1. Shyam and the Mysterious Pot of Curds: A Tale of Faith and Belief | 2. Sarama(Female Dog): Indra’s Pet in the Rigveda

These Mythology stories teach morals and values.

Once upon a time, in a small Indian village, there lived a young boy named Shyam. His mother, Lakshmi, was a widow who struggled to make ends meet by spinning yarn. Despite their lack of money, they managed to get by with just enough food to eat.

Every day, Shyam’s mother prayed to Sri Krishna, asking for help in raising her son to be strong and good. When Shyam was old enough, his mother sent him to school in the next village, which meant he had to walk through a dense forest.

But Shyam felt scared because he was alone, so he hurried to reach the school as fast as he could.

At school, Shyam was happy. He enjoyed his time there, liked his teacher, and had fun playing with the other boys.

However, when school ended and it was time to head home, Shyam remembered he had to walk through the forest again.

This time, the forest seemed scarier than before. It was darker, with strange shadows looming everywhere. He imagined the tree branches were like arms reaching out to grab him, and there were creepy things resembling snakes slithering up the trees.

Shyam panicked and started running. He didn’t stop until he reached home.

Upon seeing his mother, Shyam burst into tears.

“What’s wrong?” his mother asked, taking him into her arms to comfort him.

“Did the teacher scold you?” she inquired.

“Oh, no, Ma,” replied Shyam. “I was happy at school. But it’s the forest, Ma. I feel scared because it’s a long way through the forest and I’m there alone.” “

“But there’s nothing to fear in the forest,” his mother reassured him. “You’ll soon get used to it.”

“No, Ma,” Shyam insisted. “I feel very frightened. Please send someone with me.”

“But who can I send, Shyam?” his mother pondered. “There is no one who can go with you.”

Shyam’s mother closed her eyes, deep in thought. Suddenly, she opened them again, her face lighting up with a smile.

Thankfully, his mother assured him that his big brother, Murali, who looked after cows in the forest, would accompany him if he called out. Relieved by this promise, Shyam eagerly awaited each morning to meet his brother.

True to his mother’s words, Murali always showed up, playing his flute and comforting Shyam as they journeyed through the forest. Their bond grew stronger with each trip, and Shyam found comfort in sharing his experiences with his brother.

One day, Shyam mentioned a school feast to Murali, worrying about not being able to contribute due to their poverty. Murali assured him they would find a solution.

On the day of the feast, Murali presented Shyam with a small pot of curds, which disappointed Shyam as he feared it wouldn’t be enough.

“We shouldn’t waste the curds,” the teacher remarked. “A few children may still want some. Shyam, bring the pot of curds.”

Shyam complied, distributing curds to three of the four children. Then something strange caught his attention. Each time he scooped curds from the pot, it seemed to refill itself. He continued, generously filling each child’s leaf plate with curds.

The teacher observed Shyam in astonishment. “Shyam,” he exclaimed, “you’ve given curds to everyone. How is this possible? I believe you to have brought a single small pot of curds.”

“Yes, sir,” Shyam replied. “This is the same pot. But look, it’s still full.”

“Impossible!” the teacher exclaimed. “Where did you find this curd pot? Tell me at once.”

“Sir,” Shyam explained, “my big brother gave it to me.”

“Your big brother? I didn’t know you had one,” the teacher said, puzzled.

“I didn’t know either, sir,” Shyam responded, “until I started coming to school. He walks with me through the forest, you see.”

“Where does he live? What is his name?” the teacher inquired.

Shyam then told the teacher all about Murali—what he did, what he looked like, and how sweetly he played the flute.

“Shyam,” the teacher said, “I would like to meet this big brother of yours. Could I accompany you to meet him?”

“Of course, sir,” Shyam eagerly agreed. “This evening, come with me to the forest. I only need to call him, and he comes to me.”

When it was time for Shyam to head home, his teacher accompanied him to the forest.

Shyam called out for Murali as usual, but he did not appear. Despite repeated calls, there was no sign of him.

“I think, sir,” Shyam said to the teacher, “that you may not have been speaking the truth. You don’t believe I have a big brother who lives in the forest.”

Shyam began to cry. “It’s true! It’s true,” he sobbed. “I have a big brother, his name is Murali. He gave the curds.”

“Where is he, then?” asked the teacher.

“Oh, big brother Murali!” Shyam called out loudly. “You must come to me now. You must. If you don’t, my teacher will never believe me.”

At that moment, the sound of a flute echoed through the forest.

In response, a beautiful voice echoed from the forest, explaining that Shyam had seen Murali because of his mother’s unwavering faith and his own trust in her.

Finally understanding his brother’s true nature, Shyam embraced the deep connection between faith, love, and the unseen presence of Murali in their lives.

2. Sarama(Female Dog): Indra’s Pet in the Rigveda

According to the Rigveda, Indra, the King of Gods and the guardian of cattle, had a faithful companion in the form of a pet dog named Sarama, which means “fast-moving.” This association is reflected in the Sanskrit word for dog, “Sarameya,” which means “Born of Sarama.” Additionally, Indra also had a pet eagle named Suparna, meaning “well-feathered,” highlighting the diverse companionship enjoyed by the divine ruler.

Long ago, far from heaven, there was a tribe called the Panis. They didn’t get along with Indra and the Gods. Once, these troublemaking Panis stole the cows of Vrihaspati, a wise Guru of the gods, and hid them in a cave across the river. Indra sent his pet eagle to find the missing cows. Flying high above, Suparna spotted the cave. But the cunning Panis tempted her with tasty meat, and she kept quiet about what she found. Indra then turned to his other pet, Sarama, and ordered her to go and find the cows.

Using her sharp senses of hearing and smell, Sarama located the cave where the cows were hidden. She heard the cows mooing and detected the strong scent of cattle in the area. Sarama bravely crossed the river and reached the entrance of the cave where the stolen cows were kept.

The Panis also tried to sway Sarama, saying, “Sister! Don’t tell your master what you have found out.” But neither their sweet talk nor offers of meat could bribe Sarama. She remained loyal to her master and quickly returned to him, informing him of what she had discovered. Indra, upon learning of the situation, immediately set off to confront the Panis. He found and battled them, ultimately freeing the stolen cows. This ancient tale from the Vedic times highlights the dog’s reputation for loyalty and keen detection abilities.