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Great Personalities

Shivaji’s great escape

Two men walked out of a bungalow carrying huge baskets. Guards stopped the men and ordered them to open the basket covers. Inside, were a variety of sweets. “Who is this for?” barked a guard. “Don’t we answer this question every day?” one of the men answered. The soldier glared…
  • by Krishna Rao
  • August 15, 2020
  • 4 minute read
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Totaka and Shankaracharya

The guru and the silent disciple

Adi Shankara was loved and respected by his disciples. Three of his disciples were intelligent and spent most of their time studying. Their classmate, Totaka, hardly studied. He made himself busy by washing the guru’s clothes, collecting flowers for his worship, making his bed and pressing his feet. The other…
  • by Subba Rao
  • January 22, 2020
  • 2 minute read
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The water man

It had not rained for two years in the state of Maharashtra. Lakes, wells, tanks, and even small rivers dried up. Without water, plants had withered. Many animals moved to far off places in search of water. Eknath decided to go to Benaras on a pilgrimage to Varanasi and pray for…
  • by Subba Rao
  • September 18, 2019
  • 2 minute read
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Bahubali Gommateshwara

Bahubali ruled over Podanapura in South India. His elder brother, Bharata, ruled over Ayodhya in the North. The other brothers had their own kingdoms given to them by their father, Rishabhanatha. Bharata wanted to be known as the King of Kings. He was blessed with a dazzling, divine wheel called…
  • by Subba Rao
  • January 15, 2021
  • 3 minute read
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The bird that flew away

Salim, son of Akbar the Great, loved all animals, especially kabootars, or doves. One evening, he was in the garden holding a pair of doves. His friend, Mehr, was with him. A guard came up to them and told Salim the Emperor wanted to see him. Salim turned to his friend Mehr,…
  • by Subba Rao
  • August 19, 2019
  • 1 minute read
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Buddha remains cool

Gautama Buddha used to go out with a begging bowl to collect a morsel of food for the day. As soon as he appeared in front of a house, the lady of the house would come out with some cooked food, and offer it Buddha. Buddha would accept it, thank…
  • by Subba Rao
  • June 11, 2020
  • 2 minute read
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Stories of Buddha: Free bird

One morning Prince Siddhartha and his cousin Devadatta, went for a walk in the woods. Siddhartha pointed out a swan flying in the sky to Devadatta. Before Siddhartha could stop him, Devadatta shot an arrow at it. Struck by the arrow, the bird went down. Both the boys ran towards…
  • by Subba Rao
  • June 11, 2020
  • 1 minute read
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War and peace

Thondiaman was a young king of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. He was jealous of King Adiyaman, who ruled over Tagadur. The young king thought he was braver than Adiyaman, who was no match to him. Adiyaman ignored the young king, thinking he would mature someday. Avvaiyar, the famous poet used…
  • by Subba Rao
  • July 25, 2019
  • 1 minute read
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Reward for a poet

King Adiyaman ruled in Tagadur, which today is Dharmapuri, in Tamil Nadu. He was a great patron of the arts and literature. Poets from distant lands would come to his court, read their poetry, collect the rich rewards bestowed on them, and go away. Avvaiyar was one of the greatest…
  • by Subba Rao
  • July 25, 2019
  • 1 minute read
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The priceless gift

An ascetic once presented King Adiyaman with a plate of gooseberries (amla). “O king,” said the ascetic, “these are no ordinary gooseberries. They give you a long life.” The king thanked the ascetic and sent for Avvaiyar the poet whom he admired very much. He offered the gooseberries to the poet.…
  • by Subba Rao
  • July 25, 2019
  • 1 minute read
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