Hindu Mythology on Pitara Kids Network

Bhoja's Eagle

Mon, 25 May 2020 00:30:00 +0000

Bhoja lived in the terai. The terai is the region at the foot of the Himalayas where the grasses grow tall, and the forest is thick.

Bhoja loved the forest. He knew the birds and beasts that lived there. He knew the trees where the honeybees built their huge combs, and the caves where the bats hung upside down.

He liked to sit by the pond where the sarus cranes waded, and the deer came when they were thirsty. And he loved the pool where the frogs croaked all day.

A Witch's Gift

Sat, 23 May 2020 00:30:00 +0000

This is a story of long, long ago.

Surya the sun god had a very beautiful daughter. She was tall, with long golden hair that almost touched her toes. And she was gentle as the soft, wispy white clouds that float by on clear blue day.

Though she loved her home in the sky, each morning, as brightness spread across the heavens, she came down earth, to the wonderful green forests that grew there.

She walked among the trees all day. She sang with the birds. She played hide-n-seek with the small creatures and listened to the stories the big beasts had to tell. And when evening came, she returned to her palace far away beyond the twinkling stars.

Limits of the Mind

Fri, 13 Dec 2002 06:33:35 +0000

Ekalavya was a little boy, born in a poor family, many many years ago. His people lived a little away from Hastinapura, the capital of the Kuru kings. They used to clean other people’s dirt for a profession.

And for this reason they were shunned by society. Ekalavya and other kids of his group knew they too had to follow their parents’ professions.

Their parents often told them, “You are not meant to go to school. What use is school for carrying garbage which is your only job?”

The Honest Thief

Thu, 08 Jun 2000 12:49:46 +0000

There was once a cunning thief, Bhairav, who always planned his moves carefully. One day he decided to rob the holy men who came to the local temple from far off lands for the temple’s annual festival. He calculated that all these people came from distant towns, so they must be carrying lots of money.

So Bhairav dressed up like a holy man and went to attend the festival. At the temple, he slowly made friends with one particular person who appeared to be wealthy. After spending a few days at the temple, the thief and holy man became friends. The thief was so impressed by the nature of his new friend that he did not want to rob him any more. So much so, that he confessed the original reason for his friendship to the holy man. Surprisingly, the holy man did not call the police. Instead, he gave the stunned Bhairav some of his money.

The Song of Hori or Happiness

Sun, 18 May 2003 20:14:09 +0000

Braj mein hori khelat Nandlal.

Kesar rang ki keech bhai hai,
Chahun or udat gulal,
Nachat gopal.

Braj mein hori khelat Nandlal.

Baajat jhanjhar, dhol, majari aur khartal,
Braj ki nari sangh hori khelat,
Nachat dede taal, sakhi.

Braj mein hori khelat Nandlal.

(This song sung by women describes Nandlal, as young Krishna is called, playing hori with the women of Brajbhoomi – the area comprising Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul and Barsana that are associated with Krishna and Radha. ‘Red colour is flying in all directions and the mud has turned slushy with saffron coloured water. Friend, dance to the beat as Nandlal is playing hori’ – so the song goes.)

The Priest, the Tiger and the Jackal

Mon, 24 Jan 2000 23:59:25 +0000

One day a priest was walking along a country road when he came upon a tiger, shut up in a strong iron cage. The villagers had caught him and shut him up there because he had started preying on their fowl and cattle.

As soon as the tiger saw the priest, he pleaded, “Oh, Brother Brahmin, please let me out to get a little drink! I am so thirsty, and there is no water here.”

Birju and the Flying Horse

Tue, 03 Mar 1998 22:11:57 +0000

In a far off city, there lived a boy called Birju. He longed to run and play like other children. But he had a lame leg. He found it difficult to even walk properly. Birju’s father worked as a gardener in a rich man’s garden, close to the hut in which they lived. His mother washed dishes in other people’s houses. One day, his father came home looking very pleased. “Look, Birju,” he said, “Look what I’ve got!” He held up an old wooden rocking horse. “Bibiji gave it to me.” The horse was old and battered. The paint had peeled off, the saddle was torn and one of the ears was about to fall off. But Birju was thrilled with his new toy. He had never owned anything like it before. He climbed on it at once and began to rock.

The Making of the Goddess

Sun, 10 Nov 2002 18:22:53 +0000

On an ordinary day, the names Kumartuli and Krishnanagar would not make much of a difference to a Bengali. But come Durga Puja, and these two ordinary towns near Calcutta, become the focus of great attention. For it is here that the clay idols of Durga are made. This age-old tradition of clay sculpture has been preserved by the community of Pals.

Months before the Puja, clay artisans start to breathe life into the images of Durga.

Fun'tastic Ramlila, Dandiya, Jatra

Thu, 11 Jan 2001 07:04:37 +0000

Whether it is a pesky 11-year-old Dashrath struggling to maintain his flowing beard during the enactment of the Ramayana in a street Ramlila, or handsome young artistes enacting Rama and Sita on a professional stage, the feeling is the same for the viewers.

They know the story of Sita and Ram by heart, but every year they wait with bated breath for yet another performance of the Ramayana in performances across the country, and specially in northern India. It is as if they are seeing it for the first time. In the actors they see the epic come alive; the actors, too, do not remain untouched by the fervent chants of the audience every now and then, ‘Bol Siyapati Ram ki Jai’ (Hail Sita’s husband Rama’)

How to Bell a Thief

Thu, 29 Nov 2001 08:30:23 +0000

Sonapur was a small village. It was famous for its little temple. The temple had no deity. All it had was the imprint of a pair of feet. According to folklore, these were of a pious sage. A diya burned brightly, night and day. Seven beautiful bells hung in the little temple, gleaming brightly in the light cast by the diya.

The villagers of Sonapur were content and happy. Their fields yielded abundant crops. Earnings were enough to meet the needs of each family.

The Story of Indian Bronzes

Fri, 13 Sep 2002 04:24:31 +0000

One of the most beautiful figures in Indian sculpture is that of Lord Shiva dancing the Ananda Tandava or dance of joy, one leg raised high, his face very calm, as he destroys all life until new life is born once more. Looking at the divine dancer, we can almost hear the sound of the damru or small drum that he holds in one fist.

The bronze figure of this god is often seen in museums, in homes, even at crafts bazaars. So are crafted figures of Shiva and Parvati, Buddhist saints, or even Rama, Sita and Lakshman.

Janamashtmi – The Day Krishna was Born

Sun, 15 Aug 1999 17:02:37 +0000

Janamashtmi, or the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna — the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu — is celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour all over India. It falls on the eighth day of the waning moon in the month of Shravan in August/ September. Lord Krishna is believed to have been born at midnight on this day. The day is marked by fasting, feasting, dancing and singing hymns and prayers.

Lord Vishnu is invoked in his human incarnation as Krishna on his birth anniversary.

Joking with the Goddess

Fri, 22 Sep 2000 11:39:52 +0000

Gopal was in great pain. A big battle seemed to be raging in his stomach. Of course, there was nothing unusual about this. With his weakness for good food — sweets in particular — he often did overeat and this was the inevitable result. As long as the pain lasted, Gopal was full of remorse, and made wild promises to eat moderately, but all were forgotten the moment he was well.

This time the pain was worse than anything he had ever experienced before. “It must have been the fish,” Gopal said aloud. “I thought it did not look fresh.”

India Quiz : Holi's Here!

Sat, 26 Oct 2002 05:03:46 +0000

It’s known as the festival of colours and is made up of a fascinating mix of legends and celebrations from different parts of India. Care to follow the coloured trail?

India Quiz : The Epic Mahabharata

Sun, 21 Apr 2002 22:46:01 +0000

The world’s oldest epic, Mahabharata is the saga of a war fought over power between the Pandavas and the Kauravas who came from the same family. It is a good example of different people’s perception of right and wrong at different times.

चतुर चित्रकार

Mon, 26 Feb 2001 14:29:38 +0000

चित्रकार सुनसान जगह में बना रहा था चित्र।
इतने ही में वहां आ गया यम राजा का मित्र।।
उसे देखकर चित्रकार के तुरंत उड़ गये होश।
नदी पहाड़ पेड़ फिर उसको कुछ हिम्मत आई देख उसे चुपचाप।
बोला सुन्दर चित्र बना दूं बैठ जाइये आप।।
उकरू मुकरू बैठ गया वह सारे अन्ग बटोर।
बड़े ध्यान से लगा देखने चित्रकार की ओर।।
चित्रकार ने कहा हो गया आगे का तैयार।
अंब मुंह आप उधर तो करिये जंगल के सरदार।।
बैठ गया वह पीठ फिराकर चित्रकार की ओर।
चित्रकार चुपके से खिसका जैसे कोई चोर।।
बहुत देर तक आंख मूंदकर पीठ घुमाकर शेर।
बैठ बैठ लगा सोचने इधर हुई क्यों देर।।
झील किनारे नाव लगी थी एक रखा था बांस।
चित्रकार ने नाव पकड़कर ली जी भरके सांस।।
जल्दी जल्दी नाव चलाकर निकन गया वह दूर।
इधर शेर था धोखा खाकर झुंझलाहट में चूर।।
शेर बहुत खिसियाकर बोला नाव जरा ले रोक।
कलम और कागज तो ले जा रे कायर डरपोक।।
चित्रकार ने कहा तुरन्त ही रखिये अपने पास।
चित्रकला का आप कीजिए जंगल में अभ्यास।।

सोमवार की सुबह

Thu, 06 Feb 1997 16:07:37 +0000

स्वामी और उसके दोस्त का प्रथम अंश

सोमवार की सुबह थी। स्वामीनाथन की आंखे खोलने की इच्छा नहीं हो रही थी। सोमवार उसे कैलेंडर का सबसे मनहूस दिन लगता था। शनिवार और रविवार की मज़ेदार आजादी के बाद सोमवार को काम और अनुशासन के मूड़ में आना बहुत मुश्किल होता था।

स्कूल के विचार से ही उसे झुरझुरी आ गयी वह पीली मनहूस बिल्डिंग जलती आंखों वाला कक्षा अध्यापक वेदनायकम और पतली लंबी छड़ी हाथ में लिए हैडमास्टर।

नट खट हम हां नटखट हम

Wed, 31 May 2000 10:37:09 +0000

नट खट हम हां नटखट हम।
करने निकले खट पट हम
आ गये लड़के पा गये हम।
बंदर देख लुभा गये हम
बंदर को बिचकायें हम।
बंदल दौड़ा भागे हम
बच गये लड़के बच गये हम।
बर्र का बांस उठाकर आ गये हम
ऊधम लगे मचाने हम
आ लड़कों पर टूट पड़े
झटपट हट कर छिप गये हम।
बच गये लड़के बच गये हम
बिच्छू एक पकड़ लाये।
उसे छिपाकर ले आये
सबक जांचने भिड़े गुरू।
हमने नाटक किया शुरू
खोला बिच्छु चुपके से।
बैठे पीछे दुबके से
बच गये गुरू जी खिसके हम।
पिट गये लड़के बच गये हम
बुढ़िया निकली पहुंचे हम।
लगे चिढ़ाने जम जम जम
बुढ़िया खीझे डरे न हम।
ऊधम करना करें न कम
बुढ़िया आई नाकों दम।
लगी पीटने धम धम धम
जान बचा कर भग गये हम।
पिट गये लड़के बच गये हम

ज़रा चख के देखो

Thu, 09 Nov 2000 00:48:40 +0000

ज़रा चख के देखो
ज़रा चख के देखो
ये है बड़ी मज़ेदार
ये है मज़ेकी
नगर नगर में शहर शहर में
देखों आगे पीछे
चढता दाम सब चीज़ों का
हम गिरते हैं नीचे
…जरा चख के देखो
नये नगर में बजता हैं
इक नये किसम का बाजा
अब तो राजा गधा बनेगा
गधा बनेगा राजा
नसीब अपना टूटा फूटा
नसीब अपना खोटा
ज़मींदार का कु
…जरा चख के देखो

बच्चों के लिए हिन्दी कविताएँ
Hindi poem for children from Harindranath Chattopadhyaya’s “Curd Seller Verses”

गुड्डा बुड्डा

Tue, 07 Sep 1999 18:59:27 +0000

यह है गुड़िया
यह है गुड्डा
यह है बु्ढ़िया
यह है बुड्ढा।
सोच रही हूं
इक दिन गुड़िया
हो जाएगी ऐसी
बुढ़िया।
हो जाएगा इक दिन बुड्ढ़ा
मेरा प्यारा सा गुड्डा।
गुड़िया बुढ़िया
गुड्डा बुड्ढा।

कविता 13
हक्का बक्का : बच्चों के लिए 15 हिन्दी कविता
First published by National Book Trust

गोपाल के गाल

Sat, 10 Jun 2000 22:02:51 +0000

गोपाल के गाल
गोलम गोल लालम लाल
रंग सुनहरा आंखें सुंदर
घुंघराले से उसके बाल
छोटा सा वो नटखट भोला
करता कितने कई कमाल
कभी फोड़ वो मटकी देता
कभी हाथ ले बंसी लेता
चोरी माखन की भी करता
रोज़ मचाता कई धमाल
प्यारा फिर भी मीत सभी का
डरता जो वो उसकी ढाल
गोलम गोल लालम लाल
गोपाल के गाल।

बच्चों के लिए हिन्दी कविताएँ
Hindi poem for children