came easily to Aushadha Kumar, a Bodhisattva at the court of King Vaideha. A previous incarnation of the wise and compassionate Gautama Buddha, the tale of his life admist adversity and courtly rivalry defines the Buddhist ideal of right thinking and right living. This priceless gem from the Jataka fables teaches even as it entertains.
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Sakshi Gopal
Mahindra and Vasanti want to marry. But Mahindra is only a poor orphan, and Sukhvir, the richest man in the village, wants to marry Vasanti too. During a pilgrimage to a temple of Krishna, Vasanti's father, Raghav, realises Mahindra's qualities of loyalty and integrity and asks him to become his son-in-law. Mahindra is overjoyed but his happiness is shattered when Raghav, swayed by Sukhvir's wealth, breaks his promise. Mahindra calls the village council but no one believes him. In despair, he prays to Lord Gopal to bear witness to Raghav's promise.This is a folktale from Orissa where the Sakshi Gopal temple, in Puri, marks the occasion when Gopal stood witness (Sakshi) so Mahindra and Vasanti could marry.