18 Days - Battle of Kurukshetra

On Dhanteras, a lamp is lit for Yama. The folk story: a king's son is fated to die of a snakebite four days after his wedding. His bride heaps gold at the door and lights lamps all night. Yama comes as a serpent, is dazzled, listens, and leaves at dawn.What would you leave burning for what you fear?Link in comments.

Diwali's goddess rose from the sea. In the Mahabharata the gods and Asuras churn the ocean with Mount Mandara and the serpent Vasuki. The Moon, Lakshmi, a white steed, a gem, Dhanvantari with the vessel of nectar and the elephant Airavata rise in turn. Then the poison, which Shiva swallows. Most homes keep Dhanvantari on Dhanteras and Lakshmi two days later.What will you let rise from your dark water?Link in comments.

Rama flew home over India. Here is the route. In the Ramayana he points out each place from the Pushpaka: Lanka, the bridge, Kishkindha, Panchavati, Chitrakuta, Bharadwaja's hermitage, then Ayodhya. The text has flags, flowers and drums. The lamps are how most homes tell it.Whose road home will you light?Link in comments.

Kacha: Trapped Inside His Teacher 🕯️📜 Kacha could not escape without killing Shukra. So his teacher taught him how to revive the dead first. Would you teach someone the power to bring you back? Link in comments.

Karna’s Promise 🏹☀️ Kunti asked her firstborn to join his brothers. Karna refused, but promised not to kill four of them. Arjuna was the exception. Could you keep this promise to your mother? Link in comments.

Drona refused to teach him. Ekalavya made a clay Drona in the forest and taught himself, until he could send seven arrows into a barking dog's mouth. Arjuna had been promised that no archer would equal him. Then Drona asked for a fee: the thumb of his right hand. Drona had refused to teach him. Did Ekalavya owe him anything? Link in comments.

Twenty stakes at dice. Pearls, chariots, an army. Then Nakula, Sahadeva, Arjuna, Bhima. Then himself. Then Draupadi. Yudhishthira called the first loss unfair, and kept staking. Not one stake came back by the game. The king gave them back, and Yudhishthira sat down again. Would you have? Link in comments.

Karna was cursed twice, years apart. A Brahmana whose cow he had killed by mistake: the earth will swallow your chariot wheel. Rama, who learned he had lied about being a Brahmana: the Brahma weapon will leave your mind at the hour of your death. On one afternoon the earth took the wheel and the weapon slipped away. That same day he had told Shalya both curses. Would you have ridden out? Link in comments.

Arjuna swore to kill Jayadratha before sunset, or walk into the fire. Drona told Jayadratha to stand twelve miles behind him. The horses needed water. The sun kept moving. Then Krishna used Yoga to cover the sun, so Jayadratha would think the day was over. Fair play, or a trick? Link in comments.

A lock that opens only for those who hold the key. The Chakravyuha was a great circle of rings. The Pandavas said it themselves: "We do not know how to break it." Four men could: Abhimanyu, Arjuna, Krishna, Pradyumna. Arjuna had been drawn away to the south. Abhimanyu said he knew the way in, and might not get out. Jayadratha filled the path behind him. Six chariot-warriors closed in. He said he could not come out. Would you have sent him in? Link in comments.