Stories 5
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
✕ hospitality
cursesacrificedevotionpridebooncreationdisguisemarriagetestbirthsupremacybargaindeathfirehealingpenancerescuepilgrimagerivercraftfestivaldancegiftrivalryearthemanationfriendshipnightdesirefear
From the epics · 5 tellings · contested
Ahalya, Indra and Gautama's curse
Indra comes to Ahalya in the shape of her husband Gautama; both are cursed; Rama's arrival releases her.
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.
From the epics · 1 telling · contested
Sudarshana, son of Agni, conquers Death
Sudarshana, son of Agni and the princess of Mahishmati, vows to conquer Death as a householder through hospitality.
Festival story · 4 tellings · contested
Yama dines at Yamuna's house
Yamuna's long-refused invitation is accepted on Karttika bright second; Yama frees the hells for the day and grants her wish for all brothers and sisters.
Festival story · 4 tellings · contested
Yudhishthira praises the Sun and receives the copper vessel
Brahmins follow the Pandavas into exile; Yudhishthira cannot feed them.