All Hindus are familiar with इतिहास texts – the रामायण & महाभारत. Among the पुराण, Hindus often develop familiarity in today’s times with the most popular पुराण – श्रीमद्भागवतम्. Apart from the main theme, even these texts include many other sub-stories – आदिपर्व in the महाभारत and बालकाण्ड in the रामायण contain various other stories that collectively are seen as common Itihasic corpus of the सनातन civilization. These very events, with multiple variations, are present in the पुराण.

So the question that one may be tempted to ask is – are there any stories that may be categorized as a “must-know” for all Hindus? Given below is my own personal list of such significant stories. These must not be read in abridged version from the Google or Amar Chitra Katha but must be read in original as they appear in the इतिहास texts or the पुराण. Also, since these events are repeated in multiple texts, which is the preferred source from where the original must be read? I am not sure myself of this one – I will therefore leave certain rows as blank and will populate the table once I develop more familiarity. In the meantime, just to kindle interest in those who may not be familiar at all with the list – here is an attempt to identify these here. Note that these suggestions are to be read in addition to recommended reading in original of the रामायण, महाभारत and श्रीमद्भागवतम्

One question that may come up is – why these? Why not more? Why not lesser? I will not answer that question now – all I will say is that knowing these stories and becoming familiar with the people named in these stories will enable one to navigate the vast corpus of our texts a lot more easily. Also, doing contemplation on the meaning of these stories will have immense advantages as one navigates the challenges in one’s own life. This of course is my personal layman opinion – scholars may have a better recommendation list that may be more helpful.

SN	Story	Preferred Text (TBD)
1	विवाह of पार्वती & शिव (including marriage with सती)	शिव पुराण
2	सागर मंथन
3	Who is better – ब्रह्मा & विष्णु tussle	शिव पुराण
4	Story of गरूढ	महाभारत
5	इंद्र & वृत्र
6	Story of fourteen मनू	मार्कण्डेय पुराण
7	Birth of गणेश
8	Birth of कार्तिकेय	महाभारत
9	Story of नल & दमयन्ति	महाभारत
10	Story of सुकन्या & च्यवन	महाभारत
11	Story of सावित्री & सत्यवान	महाभारत
12	Story of अत्री & अनसूया
13	Story of वसिष्ठ & अरुन्धति
14	Story of अगस्त्य & लोपामुद्रा
15	How विश्वामित्र became a ब्रह्मऋषि	रामायण
16	Story of हरिश्चंद्र & विश्वामित्र	ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण
17	Tussle between प्रह्लाद & हिरण्यकश्यप
18	Story of वामन & बलि
19	Story of परशुराम & कार्तवीर्यार्जुन	ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण
20	Story of the seven पुण्य स्थान of सनातन धर्म – अयोध्या, मथुरा, हरिद्वार, वाराणसी, काञ्चीपुरम्, उज्जैन, and द्वारका
21	देवी सप्तशति	मार्कण्डेय पुराण
22	Birth of गंगा – सगर भागीरथ	ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण
23	Birth of दत्तात्रेय	मार्कण्डेय पुराण
24	Story of वेंकटेश्वर बालाजी	स्कन्द पुराण
25	शाकुन्तल & दुष्यन्त	महाभारत

Om Tat Sat