Myths, tales & more...

Karna is perhaps the most skilled and valiant warrior in the Kurukshetra war fought between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Having said that, Karna was also undoubtedly the most ill fated or unluckiest character in the epic Mahabharata. Bad luck struck him right from the time of his birth. Karna was in fact the eldest of Kunti's (Mother of Pandavas) sons. The story of his birth goes like this - When Kunti was young and still unmarried, the sage Durvasav happened to visit her father's palace. She served the sage with utmost care throughout his stay at the palace for an entire year. Pleased at her hospitality and foreseeing her future that she wouldn't have children after her marriage to Pandu, Durvasav granted her a boon to call upon any God of her choice and beget a child. The sage advised her to use the boon only after her marriage. But out of curiosity and the enthusiasm of her young age she invoked the mantra and called the Sun God. And thus Karna was born. Being the so...

No better way to start this blog. Lord Ganesha, in Hindu mythology is believed to be the God who helps you surpass the hurdles in life. He is otherwise known as Vighneshwara ('Vighn' - hurdle and 'Eshwara' - God). And every devoted Hindu offers a coconut to Vighneshwara before he starts anything new. I, for one, used to offer a coconut to Vighneshwara before I went in to write the many exams in school and in college or before I attend the first day of a new job. Whatever the believes or myths might be, I get a sense of satisfaction on doing so. Isn't it nice that you start doing things on a positive note? Anyways... As the first post in this blog, I'll tell you the most fascinating story about Ganesha which my father told me when I was a kid. One fine day Lord Shiva went out on an errand telling his wife, Goddess Parvathy that it'd take him a while to return home. Now, these couple have made the Himalayas their home and they lived a free, in-harmony with ...