Harischandra

With his vow to remain truth­ful at all times, Harischandra successfully faced the rigorous challenge posed by Vishwamitra. Though a king, he sacrificed everything he had at the altar of truth, including his kingdom, and even his wife and son. He took so lowly a job as that of the guard at burning-ground; even in the case of his own son he demanded the prescribed fee for crema­tion, which his wife had no means of paying. On an order from the king, Harischandra even prepared to behead his own wife. Harischandra's character is indelibly etched in the mind of Hindus.