The vast Puranic literature of India is a bridge from the complex knowledge of the Vedas to the real life needs of the average person. The glorious sagas of Gods, Sages, Kings, and common people exemplify that which is considered Dharma, or righteous behavior, through their colorful depictions of the trials and triumphs of life. Most of these stories were originally transcribed in Sanskrit from the oral tradition. Older English translations of those original works contain stylistic elements that make them difficult to digest for the modern reader. The stories in this compilation were carefully selected by Swami Rajarshi Muni for their applicability to the spiritual aspirant. We have taken every effort to maintain their authenticity while updating the language to a more modern vernacular. So come, you loving devotees of the Lord. Read and enjoy these fresh insights into the rich traditions of India.
Todd Hoover, MD retired after more than twenty-five years of family and corporate medicine practice to pursue further education and practice of yoga in India under the guidance of Swami Rajarshi Muni. Dr. Hoover is widely published and has lectured around the world on homeopathic medicine. His original interest in homeopathic medicine grew out of extraordinary experiences in yoga that could not be explained through his conventional understanding of the body learned in medical school. He shifted back to a more focused pursuit of yoga having completed a long period of service to his patients. He is currently enrolled in the Lakulish Yoga University studying Karma, Bhakti, and Gyan Yoga. Over the past few years, he has authored the book "Stress Management through Yoga" and co-authored "Fundamentals of Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy."
Jarryd Thomas Lee became captivated by yoga while travelling through India in 2009. This love of yoga led to over 500 hours of yoga teacher-training programs at the Kripalu Centre and the Kailash Tribal School in Dharamsala, India. To deepen his understanding, Jarryd enrolled as a Yoga Studies major at Lakulish Yoga University, where he focuses on Karma, Gyan, and Bhakti Yoga (or the yoga of action, knowledge, and devotion). Though his training, he is developing an in-depth knowledge of ancient yoga texts and Indian epics. Jarryd believes that the integration of proper action, knowledge, and devotion form the foundation of a stable and deep yoga practice.
The Puranas are a vast set of scriptures which teach the fundamental aspects of Sanatan Dharma (the eternal culture or spirituality for all of humankind). In compiling these stories, we have retrieved information from a number of translations of the original Sanskrit texts. By cross-referencing these texts and comparing variations to the most reliable authorities, we hope to have accurately captured and updated these ancient treasures.
This compilation of Puranic Stories has been created through the grace of my beloved guru Swami Rajarshi Muni. He has selected these stories out of the thousands of stories within those sacred scriptures. These stories are extracted from major Puranas and also from a peripheral source of literature called "The Ocean of Story." Within these pages you will find examples of righteous and sinful human behavior, stories of kings and saints, and the influence of God in this world. Swami Rajarshi Muni has emphasized that these stories are to be taken as the literal history of India and the entire world. Additionally, we have taken the liberty to discuss some of the inherent lessons on life, which are embedded within each of the stories.
We invite the reader to step back into time and experience these epic journeys. While the stories have occurred hundreds of years ago, the lessons they relay are perhaps even more relevant to the issues of the world today. I come from a Christian background and found these stories to be similar to many of the Bible stories I heard in my youth. When I was younger, I held those miraculous tales as absolute truth. As I grew older, I began to question and doubt the truth of those stories, and subsequently, they lost much of their value. Over time, I have come to question the value of such doubts which are simply due to my own speculation. I invite the reader to suspend any tendencies to determine what is fact or fiction, and simply read these stories as being true. The value of scriptures can be fully experienced when our ego-based invented doubts are surrendered. These doubts and opinions are obstacles to truth that help lock us in the darkness of ignorance. The inherent beauty of life expands as we let go of our mentally generated judgments, attachments, and coloration of reality.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the work of my co-writer Jarryd Thomas Lee and my dear friend who edited these pages, Dennis Konchak. I hold the deepest respect and love for my guru Swami Rajarshi Muni, without whom this work would not be possible. We hope you enjoy these delightful tales from the scriptures and perhaps glean something of value from the deeper truths lie within them.
Vedas (1293)
Upanishads (481)
Puranas (612)
Ramayana (837)
Mahabharata (329)
Dharmasastras (162)
Goddess (474)
Bhakti (241)
Saints (1303)
Gods (1268)
Shiva (344)
Journal (144)
Fiction (52)
Vedanta (333)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist