KRISHNA STORY 3             

A  TALL YOGI  WAITS

by J.K. Sivan                

 In  today’s  Krishna story, you will learn  something you never knew before  as I also felt the same when I read about it. You know, for telling you these stories,  I have to search a lot of books and writings, scriptures and write ups to take a point and compose the story in short, simple words.

Krishna  is  the  new born baby in Nandagopan’s  house now.  He was the chieftain ruling the people there in Gokulam, a  small village,  in which  all the residents were cowherds. The  whole community rejoiced at the  occasion in a grand manner. Nandagopan’s  palatial house was full. Everybody brought some present for the new born child.  The boy was going to be named that day as KRISHNA. The name 'Krishna' means black in colour and 'all attractive'.  He was a beautiful child, magnetizing everyone who saw him.

 

Though the village had only a few streets,  everywhere  there was a festive look and every house had large colorful rangolis in front and the streets were lined up with sweetmeats and other eatables.  Passers by were served milk, sweets and small gifts. Some young Gopas (the cowherds were called thus and the women as Gopis)  fired crackers and some of them  joined in a group and  sang.  Some women were found dancing in groups and singing and playing games. There were some  playing their best instruments.  No cooking was done in any house.  For  days together, they are going to be fed by Nandagopan’s  family.  The entire street was covered and  became a stage for feeding, entertainment, etc. 

 

Vedhic chanting and rituals were in progress amidst large crowd inside Nandagopan’s  palace. Gentle breeze  was there throughout the day and a slight drizzle like dews in the air made everyone feel cool and happy. The cows, calves and other birds and animals were fed, dressed and  decorated. The smell of  ghee and  sweets being made in the palace filled and charged the air with a welcome feeling.

Yasodha and Nandagopan, with Rohini and her son Balaraman were all beaming in joy and ecstacy. Everyone took the child in hand and  blessed him and gifted him on this great occasion.  There was also a tall man, with matted hair, with tiger skin clad around his waist, his strong body painted with  white ash, and he had a trident in hand.  He wore  beads around his neck, arms and around his head also. There was extreme happiness visible on his face.

 

Who was he and why did he  joint this crowd?  He  was standing outside the house along with others to see the child and bless him probably. He  looked different among the people waiting outside the house.

Rohini first saw him and felt strange. She told Yasodha, the mother of the child, about him.  What for he is standing there and why does he wait? Perhaps he has come for alms and some gifts. No, No,  he may also have come for  seeing the child and  bless him and gift something!

Rohini said, "I am afraid he may be a child kidnapper. You should not hand him the baby".

All of a sudden, the baby began crying. Since everyone disturbed him from his sleep and lifted him, probably he felt uneasy or the crowd around him disturbed a lot to make him cry.  Yasodha  tried her best to control him and breastfed him. He would not take it and continued crying louder and louder. Some one suggested free air and  take him out for a while. He  persisted in crying.

 

Nandagopan suggested "if the child is taken to the hermit standing outside, perhaps he might cure the illness the child developed suddenly".  Yasodha approved the idea and both of them brought the child out and handed him to the hermit.

 

The hermit, as he was eagerly awaiting this opportunity, happily took the child, embraced him and he took a benign look at the child.  The child began to laugh and extended his tiny hands to embrace the hermit’s neck. The holy ash on his body got smeared on the baby, which made the child look glowing!

None could know that  it was Lord  Parameshwar who came from Kailash to see the baby who was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself. He knew the purpose for which Lord Vishnu made His appearance on the earth.

 

Do you know that Lord Siva is easily pleased with those worshipping him and penancing for obtaining powers, even if they were rakshasas? However, once the Rakshasas and demons thus  gained power through their austere worship of Lord Siva, they misruled and tormented others misusing the power granted.  On those occasions, it was Lord Vishnu to make His appearance and destroy such demons and demonic tendencies.  One such occasion is now when He was born as Krishna in His original form.

 

 

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