Once upon a time, there lived a prince by the name of Sang Nila Utama. He hailed from the Srivijayan Empire in Palembang on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
Tag: folklore
Lord Yama and Haw Par Villa | Chinese Mythology on The Afterlife
Lord Yama, the King of Hell, is a dharmapala wrathful god who is said to judge the dead.
The Ox, The Great Race and The Steady Path to Success
The ox teaches us the value and importance of a steady and dependable work ethic.
The Legend of Monster Nian | A Chinese Lunar New Year Story
According to the legend, Chinese New Year’s Day is also called Guo Nian which means surviving Nian’s attack.
Broadening the Voice of the World | Interview with Polly Barton
“I wanted to be involved in making people feel like there was lots to discover…”
Feminist Retellings of Japanese Folktales | Interview with Aoko Matsuda
“My impression is that foxes are a kind of existence that stands somewhere in between the human and non-human, binding reality and fantasy together.”
The Souls of Restless Spirits | Folklore from Kyrgyzstan
Over the years, I have heard stories of souls with ‘unfinished business’ in just about every culture I’ve encountered. I have often wondered–is it us humans who are haunted by their absence–or do restless souls truly reside amongst us?
Jinns – The Lore Beyond Lamps
As a kid, I have heard many adults say with a firm conviction that, even though we could not see Jinns in their true form, animals could see them and that is the reason why sometimes at 3 a.m. at night, we can hear a dog bark without any reason at all.
The Cosmic Plan | The Little Light by Dipa Sanatani
The child in me always believed that somewhere somehow all the living entities in this universe are assisting each other to find their true purpose. This invisible inter-relation of entities is beyond past, present, and future.
Universal and Unique Myths | The Little Light by Dipa Sanatani
As an ardent reader, I have always wondered how a myth from one culture connects with one from a totally different one. Perhaps, it may be because each myth and legend has passed down mouth to mouth for several generations, making them universal. Mythologies trump authorship. They are not limited to a particular culture or era. Myths encapsulate the unspoken truth of society and culture.