Stories 6
All kinds
Origin
Legend
Local story
Folk tale
From the epics
Festival story
Temple legend
In stone and bronze
How a tradition frames it
Everywhere
Pan-India 240
South India 81
West India 37
East India 37
North India 28
The Himalaya 17
Northeast India 8
Southeast Asia 6
Central India 5
Sri Lanka 1
✕ death
cursesacrificedevotionpridebooncreationdisguisemarriagetestbirthsupremacybargainfirehealingpenancerescuepilgrimagerivercraftfestivaldancegiftrivalryearthemanationfriendshipnightdesirefear
Legend · 3 tellings · contested
Nachiketa in the house of Death
Given to Death by his angry father, the boy Nachiketa waits three nights at Yama's house and receives three boons.
Legend · 4 tellings · contested
Prajapati falls apart and is rebuilt
Prajapati creates the worlds, the gods and the creatures out of himself.
Legend · 4 tellings · contested
Pushan, guide of the dead
The funeral hymn gives the dead to Pushan, who knows the far road; the Isha Upanishad asks him to uncover the face of the True.
Legend · 2 tellings · contested
Subandhu's spirit is called back
Singers steady themselves and call a man's spirit back for sense, strength and life.
Legend · 3 tellings · contested
The breath that never tires and the god that never sets
The Upanishads pair breath among the bodily powers with Vayu among the gods as the one that never tires.
Legend · 2 tellings · contested
The dove at the hearth
A dove, envoy of Destruction, has come into the house and settled by the fire.