Tenali Rama and the Goddess Kali
A laugh at a thousand faces and one mouth.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+
from$1.99
By collection
Folk Tales of India
Explore Indian folk and literary stories by region, storyteller or named work. The collection names help you choose a voice and keep its identity, whether you came for a familiar tale or something your family has not read before.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 235
The complete collection
Folk Tales of India
Explore Indian folk and literary stories by region, storyteller or named work. The collection names help you choose a voice and keep its identity, whether you came for a familiar tale or something your family has not read before.
- Series
- 21
- Books
- 235
- Published
- 0
Included in this collection
The collection option covers the books across all series below. Digital reading and available narration are included; print is separate. Check each book page for age editions, Book/Ebook previews and language availability.
The whole collection is not yet available to purchase. The listed price is shown; release and purchase dates are not confirmed. Annual membership covers the available digital library.
Explore all included series ↓Choose your first collection
Tenali Raman & Friends
The wit of Vijayanagara, with the court wits of Delhi and the Hindustani wise fool as sub-shelves.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 33
Vikram and Betal Twenty-five riddles from the tree.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 13
The Ocean of Stories Eighteen lambakas, 124 tarangas.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 124
Series · 21
Gujarati Lok-katha
Tales Ba tells.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 10
Rajasthani Tales
Dhola-Maru, Pabuji, the desert's own stories.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 8
Thakurmar Jhuli
Grandmother's bag of Bengali tales.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 8
Tamil Tales
Paatti's stories from the south.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 7
Aithihyamala
Kerala's garland of legends.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 6
Punjabi Tales
Folk tales of the five rivers.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 7
Marathi Tales
Aaji's stories.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 6
Odia Tales
Stories from the land of Jagannath.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 4
Assamese Tales
Burhi Aair Sadhu: grandmother's tales.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 5
Kashmiri Tales
Stories from the valley.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 4
Brihatkatha (The Great Narrative) A lost narrative tradition known through later adaptations, including Kathasaritsagara and Brihatkathamanjari.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Shukasaptati (Seventy Tales of the Parrot) A parrot keeps Prabhavati at home with nightly stories while her merchant husband is away. The cycle later inspired the Persian Tutinama.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Simhasana Dvatrimsika (Singhasan Battisi) Thirty-two figures associated with Vikramaditya’s throne recount his generosity and courage as King Bhoja considers whether he is worthy of it.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Dashakumaracharita (The Tale of the Ten Princes) A prose romance of ten young men whose adventures move through courts, cities, deception, love and changing fortunes.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Silappadikaram (The Tale of an Anklet) Kannagi seeks justice after Kovalan is wrongly executed. This Tamil epic connects Puhar, Madurai and Vanchi through loss, kingship and the power of her protest.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Kadambari An intricate prose romance of love, separation and rebirth, told through nested narrators. Bana belonged to the literary world of King Harsha.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Gatha Saptashati (Seven Hundred Verses) Short lyric poems evoke village life, desire, love and separation. These are poetic vignettes rather than a continuous epic.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Brihatkathamanjari (The Great Tale’s Garland) Kshemendra’s condensed verse retelling preserves another strand of the lost Brihatkatha tradition alongside Somadeva’s larger collection.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 0
Matching stories: 235
- Tenali Rama and the CatComing soonSoon
- The Weight of WaterComing soonSoonThe Weight of Water
Tenali and the horse that would not eat.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Tenali and the ThievesComing soonSoon
- The Two Thieves and the SandalComing soonSoonThe Two Thieves and the Sandal
Who will carry Tenali?
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Tenali's Brinjal CurryComing soonSoonTenali's Brinjal Curry
The best dish in the world, said no one twice.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Astrologer's DeathComing soonSoonThe Astrologer's Death
A prediction turned around.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Tenali and the Greedy BrahminsComing soonSoonTenali and the Greedy Brahmins
A feast that cost nothing.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Tenali Paints a PictureComing soonSoonTenali Paints a Picture
Why the king could not see the horse.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Tenali and the Delhi EmperorComing soonSoonTenali and the Delhi Emperor
Silver from a copper pot.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Talking ParrotComing soonSoonThe Talking Parrot
A bird that only said Rama.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Elephant and the RopeComing soonSoonThe Elephant and the Rope
Why the elephant did not pull.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 
Birbal Shortens the LineDraw a shorter line without touching it.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99- The Three QuestionsComing soonSoonThe Three Questions
How many stars, where is the centre, how many crows?
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Pot of WitComing soonSoon
- Birbal's KhichdiComing soonSoonBirbal's Khichdi
Cooking over a lamp three feet away.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Well WaterComing soonSoonThe Well Water
Who owns the water in the well?
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Donkey in the BagComing soonSoonThe Donkey in the Bag
Which is heavier, sin or salt?
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Birbal Counts the CrowsComing soonSoonBirbal Counts the Crows
Exactly ninety-five thousand.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Real MotherComing soonSoonThe Real Mother
A baby, two women, a wise answer.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Mango TreeComing soonSoon
- The Blind Men and the ElephantComing soonSoonThe Blind Men and the Elephant
A story Birbal told the court.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Birbal Goes to HeavenComing soonSoonBirbal Goes to Heaven
And comes back with a message.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Farmer's WellComing soonSoonThe Farmer's Well
The water is yours, the well is mine.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Akbar's RingComing soonSoon
- The Loyal GardenerComing soonSoonThe Loyal Gardener
Birbal finds the thief without a search.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 
Nasruddin Looks for His KeyUnder the streetlight, where it is brighter.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99- Nasruddin and the DonkeyComing soonSoon
- The Coat at the FeastComing soonSoon
- Nasruddin's Pot That Had a BabyComing soonSoonNasruddin's Pot That Had a Baby
And then died.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Nasruddin and the Moon in the WellComing soonSoonNasruddin and the Moon in the Well
Rescuing the moon.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - The Smell of the Food, the Sound of the CoinComing soonSoonThe Smell of the Food, the Sound of the Coin
Fair payment.
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 - Nasruddin's SermonComing soonSoonNasruddin's Sermon
Do you know what I am going to say?
From the original text · Oral tradition
Ages 4-6+from$1.99 
The Tree and the VampireHow King Vikram came to carry Betal.
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99- Tale 1: The Prince and the Minister's SonComing soonSoonTale 1: The Prince and the Minister's Son
Betal's first riddle.
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 2: The Three BrahminsComing soonSoonTale 2: The Three Brahmins
Who was the true husband?
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 3: The Parrot and the MainaComing soonSoonTale 3: The Parrot and the Maina
Are men or women worse?
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 4: Viravara the GuardComing soonSoonTale 4: Viravara the Guard
The most loyal servant.
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 5: The Three Delicate QueensComing soonSoonTale 5: The Three Delicate Queens
Who was the most delicate?
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 6: The Girl and the Three SuitorsComing soonSoonTale 6: The Girl and the Three Suitors
Whose was she?
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 7: The Two BrahminsComing soonSoonTale 7: The Two Brahmins
Which was the greater fool?
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 8: The Heads ExchangedComing soonSoonTale 8: The Heads Exchanged
Whose body, whose head?
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 9: The King's Son and the Merchant's DaughterComing soonSoonTale 9: The King's Son and the Merchant's Daughter
Who deserved the gratitude?
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 10: The Bride Who Was NotComing soonSoonTale 10: The Bride Who Was Not
A wedding riddle.
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tales 11 to 24Coming soonSoonTales 11 to 24
Fourteen more riddles, one per book to come.
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Tale 25: The Last RiddleComing soonSoonTale 25: The Last Riddle
The question Vikram could not answer.
From the original text · Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi)
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Kathapitha, taranga 1Coming soonSoonKathapitha, taranga 1
Ocean of the Streams of Story, book 1, wave 1 (taranga 1 of 124).
From the original text · Kathasaritsagara (Ocean of the Streams of Stories)
Ages 13-17+from$1.99 - Kathapitha, taranga 2Coming soonSoonKathapitha, taranga 2
Ocean of the Streams of Story, book 1, wave 2 (taranga 2 of 124).
From the original text · Kathasaritsagara (Ocean of the Streams of Stories)
Ages 13-17+from$1.99
Reading this collection together
- Start with one episode
- Choose one published tale and preview it for the listener’s age. Folk and literary collections can contain difficult themes; a playful title is not an age rating.
- What to notice
- A remembered family version may differ from the edition here. Name that difference instead of silently joining the two accounts.
- A question to share
- Does someone in your family remember another telling? Share the memory after reading and say where you heard it.