Krishna Story 1

Dear Readers,
From this issue, we will be serialising stories of Krishna's glories and pasttimes written by Shri J.K. Sivan in English in a lucid style for easier comprehension. May Lord Sri Krishna enter your home and shower His abundant blessings on you and your family members! - Ram

Lord  Krishna's Appearance 

Dear  children, 

How many of you have heard of the name “ KRISHNA”.   If  you have heard of him  congrats to you.  If not, here is an opportunity to  read about Him.  The story relates to the world  not known to you.... it  refers to so many  thousands of years which have rolled by.    When you read these short stories commencing with this one,  you will learn  who “Krishna is” (not WAS) because we believe He is in you, me and in everything, and everyone. Why and where he was born and what was his mission!.

The  world we live in, was once under the misrule of many Rakshasaas (demons) and they wielded immense power to control everything and everyone. Their worst sufferers  were Devas the heavenly meek  demi gods and other celestial beings besides those on earth. The cruelty caused to helpless began increasing and life was miserable for all as  there was no Peace and happiness.  Fear only prevailed everywhere.  

 At  one stage sufferings of the innocent and helpless were so much due to lack of Justice, piety, Honesty, Truth, Trust and Love, caused by the powerful demons, .  Bhumadevi, the goddess of Earth  found it no more bearable and she felt  something must be done without any further delay to restore normal life.   Lord  Brahma, the god of Creation  shared her thoughts and  He at once decided that  time has come for  Lord  Vishnu, the god of Protection to set things right in the world  appealed to Him to do the needful. Patiently hearing the appeal Lord Vishnu assured Brahma that He will appear on Earth and do His best!!  Everyone was Happy on hearing this.

When Lord Vishnu descends on Earth it is known as His Avathar(appearance).  He   was therefore  born  as the son of the  Yadhukula (a dynasty) king Vasudeva and Devaki.  Devaki was the only sister of the demon king  Kamsan of Mathura.  He  loved his sister very much and when she was  to be wedded to  Vasudeva, he was very happy and took full charge of celebrating the wedding and drove the chariot  carrying the newly wedded couple,  in huge procession along the streets of Mathura. 

On the way unfortunately, he heard a voice from heaven “You fool Kamsa, you are celebrating this wedding  so happily  without realizing that the son to be borne by Devaki through Vasudeva  would be your killer”.   

Kamsa was shocked and surprised. And he was angry too.  Naturally he  tried to kill his loving sister.  Vasudeva  pleaded with him  to spare her life, and  after much persuasion convinced him that he would immediately hand over the child born to Devaki to Kamsan  for disposal. Though  Kamsan  spared  the life of Devaki under such condition, for his own  safety he  immediately  imprisoned both of them in his castle at Mathura. Don’t you think children, that Vasudeva and Devaki are the only couple in this world to be sent to jail on their wedding day!!!? 

Poor  Vasudeva and Devaki were in prison for many years, during which time,  seven babies  were born to Devaki  and they were promptly  killed by Kamsa  immediately on his learning of  their birth in jail!

The eighth child was Krishna!   Vasudeva  was instructed by Lord Vishnu “immediately on the birth of the eighth child, a baby boy,  leave the prison,  cross the river Yamuna,  proceed to the village Nandgagram,  deposit the baby boyin the house of Nandagopan, the local chieftain ,exchange him with the new born baby girl of Nandagopan, and return to the prison”

Vasudevan was surprised and as if in trance, he acted like a robot.  What a surprise and miracle it is..!!  the iron chain on his legs, broke  by  itself, the lock in the prison gate opened on its own, the guards were found in deep slumber snoring, the  prison  outer gate  was wide open,  River Yamuna abruptly parted  providing  a passage for Vasudeva  who carried the baby boy in a basket on his head, to cross the river,  Nandagopan house was open, the newborn  baby girl was  ready for exchange with Vasudevan’s  babyboy!!    All the time,  no one  noticed anything .  Vasudevan walked back with the baby girl, crossed Yamuna, entered the prison and found himself  locked with chain once again,  inside the prison cell. The newborn  baby girl’s crying  woke up the guards from the slumber and Kamsa was informed of the new arrival!!!  All these  happened on the night of Ashtami,(8th day after full moon)  in the month of  Sravan, interrupted by a heavy downpour. Baby boy Krishna  carried by Vasudeva in a basket was protected by the full spread  hood of Adisesha,  which serves as the bed of Lord Vishnu in the Ocean of Milk.

As  a routine Kamsa when he heard of the newborn baby to Devaki visited the prison. Without any mercy held the newborn in his left hand and lifted high,  his sword to kill her.  “Oh!   what a surprise for him, the baby girl  slipped out of his hand,  flew high  in the air and laughed at him saying, “You fool  Kamsa, begin counting your days since  your killer is already born and grows elsewhere”

Kamsa was shell shocked. “ How can this happen despite all my careful planning?”  He  immediately ordered his generals  to go far and wide  to look for all new born children and kill them instantaneously. 

Do we all  think of God  always?  Kamsa  was  one person who was always thinking of Krishna night and day for many years, BUT NOT FOR HIS GOOD OR FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS,   BUT TO DESTROY HIM.....!! Is it not unfortunate that one  should think of God this way??” 

                                         The writer can be reached at: jksivan@gmail.com