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Lay Followers

Householders, shravaks and shravikas whose quiet vows outshone kings.

69 stories, each with a gentle children's telling and the full story.

Anand Shravakआनंद श्रावक · આનંદ શ્રાવકWhen the greatest monk said sorry to a householder5 min · children's telling Dhanasarधनसार · ધનસારThe richest miser in Mathura, and the day his gold turned to coal4 min · children's telling Kuldhar's Daughterकुलधर की पुत्री · કુલધરની પુત્રીA girl with no name who found her own way, and a garden that bloomed again5 min · children's telling Punyasarपुण्यसार · પુણ્યસારA flying banyan tree, a secret on a wall, and a bride in disguise5 min · children's telling Sumitraसुमित्र · સુમિત્રA minister who would not break his vow, even for a king4 min · children's telling MairavatiA princess who told the king the truth about karma, and paid the price gladly5 min · children's telling Punia Shravakपुणिया श्रावक · પુણિયા શ્રાવકThe poor spinner whose samayik a king could not buy4 min · children's telling Shripal and Mayanasundari, Part 1श्रीपाल और मयणासुंदरी, भाग 1 · શ્રીપાળ અને મયણાસુંદરી, ભાગ 1A princess who trusted her karma, and the nine days that changed everything5 min · children's telling The Sunday Vow (Aditya Vrat Katha)रविव्रत कथा · રવિવ્રત કથાA forgotten sickle, a coiled snake, and a promise kept with a true heart5 min · children's telling The Fruit of Worshipपूजा का फल · પૂજાનું ફળDhruv wanted the most stars on the chart, until Ba asked what he was praying for3 min · children's telling The Spirit of Worshipपूजा का भाव · પૂજાનો ભાવA great festival, a famous donor, and an old man with a handful of rice4 min · children's telling The Navkar Mantra in the StormA pot, a hidden snake, and a bride who never stopped saying her prayer4 min · children's telling The Navkar Mantra and the Thiefनवकार मंत्र और चोर · નવકાર મંત્ર અને ચોરA thirsty man, a kind stranger, and the few words he held on to4 min · children's telling Shripal and Mayanasundari, Part 2श्रीपाल और मयणासुंदरी, भाग 2 · શ્રીપાળ અને મયણાસુંદરી, ભાગ 2Stuck ships, a sea voyage, a jealous merchant and the nine holy names5 min · children's telling Sulasaसुलसा · સુલસાThe laywoman whose faith no disguise could shake4 min · children's telling Kamdev Shravakकामदेव श्रावक · કામદેવ શ્રાવકOne long night, three terrible shapes, and a householder who did not move4 min · children's telling Haribal's Vowहरिबल का व्रत · હરિબળનું વ્રતA poor fisherman, one small promise, and the same fish again and again4 min · children's telling Sudarshan Shethसुदर्शन सेठ · સુદર્શન શેઠAn honest man, a false accusation, and a stake that turned into a throne4 min · children's telling Gunadhar the Caravan Leaderगुणधर सार्थवाह · ગુણધર સાર્થવાહA ring in the grass, gold under the hoof, and water no one was watching5 min · children's telling Subhadra Satiसुभद्रा सती · સુભદ્રા સતીA sieve, a cotton thread, and the gates of a whole city5 min · children's telling Kalavatiकलावती · કલાવતીA brother's gift, a king's mistake, and a queen who would not hate5 min · children's telling The Daughter-in-law Somaबहू सोमा · વહુ સોમાA pot, a dark evening, and a garland of fresh flowers4 min · children's telling The Generous Grandmotherउदार दादी · ઉદાર દાદીDev thought Vimlaba never spent a rupee, until the prize-giving day4 min · children's telling Dhola and Maruढोला मारू · ઢોલા મારુA desert princess, a forgotten promise, and a camel that ran through the night5 min · children's telling Madhavanalaमाधवानल · માધવાનલA wandering musician, a famous dancer, and a king who kept his word4 min · children's telling Nal and Damayantiनल और दमयंती · નળ અને દમયંતીA princess with a shining mark on her forehead, and twelve long years of faith5 min · children's telling Kartik Shethकार्तिक सेठ · કાર્તિક શેઠThe merchant who served a proud man his dinner, and became king of the heavens4 min · children's telling Kumarpal's Pujaकुमारपाल की पूजा · કુમારપાળની પૂજાA servant with a handful of coins, a few flowers, and a kingdom that followed4 min · children's telling Sagar Sheth and Greedसागर सेठ और लोभ · સાગર શેઠ અને લોભA flying log, a land of golden bricks, and a merchant who could not stop at enough5 min · children's telling Nagdatta Shethनागदत्त सेठ · નાગદત્ત શેઠWhy did the quiet monk smile three times?4 min · children's telling Nand Maniyarनंद मणियार · નંદ મણિયારA jeweller who built a beautiful pond, and loved it a little too much5 min · children's telling Sajjan Mantri and Pratikramanसज्जन मंत्री और प्रतिक्रमण · સજ્જન મંત્રી અને પ્રતિક્રમણA commander who said his prayers on an elephant before the battle4 min · children's telling King Chandravatamsak's Samayikराजा चंद्रावतंसक का सामायिक · રાજા ચંદ્રાવતંસકનું સામાયિકA king's promise to stay still as long as the lamp kept burning4 min · children's telling King Udayanराजा उदायन · રાજા ઉદાયનA king who won a war forgave his enemy on the day of forgiveness, and later gave up his crown for good4 min · children's telling Prayer at the Jain Centreजैन सेंटर में प्रार्थना · જૈન સેન્ટરમાં પ્રાર્થનાMeera goes to the temple with a wish, and comes home with something better4 min · children's telling Nagakumarनागकुमार · નાગકુમારA prince raised by the serpent people learns why one small vow shaped his whole life5 min · children's telling Jivandhar Swamiजीवंधर स्वामी · જીવંધર સ્વામીA prince born among the ashes grows up to win back his kingdom, and then gives it away5 min · children's telling Draupadi in the Jain Traditionजैन परंपरा में द्रौपदी · જૈન પરંપરામાં દ્રૌપદીA bitter dish, a long journey of many lives, and a queen who held to her faith across the ocean5 min · children's telling Mrugavatiमृगावती · મૃગાવતીA clever queen saves her city with a wall of bricks, and a humble nun finds light in the dark5 min · children's telling Sati Shivaसती शिवा · સતી શિવાWhen fire and sickness strike Ujjain, a quiet queen's pure heart becomes the city's protection4 min · children's telling Sati Prabhavatiसती प्रभावती · સતી પ્રભાવતીA box that no one could open, a queen's prayer, and a promise kept from beyond this life5 min · children's telling Sati Kuntiसती कुंती · સતી કુંતીThe mother of the Pandavas, who carried a secret, kept her courage, and found her peace with Neminath4 min · children's telling Sati Kaushalyaसती कौशल्या · સતી કૌશલ્યાA late pot of holy water, a hurt heart, and an old man who taught a king about time4 min · children's telling Sati Padmavati of Champaचंपा की सती पद्मावती · ચંપાની સતી પદ્માવતીA runaway elephant, a hidden child, and a nun who stepped between two armies5 min · children's telling Madanrekhaमदनरेखा · મદનરેખાA mother who lost everything except her courage and her faith5 min · children's telling Chandragupta Maurya's Sixteen Dreamsचंद्रगुप्त मौर्य के सोलह स्वप्न · ચંદ્રગુપ્ત મૌર્યનાં સોળ સ્વપ્નAn emperor dreams of a setting sun, and learns what truly lasts4 min · children's telling Vastupal and Tejpalवस्तुपाल और तेजपाल · વસ્તુપાળ અને તેજપાળTwo brothers find a buried treasure, and a wise woman tells them where to keep it safe4 min · children's telling Jagdusha and the Famineजगडूशा और अकाल · જગડૂશા અને દુકાળA merchant fills his storehouses with grain, and when hunger comes, he opens every door4 min · children's telling Bhamashahभामाशाह · ભામાશાWhen a king has lost almost everything, a loyal friend brings him hope4 min · children's telling Pethad Shahपेथड़ शाह · પેથડ શાહA poor man makes a promise about his wealth, and his guru smiles at what he sees4 min · children's telling Dharnashah and Ranakpurधरणाशाह और राणकपुर · ધરણાશા અને રાણકપુરA merchant dreams of a heavenly palace and spends his life building it in stone4 min · children's telling Mahudi and Ghantakarnaमहुडी और घंटाकर्ण · મહુડી અને ઘંટાકર્ણA farmer's son who became a great monk, and a guardian with a bow4 min · children's telling Gyan Panchami: Varadatta and Gunamanjariज्ञान पंचमी: वरदत्त और गुणमंजरी · જ્ઞાન પંચમી: વરદત્ત અને ગુણમંજરીA prince who could not learn, a girl who could not speak, and a vow on the fifth day4 min · children's telling Maun Ekadashi: Suvrat Shethमौन एकादशी: सुव्रत सेठ · મૌન એકાદશી: સુવ્રત શેઠA merchant who kept silent while thieves came and the city burned5 min · children's telling Paryushan and Kshamapanaपर्युषण और क्षमापना · પર્યુષણ અને ક્ષમાપનાA victorious king, a prisoner in chains, and the two words that set him free4 min · children's telling Rohini Vratरोहिणी व्रत · રોહિણી વ્રતWhy was Queen Rohini always so calm and gentle?5 min · children's telling Navpad Oliनवपद ओली · નવપદ ઓળીNine days, nine holy names, and one simple meal each day4 min · children's telling Sukumalikaसुकुमालिका · સુકુમાલિકાA princess who became a nun, lost her way, and found it again4 min · children's telling Malayasundariमलयासुंदरी · મલયાસુંદરીA jealous stepmother, a brave prince, and a princess who forgave everything4 min · children's telling Surasundariसुरसुंदरी · સુરસુંદરીCan you really buy a kingdom with seven little shells?5 min · children's telling Chandrarajaचंद्रराजा · ચંદ્રરાજાThe king who spent long years as a rooster5 min · children's telling Champak Shreshthiचंपक श्रेष्ठी · ચંપક શ્રેષ્ઠીA rich miser tries to outrun fate, and a little letter changes everything5 min · children's telling Kayavanna Shethकयवन्ना सेठ · કયવન્ના શેઠWhy did good fortune keep coming to him in pieces?5 min · children's telling Kumarpal's Ahimsa Ruleकुमारपाल की अमारि घोषणा · કુમારપાળની અમારિ ઘોષણાOn the night of the great festival, the temple doors are bolted and the goddess is left to choose4 min · children's telling Shalibhadra's Mother Bhadraशालिभद्र की माता भद्रा · શાલિભદ્રની માતા ભદ્રાThe richest mother in Rajgruhi learns what can and cannot be held4 min · children's telling Grandfather's Samayikदादाजी की सामायिक · દાદાજીની સામાયિકForty eight minutes, one woollen mat, and a mind that will not sit still4 min · children's telling The First Paryushan Fastपहला पर्युषण तप · પહેલું પર્યુષણ તપOne meal, one day, and a hungry afternoon that taught her something new4 min · children's telling The Pilgrimage Climbतीर्थयात्रा की चढ़ाई · તીર્થયાત્રાનું ચઢાણThousands of steps up a holy hill, and the one he almost forgot to count4 min · children's telling The Library of Old Booksपुरानी पुस्तकों का भंडार · જૂનાં પુસ્તકોનો ભંડારWooden boxes, red cloth, and pages older than anyone alive4 min · children's telling