A Look at Lord Krishna’s Mesmerizing Stories – Krishna as Never Known Before!
Lord Krishna’s stories have made our childhood even more interesting. We have known him as a butter thief, a mischief-maker, an enthusiastic and a romantic pal who loves to play flutes. And, as you grow older, you get to know that he’s God. You might think that you know him, but there are so many aspects that we all have missed. The story of Krishna from start to finish is a jigsaw puzzle, which needs a deep insight to understand.
Here’s a look at some of the delightful tales about the country’s best loved God.
Krishna’s Dissenting Views, Worshipping Govardhan Hill
Every year, the residents of Vridavan showered their reverence to Lord Indra to be blessed with timely rains. One year, when the people were gearing up for a huge religious offering to please Lord Indra, young Krishna had a dissenting view. He rushed to his father Nanda and suggested that the villagers should rather offer their prayers to the Govardhan Hill. “Govardhan Hill provides us with clean environment, and herbs having beneficial healing properties”, asserted Krishna. The villagers soon understood Krishna’s idea and agreed to worship Govardhan instead.
This new shift didn’t go down well with Lord Indra. He was raged that people mindlessly believed a young boy’s views. To teach Krishna a lesson, Lord Indra cursed the village with a humongous storm causing destruction.
But Shri Krishna stood strong to protect his people. With merely one finger, he lifted the Govardhan Hill, and stopped the storm from causing any harm to his people and animals. Everyone remained safe, until the storm stopped.
Ultimately, Lord Indra realized his fault, apprehended Krishna’s powers and apologized to him
Krishna’s Fight against Evil Putana
Kansa, the wicked uncle of Krishna, wanted to kill Krishna. But, Krishna managed to escape Kansa’s evil intentions with his father’s help. A few days later, Kansa became aware of Krishna’s presence in his Kingdom and ordered Putana (an evil demoness) to kill all the infants in Gokul.
Puatana, who had the power to change forms, turned into a beautiful maiden, having poisonous breasts. Putana was happy to follow Kansa’s order as she was a merciless demoness. One by one, she started killing all the infants in Gokul.
One day, she reached Nandaraja’s place and found miraculous baby Krishna. She decided to eliminate him and took him for feeding. But the infant god slayed her and sucked the life out of her. Upon dying she went back to her original form of a demoness.
Eventually, Putana’s soul attained liberation and her existence was destroyed.
Krishna’s Face-off with Aghasura
One day, Krishna and his friends were playing when they came across a huge cave. Hot wave of air fish-like smell attracted the attention of boys, who were curious to know what is inside. The curiosity reached its peak and the boys decided to explore the cave.
But what waited inside was something only Krishna could fathom. It was Putana’s demon brother Aghasura, who was waiting there in the form of a huge snake. Even though Krishna knew about the cave’s reality, he accompanied his friends. Aghasura was eagerly waiting for Krishna, and as soon as he stepped in, Aghasura snapped his jaws shut.
While Aghasura thought he was victorious to take his sister’s revenge by trapping Krishna, a different fate awaited him. Krishna showed his mettle, expanded his body to break the trap and choked the demon to death.
Little Krishna saved all his friends from this evil trap, and liberated Aghasura.
Krishna’s Cleverness for Fair Play, Duryodhana’s Defeat
To ensure his victory in the Mahabharata war, Duryodhana wanted to perform a yagna to please the God. Sahdev, a proficient astrologer, helped Duryodhana to find out the best day to offer prayers before the war begins. Sahdev suggested Duryodhana to conduct the yagna on a New Moon day, as it would guarantee his victory.
Duryodhana’s plan upset Krishna and the Pandavas, who wished for fair play. To stop Duryodhana’s yagna, Krishna began performing Pitru tarpana just a day before the new moon. When the sun and moon became aware of Krishna’s tarpana, they approached him for an explanation to know his intentions of doing it today instead of tomorrow.
Krishna gave a very smart and logical answer to the query. He said, “New Moon Day marks unison of the sun and moon and they were together in front of him. So, it is the new moon day today!”
Krishan’s idea succeeded and Duryodhana was unable to perform the yagna on the right day.
Lord Krishna and Bhishma Pitamah
Bishma Pitamah was the leader of Kaurvas, during the initial days of the Mahabharata war, Duryodhana, who wanted to brutally defeat the Pandavas, was upset that they weren’t killed even under the leadership of Bhishma. Duryodhana’s anger grew each day and he accused Bhishma of biasness towards the Pandavas.
The accusation hurt Bhishma Pitamah and he vowed to finish the Pandavas until the next evening. He even pledged that if he wasn’t successful in doing so, he would resign his post as their leader.
Krishna overheard the conversation and was scared for the Pandavas. He was aware of the power of Pitamah’s words. He knew that if nothing was done to stop Pitamah, the Pandavas would die tomorrow.
He rushed to Draupadi to tell her of what will happen tomorrow. On knowing Pitamah’s plans, an afraid Draupadi asked Krishna for help. Krishna couldn’t let the destruction happen and thus took the form of a farmer. He asked Draupadi to accompany her to Bhishma Pitamah’s tent.
Only Sanyasis and married women could enter Pitamah’s tent, as it was believed that sanyasi’s or married women never spy, thus avoiding any danger. When Draupadi stepped into the tent, Pitamah was meditating. She seeked his blessings, upon which he told her ‘Saubhagyawati Bhava’. Later, when Bhishma Pitahmah opened his eyes, he realized what he had done.
Krishna’s cleverness and presence of mind saved Pandavas lives.
Forest Fire, Friends and Courage
One day, Krishna and his friends entered deep into the jungle with their cows. All the boys got so engrossed in their games that they didn’t notice a fire break out in the forest. Soon, the fire surrounded them. Everyone was terror-stricken and pleaded Krishna for help.
To calm the storm of fear, Krishna asked his friends to keep their eyes closed until his next order. The boys followed Krishna’s commands and Krishna swallowed all the fire, protecting his friends and cows.
Krishna’s Care & Love for Father
Once, while Nanda Maharaj was bathing in river Yamuna, Varuna captured him and took to his Kingdom underwater. When Lord Krishna realized of his father’s capture, he rushed to save him.
Varuna was exhilarated to see Lord Krishna in his Kingdom and apologized for capturing his father. Eventually, Krishna returned to Vrindavan with Nand Maharaj.
Krishna Tackle’s Lord Bramha Prank
Lord Bramha played a funny prank on Krishna. He hid all of Krishna’s friends and cows in a cave. Unable to find them, Krishna didn’t lose calm, but rather took the form of all of them and returned to Vrindavan.
On seeing Krishna all round, Lord Brahma was perplexed. He soon realized his mistake of testing Krishna.
Lord Krishna Titled ‘Govinda’
A cow named Kamadhenu once approached Lord Krishna. She informed Krishna that she had come from Devloka to perform a crowning ceremony on him. The cow bathed Krishna in holy water and thanked him for protecting the cows on earth.
Later, Lord Indra appeared with Airavata and bathed Shri Krishna further. He gave Krishna the title of ‘Govinda’, meaning the Indra of the whole world.
Krishna’s Death, Curses That Led to Destruction
As many followers did Krishna has, as many enemies he had made. The death of Lord Krishna was not only tragic, but also shocking. Krishna’s enemies envied him so much that he was cursed by almost all of them during his life.
Here’s a quick look at curses that led to the tragic curses together led to the death of Krishna and the end of a peaceful co-existence.
- Sage Durvasa cursed Krishna for not applying kheer all over his body. Krishna didn’t apply it on his feet, which angered Durvasa. He cursed him to always have weak and unprotected legs.
- After the battle at Kurukshetra, Gandhari saw the dead bodies of her sons and blamed Krishna for not stopping the war. She cursed him that the entire Yadava clan will die after a period of 36 years.
In the end, after the death of the entire Yadava clan, Krishna was sitting in the forest consumed with grief. He was killed mistakenly by the arrow from hunter Jara.
Krishna’s stories are like a never-ending ocean. This creator of Bhagavada Gita has taught important life lessons to preach in life.
Hoping this Janmashtami, we all will dance in merriment of what Krishna has given to us!
