Introduction

This is the wealth of Indian culture. This is the beauty of ancestral Indian literature. These folk stories are regarding the great king, Vikramadithya and his Minister Bhatti. In these stories, the great qualities of king, the wisdom of his minister who is also his brother were described. The stories are filled with miraculary incidents, spirits, and descriptions and with good qualities such as adventure, donative nature, helping nature of human beings. In one word, in these folk stories, the limitless imagining power of unknown writer can take us into wonderful world. It is known that these “Bhatti Vikramadithya Stories” were written in Sanskrit, later translated into Telugu and other languages. Some stories were transferred from generation to generation as Grand Parents stories telling to their grand children tradition. I read some of them in different books and children Magazines. From my childhood, I heard them from my elders. I received them from different sources like cinema etc.

I enjoyed them like anything since childhood, I told these stories to my parents, brothers, sisters, and friends and to my students. To whomever I told, I observed extreme joy in the listeners. Off course being storyteller, any way I enjoyed the spirit of stories and extreme joy by telling such beautiful and fiction stories. To enjoy such spirit repeatedly, I used to tell these stories to my surrounding people including children and adults. Generally, I start to tell these stories to children only. Naturally, it attracts adults also. Hence, within few minutes, all the people in my surroundings used to gather as a group of listeners. This encouraged me to narrate the stories of Bhatti Vikramadithya including my elaborations, analysis, and description of old and new traditions in the society.

In fact, these stories will construct a perfect, certain and determined personality and well defined character in the readers. By reading these folk and fantasy stories, children can induce imaginary power. They can dream about some other world, which is more attractive to them. The dare, adventure, determination, patience, obedience to elders, devotion to God, trust on God and morals etc qualities can induce in the readers by these stories. Children can inspire to learn logical thinking, sensitive thinking, analysis of things, risk taking nature and challenge meeting nature. There is no need to learn grammar to improve the communicational skills. You can observe this by drawing the out coming skills of these stories. These stories guide them to learn morals, communicational skills such as how to treat others, how to respect others, how to motivate others, how to mesmerize others, how to drive others in our desired path, how to make others happy with humorous talking etc. The heroes of these stories, Bhatti and Vikramadithya will become as role model to the children to lead them to learn all arts, subjects and to become all-rounders.

These stories will inspire children to learn repeated attempting nature to achieve task without give up in the middle. Bhoja Rajas’ affords to climb up on the throne and Vikramadithya’s affords to overpower Bhethala will impress children to learn such nature and patience in working, automatically. By different stories in this series, children can absorb optimistic attitude and positive thinking.

In the form of ‘stories enjoying and entertainment of stories’, automatically children can learn the communication skills, humorous talking etc soft skills. There will be development of curiosity, interest and concentration in the children. While watching a movie on the TV screen, there will be intervals i.e. breaks of Advertisements. But while in reading stories, there won’t be such disturbance. It will develop concentration power in children. The readability nature will increase by these stories. The readability will develop many good qualities in children such as imaginary power, logical sense and memory. Their abilities in learning other arts and improve their talents also can inspire by these stories.

Imagine our brain is a C.D. A movie of 2½ hrs., will occupy 1.5 GB in a CD. But thousand pages text i.e. reading material will occupy nearly 1.5MB only. But the out coming skills from movie watching are less when compare with that of readability.

More over, if you observe children, their thirst will satisfy only by knowledge. If you give Pizza, burgers, Chocolates, sweets, dolls and toys etc to them, they will enjoy your love and affection. If you tell a story to them, they will enjoy your love as well they feel more bondage with you. They feel so thankful and grateful to you. They show more obedience to you. They will try to make you happy by their behavior. They will try to please you. They will show their love in many ways. This behavior we cannot draw in them by giving any other material or object to them. Only by experience, you can verify the truth in this concept of ‘storytelling.’

As an illustration, I focus on the following two short stories. Go through these stories to verify and to justify your selves.

1. Manthra Vadi -2^nd story

2. Neethi Vamsa Kethu -5^th story

Actually, we don’t know who the writer of original Sanskrit stories of Bhatti Vikramadithya was. It is believed that Bhatti and Vikramadithya were the Minister and kings of Ujjain. It is believed that they were historically living legends. I like to believe this, though fiction was mixed in the reality. As a kid, I was mesmerized by those stories. I feel that these stories had stamped a powerful image on my personality and attitude.

I observed that many readers had induced such motivation in them by reading and by hearing these stories.

Now I want to share such joy with Nitizens and especially with children who browse the internet.

Now let me welcome you into the beautiful garden of Bhatti Vikramadithya stories.

I hope that these fiction stories can make the kids and children to enjoy the spirits.

Before you swim in the pool of stories, I feel it is appropriate to introduce my self. I’m Mrs. Adi Lakshimi Yadla, Indian. I belong to Andhra Pradesh [A province in India]. Our mother tongue is Telugu. I had written these stories in easy English for worldwide children. If there are any mistakes, I request the readers to inform me. I’ll correct them in next turn. I had written half of stories only. There are stories told by 32 idols on the golden throne. I had written up to the stories told by 5 idols only. In my next edition, I wish to bring them to your reference. In this work, my husband Lenin B.Yadla had contributed a lot.

My first reader is my daughter, 13 years child, Geetha Priyadarshini. By observing spirits in her, after reading these stories, I hope that the worldwide children can enjoy the same.

One more important feature I want to bring to your notice. In these fiction and folk stories, in many events Goddess Kalika Devi used to make the dead people alive when other people get ready to cut off their head as life sacrifice on the altar. It relates to the religion believes of crores of people in the world. It relates to the beliefe on God worldwide. Hence, I don’t like to discuss on the reality of such events in the stories. Only I request the children worldwide to do not imitate such incidents.

I request the worldwide children to absorb the human values and morals described in these stories. I request the worldwide children to learn the quality of “searching for truth and knowledge.” If they search for truth and knowledge, definitely God will appear to them to give boons. Because, God’s other name is ‘truth and knowledge’. Wish you all success and extreme joy!

Now you can enter into the stories.

It was ancient time.

This story was happened in India at ancient time. In those days, India was like heaven. With oceans on three directions and greater Himalayas on North, India was with plenty mineral wealth. Gold, silver, diamonds and other gems were plenty available to people. It was with cool, comfortable and beautiful weather. The land was with everlasting green crops throughout the year. People were with morals and truth.

In such India, it was Southern part. There was a great city called ‘Dhaara Nagaram.’ In that city, all the residences were multistoried buildings. The entrance of every house was decorated with welcome garlands made up of valuable gems. There was no robbery and theft fear. People were peaceful.

It was the capital city of the king Bhoja Raja. He was very good and generous. He was responsible towards his people. He was always concerned about the welfare of people. His taxation system was not at all painful to people. His administration was always facilitating the public and protecting the public. He was loving and protecting the people in his kingdom. The people were loving and respecting him.

One day, Bhoja Raja had called on his Prime Minister, Budhi Sagarudu. The Prime Minister Budhi Sagara was wise and good man. In fact, Budhi Sagara means ‘Ocean of good nature.’ The Prime Minister Budhi Sagara had brought the meaning of his name to reality.

Bhoja Raja said, “Dear Prime Minister, Budhi Sagara! Our spying agents had informed me that the villagers in our kingdom were suffering with wild animals. The forests are thick. Wild animals had grown much in population. Hence, the forest animals are spoiling the green fields, hurting the domestic animals and innocent villagers. It is our duty to protect our people. Hence, I decided to go for hunting tomorrow. Arrange for it. Get ready some of our army and youth of our city to accompany us in hunting.”

Budhi Sagara replied “Yes. Maha Raja! I’ll make everything. Get ready for hunting tomorrow.”

Next day morning, king Bhoja Raja got ready to go for hunting the animals in the forest. The enthusiastic youth gathered at the palace with weapons like swords, archery, spears etc. The soldiers and the young men were singing and playing musical instruments with the tunes of Rajasa nature. It inspired the war enthusiasm in all. [In human psychology, as per Sri Bhagavad Geetha, there are three Gunas i.e. natures. 1]. Satwa: People who have Satwa Guna in maximum proportion in them will be with patience, knowledgeous, peacefulness and nonviolence etc good qualities. 2]. Rajasa: People who have Rajasa Guna in maximum proportion in them will be with adventures nature, dare, fighting spirits and leader ship qualities. 3]. Thamasa: People who have Thamasa Guna in maximum proportion in them will be with servicing nature, followership nature, laziness, and sleeping nature etc qualities.]

King Bhoja Raja, Prime Minister Budhi Sagara, soldiers and young men started for hunting. They reached forest areas. They made campaign in the forest for few days. They made tents to take rest in the nights. In the daytime, they continued hunting of the wild animals. With wild beats on drums, they made animals in the forest to frighten, and to run for life. They chased them and killed them. The Rajasa Ragaas i.e. tunes had filled the king and his followers with full of charge to charge on the wild animals. They enjoyed the event.

[In ancient times, hunting is highly entertained by rulers and people. Because, in those days, the forests were thick and wide. The population of wild animals was much than that of people. Hence, these was threaten and danger to the lives of people and domestic animals. The herds of deer, zebras etc used to spoil the crops in the fields. Now-a-days situation is entirely different to the situation of ancient times. In present days, the population of people is much than that of wild animals. Hence, now there is need to protect forests and wild animals. That’s why, now hunting of animals became crime as per constitution.]

The King Bhoja Raja and his men had continued hunting for one week. King Bhoja Raja felt that the population of wild animals was balanced. He had decided to stop the hunting.

Next day morning, King Bhoja Raja and his fellow men had started to reach Dhaara Nagar, their capital city. It was hot day. The sun was burning in the sky on their heads. King Bhoja Raja was tired. Due to hot sun, he had quit the horse riding and continued his travel by palanquin. Because of tiresome and hot sun, the soldiers and the young men were walking slowly.

On the way, they were passing by a green field. It belonged to a Brahmin, Sara vana Bhattu. He had made a high seat in field called “Manche” in order to guard the crop from animals and birds. He was on the ‘Manche’ by that time. He had seen the king and fellow men passing by his field.

He said, “Oh Brothers! It seems that you are coming from far and tired. Have rest here. I had grown a Tamarind tree on the bank of my field. Sit for some time under its shade. Here is a big well with steps inside to reach and to fetch water. Its water is cool and sweet. It seems that all of you are hungry and thirsty. Drink water from the well. I sowed corn crop. It was ripe with sweet and milky corns. You eat them. If you don’t like the corns, then have cucumber from my field. I sowed the cucumber creepers. The fruits are ripe and broken like jackfruits. They are smelling good and tasting sweet. Satisfy your hunger and thrust. Take rest and then go.”

The king and his soldiers felt happy by hearing this. The king felt satisfaction about the donatives nature of people in his kingdom. He ordered his soldiers and fellow men to eat the corn and cucumber. The soldiers and young men had entered into the field and started to eat. After few minutes, the farmer, Saravana Bhattu had climbed down the high seat i.e. Manche for something.

Immediately he cried out “Hai Men! What is this? Why are you spoiling my crop? To look, you seem to be the soldiers of king. Why do you enter into my field and eating my crop? Is there no body to correct you or to punish you? If somebody does harm to innocent farmer like myself, we will go to the king to get justice. If the king and his soldiers do harm to the farmer like myself, to whom that I have to approach to get justice? You are daring to steal crop from a Brahmin. God is there. Definitely he will punish you.”

By hearing the cries and shouting’s of Saravana Bhattu, the soldiers and the king’s fellow men came out of the fields with guilty. They got ready to move from there.

Then Saravana Bhattu climbed upon his ‘Manche’. He said, “Oh! God! My dear brothers! Why are you leaving my field? Without satisfying your hunger why are you moving out from my field? Is there any fault in my hospitality? Come! Please don’t go! Have food and water. Take rest. Let the sun gets cool. Then you can continue your journey.”

With this indifferent behavior of this Brahmin farmer, Saravana Bhattu, the king Bhoja Raja and his team got puzzled.

King Bhoja Raja called on his minister and said, “Do you observe, Budhi Sagara! How peculiar this Brahmin’s behavior? When he is on the ‘Manche’, he is saying kind words and behaving with versatility. When he comes down from the ‘Manche’, he is saying cruel words and behaving quite contradictive to previous. There must be certain reason.”

The Minister, Budhi Sagara said, “Yes Maha Raja! I’m also thinking that. There must be something especially in the soil where the ‘Manche’ had constructed.”

The king said, “Certainly! Let us talk with that farmer. Call him.”

Within a minute, Saravana Bhattu was in front of Bhoja Raja. Bhoja Raja said, “We are interested on your field. I’ll give another field to you, which is equivalent to this in quality of soil and area. In addition to this, I’ll give five villages taxation authority to you. You give your field to me.”

Saravana Bhattu obediently said, “Maha Raja! Everything in this kingdom belongs to you. There is no body to object you if you take my field at free of cost. You are so generous to me. You are ideal king. Your morals are equivalent to those of deities. You are offering me so much towards my field. I’m happily handing over this field to you.”

Budhi Sagara had done arrangements for all. Saravana Bhattu got his alternate field and other incentives. Budhi Sagara had arranged to dig the land beneath the ‘Manche’. On one auspicious day, after devotional programs, they had dug.

The coolies had dug up to countable depth. What a surprise! They found a golden throne there. It was beautiful. It was made up of gold and valuable diamonds and gems. Beautiful sculpture was there on it, with embedded gems in it. It had 32 golden steps. On each step, there are beautiful golden idols of girls. The idols were sculptured as if there were beautiful young girls were standing in beautiful posture. The king had rewarded the labor workers who dug there.

They brought the golden throne to Dhaara Nagaram. They cleaned the throne and polished it. It was bright and attractive. People were amazing at it. They kept the throne in the assembly hall of Bhoja Raja. The king consulted his royal astrologers. As per their guidance, on one auspicious day, they performed pooja [Devotion] to God and to throne. After taking the blessings of scholars, and elders Bhoja Raja approached the throne. The scholars were pronouncing the Veda Manthras. People were ware watching. The king, Bhoja Raja was about to keep his foot on the first step of the throne. Wonder!

At the moment, all the 32 golden idols were clapping their hands and laughed at Bhoja Raja.

Every body there were shocked. Bhoja Raja felt shy. Once again, he tried to keep his foot on the first step of the throne. Again, all the 32 golden idols of girls shaped were clapped their hands and laughing at the king.

Bhoja Raja said, “Oh, golden idols. What a surprise? Why are you laughing at me? Whenever I’m trying to climb up the throne, why are you clapping and laughing at me? How I become like a joke for you?”