Folktales of Ancient India

Be entertained by Harisharam the Frog, who pretended to be a fortune teller until his claims were challenged by the most powerful man in the land. Learn of Ravi the Fly, a quiet unassuming servant who turned out to be the greatest swindler in the land. Be awed by the simple Potmaker whose foolishness thrust him to the front of a great army. And yearn for Savitri, the perfect princess whose relentless love would falter before none, not even the god of Death.

These tales have been told by oral storytellers in villages across ancient India, each time twisting and evolving. Some might seem familiar, given overlapping themes and the messiness of world history and geography. But there’s something about folk tales that are distinct from modern stories: they reflect not only timeless themes and perhaps the personality of the storyteller, but also say something of the nature of the people of the times.