Parikatha Podcast | Fairytales of India by gaathastory

When a gardener's daughter in the King's garden declares that one day she will have a son unlike any other — a boy with a moon on his forehead and a star on his chin — her playfellows laugh at her. But the childless King overhears her, marries her, and when the promised boy is finally born, four jealous Queens steal the newborn, leave a stone in his place, and turn his mother into a palace servant. The abandoned infant is rescued from a buried box by the King's dog Shankar, who swallows the child to protect him — and when the dog's life is threatened, he passes the boy to the King's cow Suri, and she in turn to the King's unruly fairy-horse Badal.

Disguised by Badal's magic as a poor, common-looking man, the grown prince finds service with a grain merchant, sings in the King's garden, and is chosen — twice — by the youngest princess, to the astonishment of every king and raja who came as a suitor. Restored to his true form, the prince with a moon on his forehead and a star on his chin hunts where his brothers-in-law cannot, reveals the mark of the thief upon them, and finally returns to his father's kingdom to free his mother, expose the four wicked Queens, and claim his place as the King's son.

This story was obtained from public domain sources, but has been revised and rewritten by Amar Vyas and narrated by Sheerali Biju for gaathastory. Music and images obtained from public domain sources or Creative Commons license.

Prince Shersingh is a magical Indian folktale about a royal child born with a moon on his forehead and a star on his chin, whose jealous stepmothers separate him from his mother and try to destroy him. Protected by the loyal dog Shankar, cow Suri, and the magical horse Badal, the prince survives, grows up in disguise, and eventually marries a princess who chooses him for who he appears to be rather than his royal identity. With the help of Badal, he ultimately returns to his father, reveals the truth about his birth and the treachery of the four Queens, and is reunited with his mother and family. 

Listen to the story of Moti, a young man who sets off from his home to earn a living. Along the way, he encounters a series of adventures, including getting robbed by a couple of horse traders, and he also has a duel with a tiger. Moti continues his further adventures after he has fought with and captured a tiger. Will Moti be able to impress the King again?

This story was obtained from public domain sources, but has been revised and rewritten by Amar Vyas and narrated by Sheerali Biju for gaathastory. Music and images obtained from public domain sources or Creative Commons license.

Listen how King Anangpal meets an old Sadhu in a forest. The Sadhu's prophecy shocks the King, and he decides to act on it. In this process, he ends up killing an innocent woman and leaves her newborn son to fend for himself. What happens to the boy? Will the Sadhu's prophecy come true?

King Anangpal decides to act on the Prophecy made by a Sadhu. He thinks that the Boy who is supposed to marry his daughter is dead, only to learn that he was raised by an old woman.

This story was obtained from public domain sources, but has been revised and rewritten by Amar Vyas and narrated by Sheerali Biju for gaathastory. Music and images obtained from public domain sources or Creative Commons license.

Jackal or Tiger? is an Indian fairy tale from Andrew Lang's Fairy Books. It begins with a king and queen quarrelling one hot night over whether the howl they heard belonged to a tiger or a jackal — a wager that ends with the queen banished to the forest, where she is rescued by a kindly farmer and gives birth to a son, Ameer Ali. Years later, the young prince sets out to seek his fortune and enters the service of another king, where his courage is tested by a witch at a gallows on a stormy night, and then by a spoiled princess whose demands for ever more jewels can only be met with the help of the mysterious Fairy of the Forest.

When the prince refuses to marry the vain princess, his true identity is revealed, the old king is forced to confront his own jackal-like court, and Ameer Ali claims both his throne and his fairy bride. This episode is brought to you by gaathastory.com.

In the ancient city of Alakapuri, a wealthy merchant loses his camel and sets out to find it. Along the way, he encounters four travelling ministers who have never seen the animal but, by carefully studying its tracks and the signs it has left behind, accurately describe its condition: one leg is lame, it is blind in one eye, it has an unusually short tail, and it is suffering from colic. The merchant suspects them of stealing the camel and takes them before King Alakesa, who initially shares his suspicion.

However, the four travellers explain the reasoning behind each observation, revealing their remarkable powers of deduction. Impressed by their wisdom and keen observation, the king rewards the merchant and appoints the four travellers as his principal ministers, demonstrating how careful observation and sound reasoning can reveal truths that are not immediately visible.

Punchkin is a classic Indian folktale about Bala, the youngest and cleverest of seven princesses, whose kindness and courage help her family survive betrayal, exile and enchantment. After their cruel stepmother drives the princesses from their home, Bala and her sisters are rescued by seven princes, but their happiness is threatened when the wicked magician Punchkin turns Bala into a black dog and imprisons her in a tower. Years later, Bala’s young son sets out to find his missing parents and uncles, discovers Punchkin’s secret source of power — a little green parrot hidden far away — and devises a clever plan to defeat the magician. With courage, intelligence and help from the magical eagles he once aided, the young prince frees his family, restores those who were transformed into stone and trees, and brings the story to a happy conclusion.

The Jeweled Arrow is the tale about a King who has a wicked wife called Gunavarna, a magician who has a beautiful daughter, and the adventures of a young Prince Shringabhuja. And how does the Jeweled Arrow fit into all this? Prince Shringabhuja is sent into exile by his father, and the young prince being s a series of adventures. Along the way, he sees a beautiful girl named Roopshikha. Will she be his lady love?

This story was obtained from public domain sources, but has been revised and rewritten by Amar Vyas and narrated by Sheerali Biju for gaatha story. Music and images obtained from public domain sources or Creative Commons license. 

Ranavir Singh, a faithful servant of a King, and young Prince Sundar. A King is treacherously murdered by his minister Kharavadana. But before his death, the King entrusts the safety of his son, young Prince Sundar, in the hands of his trusted aide, Ranavir Singh. But Kharavadana has other plans!

As the evil King, the former minister Kharavadana decides to plot against Sundar, the Prince realizes that his mentor was right all along. But does the realization come too late for him? Soon, young Prince Sundar finds help in unexpected places, including the beautiful daughter of a robber! Finally, will Prince Sundar be able to avenge his father's death? Will Ranavir Singh forgive his wayward protege? And what happens to the girl who comes to the young prince's aid?

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The Legend of Raja Rasalu is a tale from Northern India, set in what is now known as Sialkot in Pakistan. This is a tale of bravery and adventure. Originally an eight part story, we have combined the different stories to form a single narrative for your listening pleasure. Learn how Raja Rasalu was born and how he spent the first twelve years of his life in an underground palace. Net, he meets seventy maidens, and how he defeats King Sarkap in a game of Chaupad. Finally, he returns to his father's Kingdom. Will he lead a life Happily ever after?

This story was revised and rewritten by Amar Vyas and narrated by Sheerali Biju for gaatha story. Audio editing by Krishnadas. Theme music is titled Frost Waltz by Kevin Macleod. Other sound effects from Soundbible, used under creative commons license.