About

Most of us like to hear stories. Stories in different categories, from far away places, mythological tales, folk tales, the list will be endless. I grew up in a small town and my grandma would tell us such varied tales during bed time. Hungry for more stories we would even wake her up from her afternoon siesta and she would oblige us with a tale, a folk one with a generous dose of moral.

Most of her stories were of Lord Krishna especially during bedtime, as in her opinion listening to stories about the gods at night would help us ward off monsters in the cupboard or under the cot.

The stories heard during those growing up years helped us develop a fertile imagination in the years to come. We would make up our own stories and regale our grandma, who would smile indulgently.

We grew up, got married, had children and life has come full circle. My children get to hear tales mythical and otherwise from their grandparents. My children also have the habit of listening to stories from me at bed time. My older one has a fascination for mythological stories. The way her eyebrows go up and her eyes shine while I narrate a story, told me how engrossed she gets listening to these tales. Recently I read a mythological tale which I hadn’t heard from my grandma. This set me thinking. I decided to translate the story and put it up in a web blog. People like me who would constantly want to relate new stories during bedtime could help themselves.

 

(Most of the stories I write about are sourced from Shakti Vikatan and Kumudam, which feature rare temples and the legend behind them. I don’t wish to translate them word for word and the story is in my own words. I also write stories that come about on hearsay, for the simple reason that children love listening to these tales whichever way one chooses to narrate them.)

I also blog at www.hookedonhobbies.wordpress.com