Krishna Story 15        

Krishna, the Gopalan of Brindavan
by J.K. Sivan

You  all know  what is GOKULAASHTAMI, is not it?  The  Ashtami day in which Lord Krishna was born in the month of Sravan (Aavani in tamil).   A special sweet is prepared that day in many houses  called  SEEDAI  (with jaggery,coconut, rice flour etc., fried in oil) which is very delicious to eat.   In this story, you will learn about  GOPAASHTAMI!!    This is celebrated in the month of KAARTHIKAI, Suklapaksham,(from new moon day to full moon) Ashtami.  This is the day  Krishna was recognized as a full fledged Gopa  to tend the cows independently.  Most Krishna temples in the north celebrate this day. 

The Cowherds of  Brindhavan  were systematic in their practices.  All the cows would be attended by the men whereas chidren would be trained to look after the calves. Once they were trained and  found to be capable of independently put in charge of grazing the cows, be with them from dawn to dusk, to safe guard them from natural and man made obstacles, they will be entrusted the task of taking out the cows in herds.  The  day Krishna was recognized as a Gopa, was celebrated in a grand manner in Brindhavan  by decorating the calves and cows with paints on their  horns, new bells around their necks, colourful cloths tied around their necks, with Turmeric, vermilion designs on their foreheads. and garlands around their necks.  Every house in Brindhavan as usual  had a festive look with rangolis, paintings on the front walls, distribution of various sweetmeats and dances besides chorus singing by gopis.

Krishnan, Balaraman and the other boys of Brindhavan village, therefore  have been all along entrusted with the task of playing with the calves only to know them, learn their requirements and fulfil them,  cater to their needs,  take them out not far away within safe zones etc.,   As  such  every cowherd boy by the time he is about  10 year old  or so  would have  gained the experience of  confidently looking after the grown up calves, now, cows, taking them out for grazing in far off  places independently.

With  Krishna  everything is different is n’t it?  On the day  he proceeded with the boys as usual with the calves and cows, someone else was also waiting to celebrate the day in a different manner!!  Who could it be other than a demon sent by the demon king Kamsan? 

The demon was known as Dhenukasuran,

Krishna told Balraman and the other boys   “Let us all go to the yonder Thaal van, where it is dense with trees and  large grass fields. Dhenukaasuran was also there waiting for Krishna in the form of an Ass.  He used his powerful hindlegs to attack and kill whoever neared him. 

“Krishna  look at the  big  Ass staring at us!” shouted a few boys.  The Ass was looking fierce and standing still with red blood shot eyes.  After  observing the boys for some time  the Ass slowly walked towards the boys.  A few boys  threw stones at it and ran away which irritated Dhenukaasuran.

Balaraman  was now close to it and within a split second the demon turned back and began raising his hind legs to hit him.  Balaram  was quick enough to avoid the impact and shouted “Krishna, run away from this Ass,  It suddenly hits back very powerful giving death blows”   Now  Dhenukasuran recognised his main target Krishna identified by Balaraman"calling him by name.

He  moved towards  Krishna  who was closely watching the demon.  The moment the ass turned its back and aimed to  kick using its  hind legs at him, he was swift enough to catch hold of one of the hind legs and swing it using its own force around.  Dhenukasuran lost his balance when caught by Krishna.

Krishna’s  enormous strength was not known to Dhenukasuran.  He  underestimated Krishna as a  small cowherd boy.   When he tried best to extricate his leg from Krishna by hitting with the other leg,  Krishna  who was waiting for the chance caught hold of the other leg also.  Now  Dhenukasuran was fully at the mercy of Krishna.  But Krishna gave him no chance.  He  lifted him with full force and  after swinging him around high above threw him with full force against the rock near by.  Dhenukasuran flew in the sky and landed on the rock in full force which broke his bones.  He  was unable to move and bleated loud in pain.

Within moments,  Dhenukasuran breathed his last and lay dead in his demonic form.  The  cowherd boys were shocked to see the dead demon who came in the form of an Ass.  Krishna was unperturbed and was as usual smiling at them.  

 Dear Children, don’t you know how shrewd,  Krishna has always been a  clever boy ever ready for any attack on him as he was aware of the  plans of Kamsa to kill him but he had better counter plans which Kamsa did not know.

The boys were busy that evening explaining with joy and extreme happiness admiring their friend Krishna’s  miraculous feats for the day in dealing with the Ass Demon which was shared equally with same joy and admiration by their parents.     




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