Indian Fairy Tales · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.
Laili
major
Also known as Poor Laili
A beautiful and devoted woman who endures trials for love.
Prince Majnun
major
Also known as The Prince, Majnun
A prince who falls deeply in love with Laili.
Gangazara
major
Also known as the generous Gangazara
A generous and kind figure, often a narrator or focal character.
Harisarman
major
Also known as a Brahman, the Brahman, Mr. Brahman, Brahman
A clever Brahman who uses wit to gain fortune and respect.
Raja Rasalu
major
Also known as Rasalu, Raja Rasalu Source
A legendary king known for his adventures and wisdom.
Punchkin
major
Also known as Punchkin Fakir, the Fakir, Fakir, The Fakir
A powerful and wicked fakir who is the main antagonist.
Balna
major
A princess who is rescued from a demon by her brothers.
Katar
supporting
A brave prince who helps rescue his sister Balna.
Lambikin
major
Also known as The Lambikin, cunning little Lambikin, Master Lambikin, Mr. Lambikin
A clever little lamb who outwits predators.
Suri
supporting
A faithful wife who undergoes great hardship.
Gulizar
supporting
Also known as the Princess Gulizar, The Princess Gulizar
A beautiful princess won by a prince through trials.
Raja Sarkap
supporting
Also known as the Raja, The young Raja, Sarkap, King Sarkap, The King
A king who plays a key role in a story of justice.
Ant-Raja
minor
Also known as The Raja, the Raja, Raja, The young Raja
The king of the ants who helps a prince.
The Crane Bodhisatta
minor
Also known as the Bodhisatta, The Bodhisatta
A wise crane who teaches a lesson in a fable.
Rohu
minor
Also known as the Rohu fish, the poor Rohu
A talking fish who is caught and released.
The Demon with the Matted Hair
minor
Also known as the Demon, Demon, The Demon
A fearsome demon defeated by a clever prince.
The Cruel Ranee
supporting
Also known as the new Ranee, the Ranee, The Ranee, Ranee
A wicked queen who persecutes her stepchildren.
King Dantal
minor
A king who seeks advice from a wise minister.
The Pigeon
minor
Also known as Mr. Pigeon
A pigeon who is tricked by a crow.
Jihva
minor
A female character who is deceived by a demon.
Brer Rabbit
minor
Also known as the cunning Brer Rabbit, Buddha, the Buddha, the Brer Rabbit Buddha
A trickster rabbit who appears in fables.
The Jogi
minor
Also known as Jogi
A holy man who grants a boon to a prince.
Mr. Crow
minor
Also known as the Crow, The Crow
A crow who is outwitted by a pigeon.
Khuda
minor
A name for God invoked in a story.
Princess Labam
supporting
Also known as the Princess Labam, Labam, The Princess Labam
A princess won by a prince with help from animals.
Manikkasari
minor
A prince who is transformed into a monster.
Buddha
minor
Also known as Gautama the Buddha, Gautama Buddha, the Buddha
The enlightened one, referenced in fables as a past birth.
Prince Rasalu
supporting
A young prince who becomes a legendary king.
Lona
minor
Also known as Queen Lona
A queen who is the wife of Raja Rasalu.
The Lion
minor
Also known as Richard Cœur de Lion
A lion who is a character in a fable.
Brahmani
minor
Also known as the Brahmani
A Brahman woman who is a character in a story.
Munsuk Raja
minor
Also known as the Raja, the wicked Raja
A wicked king who kills a man for his wife.
Bidpai
minor
Also known as the Bidpai, Bidpai A Brahmin
A legendary Indian sage and storyteller.
The Prudhan
minor
Also known as Prudhan
A minister or advisor to a king.
The Talkative Tortoise
minor
Also known as The future Buddha, the future Buddha
A tortoise who talks too much and meets a bad end.
Sthuladatta
minor
A character in a story about a soothsayer's son.
Sun
minor
The sun personified in a folktale.
Wind
minor
The wind personified in a folktale.
Drumikin
minor
Also known as little Drumikin
A small drum that is a character in a story.
Husain Mahamat
minor
A character mentioned in a story.
Brer Fox
minor
A fox who is outwitted by Brer Rabbit.
Hiraman
minor
Also known as Hiraman parrot
A wise parrot who helps a prince.
The Jackal
minor
Also known as Jackal
A clever jackal who outwits a tiger.
Kokilan
minor
A female character in a story.
Salabhan
minor
Also known as Rajah Salabhan
A king in a story.
Bhaunr
minor
Also known as Bhaunr Iraqi
A character in a story.
Dhol Raja
minor
A king in a story.
Brahmadatta
minor
A king in Buddhist fables.
Bonga
minor
Also known as the Bonga, The Bonga
A spirit or deity in a story.
Ram
minor
A name for a god or hero in a story.
Moon
minor
Also known as the gentle Moon
The moon personified in a folktale.
Devadatta
minor
Also known as Devadatta the Traitor
A traitorous figure in Buddhist stories.
Chumman Basa
minor
A character in a story.
Shankar
minor
A name for the god Shiva in a story.
Uncle Remus
minor
A narrator of Brer Rabbit stories, referenced in notes.
Aesop
minor
Also known as the Greek Aesop
A Greek fabulist referenced in comparative notes.
Somadeva
minor
Author of the Kathasaritsagara, referenced in notes.
Granny
minor
An old woman character in a story.
The Malee
minor
Also known as The Malee
A gardener character in a story.
The Wazir
minor
Also known as Wazir
A minister or advisor to a king.
Raja Indrasha
minor
Also known as the Raja
A king in a story.
Prince Five Weapons
minor
Also known as Prince Five - Weapons
A prince who defeats a demon with cleverness.
