Magic Grove: A Jain Tale (677) by KAMALA CHANDRAKANT details from uread

Jains are an ancient sect in India. Jain monks lived an austere life and traveled to preach spirituality. Stories came in handy for this purpose. Most of the stories teach that good deeds bring prosperity while evil acts bring misery; that every individual is master of his destiny and reaps as he sows. The stories sometimes involve supernatural elements, though Jains believe that external forces do not help a person to get what he does not deserve, nor prevent him or her from getting what is deserved.   A cowherd girl gives protection to a snake chased by snake charmers. The snake appears as god to fulfill any of her wishes. The girl asks for a grove for the cattle, which is granted. The grove is magical and moves wherever the girl goes. A king notices this and makes her queen, much to the chagrin of her stepmother. The stepmother tries in many ways to make her own daughter the queen by getting rid of the girl. She succeeds to some extent, but the girl is saved every time by a superior being.