The Glory Of Krishnavatar

Embodiments of love! 

It was the middle of the Dvapara-yuga. Unable to bear the atrocities committed on good people by demonic rulers, the Goddess of Earth prayed to the Lord in many ways. Offering solace to the grief-stricken Goddess, the Lord said, “Devi! You may return to the earth. I shall do what needs to be done. You will be relieved of your burden.” Encouraging her in this way, the Lord sent Mother Earth back to the world.

Thereafter, the Lord summoned all the Devas (denizens of the celestial world) and directed them to take birth as Yadavas. The originator of the Yadava clan is Yayati. His eldest son was known as Yadu. The descendants of Yadu came to be known in course of time as Yadavas. Among the Yadavas, there was a chief known as Aahuka, who was a righteous person, wedded to truth. The characters figuring in the Krishna legend belong to Aahuka’s lineage. Aahuka had two sons Devaka and Ugrasena. Kamsa was the son of Ugrasena. Devaki was the daughter of Devaka. Kamsa had no sister of his own. He had great affection for his cousin Devaki, whom he treated as his own uterine sister.

The Warning To Kamsa From The Ethereal Voice

In the Yadava clan, there was one Vasudeva, the son of Shura. Vasudeva was one of the satraps in the Yadava kingdom. He was known as one who stood by his plighted word. Ugrasena and Kamsa, after a great deal of search, picked upon Vasudeva as a suitable bridegroom for Devaki. Vasudeva already had a wife by the name Rohini. In those times, there were no restrictions regarding polygamy. Because he had no child through Rohini, Vasudeva agreed to marry Devaki.

After the marriage, Kamsa got ready his chariot to take Vasudeva and Devaki to their home. Kamsa drove the chariot himself with a heavy heart, overwhelmed by the prospect of separation from his beloved cousin. Devaki was as dear to Kamsa as his life-breath. At the time of her leaving her paternal home, Devaki was presented with many precious gifts by Ugrasena, besides a retinue of elephants, horses, and guardsmen.

While the chariot was proceeding in a grand manner, all of a sudden a loud voice was heard from the sky: “You fool! You do not know what is in store for you. The one who will slay you for all your misdeeds will be born as the eighth child of your sister.” After saying this, the ethereal spirit vanished.

The moment Kamsa heard these words, he flew into a rage. He jumped down from the chariot, seized Devaki by the hair, unsheathed his sword to cut off her head.

Vasudeva, who was the very embodiment of peace, truth and righteousness, held Kamsa’s hands and asked him why he was worried so much over the prospect of death. “Death is inevitable, whether today or in time to come. Whatever you may do to protect yourself, death will come in its own time even if you hide in a forest. All beings that are born are destined to die. Kamsa! The ethereal voice declared that death will come to you from the hands of the eighth child (of Devaki) and not immediately. There are many years ahead before the eighth child. It is not proper that you should lose your temper. Release the girl whom you had loved as your sister. I shall hand over to you every child that is born to her.” When Vasudeva gave his pledge, Kamsa realized the truth of his words and released Devaki from his hold. Kamsa returned to his palace without getting back into the chariot.

Sage Narada’s Advice To Kamsa

Vasudeva and Devaki reached their home with heavy hearts. As days passed by and Kamsa was immersed in worry about the prospect of death, Sage Narada came to him one day. After talking about world affairs in general, before leaving, Narada told Kamsa: “You are verily a fool. You are not aware of your real plight. The ethereal voice said that (Devaki’s) eighth child will be your slayer. But you cannot know from which of her children death will come to you. You cannot rake a chance with any of them.”

From that moment Kamsa’s distress and fear increased. He commanded Vasudeva to hand over to him every child. He killed six of the newborn children as they were handed over to him.

When Devaki was enceinte for the seventh time, Srimannarayana made all arrangements to carry out His promise to Mother Earth. To promote the welfare of the world, to establish Dharma among mankind, to uphold truth and to instill devotion to God in humanity, the Divine process had to be set in motion. The Devas took birth as Yadavas. Vishnu summoned His all-pervading Yoga-shakti (The Cosmic Energy), and said, “Go forth immediately and enter the womb of Yashoda.” Summoning Adishesha (the Divine Serpent) the Lord directed him to go to Gokulam and enter the womb of Rohini (Vasudeva’s elder wife). “I shall be entering the womb of Devaki.”

Krishna’s Birth In Prison

In Devaki’s seventh pregnancy, the Lord had the foetus transferred to Rohini’s womb and Kamsa was informed that Devaki had an abortion. Krishna made His advent in her eighth pregnancy. Apprehending danger from Kamsa, Vasudeva arranged to send Rohini to Nanda’s home. Rohini was a sister of Yashoda.

Expecting mortal danger to himself from the eighth child of Devaki, Kamsa kept Vasudeva and Devaki in a heavily guarded prison. He kept the key of the prison lock with himself. Devaki gave birth to a son on an Ashtami (eighth day after the New Moon) in the asterism Rohini. The Child that was born was the Lord Himself with all His effulgence and all the insignia of Vishnu. On the child’s chest was the Shrivatsa mole. The Kaustubha ornament shone brilliantly. Devaki and Vasudeva folded their hands in adoration, blinded by the effulgence of the Divine Child. They felt that their lives had been redeemed by the birth of the Lord, whom they saw with their own eyes. Approaching the baby and caressing his palms and feet, they prayed to the Lord: “Thanks to our good fortune, you have taken birth as our son. But we are not in a position to protect you. You must use your divine potency to get away from this prison by any means.”

The Ways Of The Divine Are Marvellous And Mysterious

Vasudeva sat beside the child and started praying. Immediately a basket appeared before him. Placing the Divine child in the basket, he looked at the prison door. He saw that it was open. The ways of the Divine are marvellous and mysterious, felt Vasudeva. He stepped out of the prison. He found all the guards sound asleep. As he came out, there was a heavy downpour. The Yamuna was in spate. He prayed to Narayana to see that there was no impediment in the way of his mission to protect the Divine Child. The Yamuna gave him passage. He reached Nanda’s house.

The same day Yashoda had given birth to a child. Yashoda was unconscious. The child was none other than Mayadevi. When she was born, both Nanda and Yashoda were in a state of trance. Leaving the infant Krishna by the side of Yashoda, Vasudeva returned to Mathura with the other child. When Vasudeva left Nanda’s house, the child left beside Yashoda uttered a cry. Yashoda and Nanda did not know whether the newborn was a boy or girl. On hearing the child’s cry, Yashoda looked at it and found that it was a boy.

Vasudeva took the female child back to his prison. There the child started crying. On hearing the cry, all the guards woke up. They found the prison gates closed. They informed Kamsa about the birth of the child. Kamsa, who had been anxiously waiting for the news, rushed to the prison. Seizing the newborn child from Devaki’s hands, he flung it up in the air to slay it with his sword. The child, Mayadevi, spoke from above, “You fool! The boy who is going to slay you is already born. He is growing up in a certain place. You cannot escape your destined end.” Saying this, Mayadevi vanished.

Kamsa’s Nightmare About His Killer

From that moment, Kamsa was engaged in finding out the whereabouts of the child that was to be his slayer. He released Vasudeva and Devaki from prison.

Once, Vasudeva and Nanda, as samantas in Kamsa’s kingdom, came to Mathura to pay their annual tribute to him. While they were returning, Vasudeva and Nanda were lamenting over their plight. Vasudeva observed that in Repalle (Nanda’s place) some inauspicious events seemed to be impending. “In Gokulam also some untoward events are likely to happen. Nanda, do not stay in Mathura for long. Leave the place immediately.”

On hearing this warning, Nanda immediately returned to Repalle. In Repalle, demoniac elements were all the time moving about actively. The first of them was Putana. She lost her life while giving suck to Krishna. This Putana in a previous life was Ratnavali, the daughter of Emperor Bali. The Lord as Vamana appeared as an extremely handsome young lad at the sacrifice being performed by Bali. Ratnavali was charmed by the beauty of Vamana and felt how much she would have enjoyed rearing him if he had been her son. As she was having these thoughts, she found that Vamana had placed his foot on Bali’s head (after he had measured two footsteps).

Enraged at this sight, she was filled with the desire to kill him. Because she desired at first to fondle Vamana as a child and later to kill him, she was born as Putana and came to Krishna to feed him and kill him. In the end, she lost her life. The Lord has His own ways of fulfilling the desires of people. Hence, it is essential to have good thoughts and good desires.

Child Krishna Proves That He Is Divine

When Krishna was three years old, he saw an old lady carrying a basket of fruits from the jungle. Krishna told her he would like to have some fruits. The old woman said he could get them only if he paid the price. Krishna innocently asked the meaning of the word ‘price’. The woman said that something should be given in return for the fruit. Krishna went in and brought a palmful of rice. The woman placed the rice in her basket and gave Krishna some fruits. She was charmed by the beauty of the child. As she was returning to her cottage, she felt that the basket was getting heavier. When she placed it down in her hut, she was amazed to find that all the rice grains had turned into precious gems! She thought the child must be divine. Otherwise, how could the rice turn into gems? Considering herself supremely lucky, she invited her neighbors to see the miracle.

Krishna was pleading with Yashoda that he should be allowed to go to the forest with other cowherd boys. Thinking that if he was put to sleep he would forget his desire to go to the forest, Yashoda gave him milk. Krishna was no ordinary child. While drinking the milk, he pretended as if he was sleepy. He made a pretence of yawning to indicate his drowsiness. In that wide-open mouth of Krishna, Yashoda saw all kinds of things—all the worlds in motion and many deities. She could not make out what it meant. “Is it a dream or Vishnu’s Maya (illusory power)? Or is it some fantasy of mine? Or is it real? Am I Yashoda? Have I gone somewhere?” These thoughts racked her mind. “My son is an infant. How can all the worlds appear in his tiny mouth? It must be my imagination.” Such doubts arise in the minds of those who are caught up in the delusions of the body complex.

How Child Krishna Fought With The Demons

Yielding to his entreaties Yashoda allowed Krishna to go to the forest with the cowherd boys. Almost every day, Krishna encountered some ogre or ogress and slew them. His playmates used to describe to their elders these exploits of Krishna, how he fought with the demons and finished them off.

Yashoda, however, used to say: “God is taking care of my child. Otherwise, how could he overcome these encounters?” The cowherd boys observed: “When he himself is God, why does he need anybody’s protection, oh mother!” Yashoda felt that the boys were naive in their judgment. “Will God come to one’s rescue so easily? It is only because of my prayers, my child is protected.” With this belief, Yashoda used to perform various rites, when Krishna returned from the forest, to express her gratitude to Providence for saving him from the evil eye and other dangers.

There was great rejoicing among the Devas (celestial beings) when they heard about the slaying of many demons on earth by Lord Narayana in His incarnation as Krishna. On hearing these stories, Brahma wanted to verify the truth about Krishna’s prowess and the miracles attributed to him.

Brahma Verifies Krishna’s Prowess

That same night Krishna gave a directive to his mates. “Do not take the cows today for grazing. Let us take the calves. Come with the calves together with your respective musical instruments. We must spend the day with music.” Most of them came with flutes on which they could play well, holding a stick in one hand and a flute in the other. Only two boys brought two mud-pots to be used as drums. Playing on the mud-pot is known today as Ghata-vadyam. This art is as ancient as the Dvapara-yuga.

The cowherd boys gathered on the bank of the Yamuna with calves. Some of them played on their flutes, some drummed their mud-pots while Krishna danced to the music. When Krishna stopped dancing, others started dancing. After some time, Dama, one of the two intimate friends of Krishna (the other being Subala), told Krishna that he was feeling hungry and would like to have some palm fruits from palm trees a little far away. Balarama, who was close by, said he would fetch the fruits. Balarama went near the trees and shook them. All the fruits dropped down. At the time of the naming ceremony of the child Balarama, the sage Garga referred to the strength of the baby and said that the name Balarama would be appropriate for him. At that time, a huge donkey appeared there. All were frightened. The donkey was getting bigger and bigger. Balarama seized the donkey by the forelegs and dashed it to the ground. It died on the spot. The cowherd boys hailed Balarama as a hero and danced in joy.

Biding his time, Brahma created at that moment a huge cave. He took into the cave all the calves, while the cowherd boys were immersed in merriment. Missing the calves, the boys started searching for them, shouting “Krishna! Krishna!” Krishna knew what was afoot and directed his mates to search for the calves in the cave nearby. They all went into the cave. Immediately the mouth of the cave closed in. The boys and the calves were caught inside. They were there for a whole year.

Brahma Realises The Inscrutable Ways Of The Lord

Krishna wanted to teach Brahma a lesson. He took the form of all the calves and all the Gopalas imprisoned in the cave. In the evening Krishna and Balarama took the calves and the boys back to their homes. This went on day after day for a whole year. The elders assumed that the calves and the boys were their own. Brahma wondered what was happening? Had Krishna managed to free the boys and the calves from the cave? When he went into the cave, he found all of them inside. He was amazed to find that the same boys and calves were inside as well as outside. He then realized the inscrutable way of the Lord. “How can anyone know you, oh Krishna! You are subtler than the atom and vaster than the vast in creation. You dwell in all the myriad species in all the world, how can anyone know you?” He prayed to Krishna to forgive him and released the calves and the boys from the cave.

This episode reveals that the Supreme Lord can assume countless forms. He can assume the form of the entire cosmos. That is why the Upanishat declared: “The entire cosmos is dwelt in by God.” All are forms of the Divine.

How is this possible? By the power of the Will of God. If a man, while asleep, experiences all kinds of things in the dream, including his own movements, while in fact, he is motionless on his bed, what is it that is beyond the power of the Supreme Lord? Seeing the Divine in human form, people can have doubts about whether the incarnation can have such miraculous powers when he has the same body as themselves. They do not perceive the oneness of the Atma. It is difficult to recognise the Divine in the human form.

Krishna’s Lilas Were Intended To Reveal His Divinity

Not recognizing His Divinity many people reviled Krishna calling him a philanderer and a thief. These accusations do not detract from His greatness. They are born of delusion. Men make the same mistake about themselves, forgetting their inherent divinity and identifying themselves with their bodies. Krishna appeared in human form to teach mankind to transcend their body consciousness.

Krishna’s lilas (sportive miracles) were intended in one way or another to reveal His divinity. Once Balarama teased Krishna by declaring: “You are not Yashoda’s son. You may ask why I say so. This is because Nanda and Yashoda are of fair complexion and you are dark. You are not their child. You must have been born somewhere else.”

What Balarama said was true and Krishna knew it. But assuming an air of innocence, Krishna went to Yashoda and complained, “Mother! Balarama is saying that I am not your son. Tell me the truth.” Yashoda replied: “Krishna! What does Balarama know? He is an innocent boy. You are very cute. You are highly intelligent. Don’t pay any heed to his words. You are truly my son. The colour given by God is permanent. Colour as such is not important. Many people paint themselves in different ways to conceal their identity. All these are momentary. The colour given by God cannot be changed by anyone. God likes the dark complexion. You have got the colour of the Divine.”

Gopikas’ Spiritual Love For Krishna

The Gopikas used to describe Krishna in many ways. Their love for Krishna was entirely spiritual. Their feelings were absolutely pure.

While Parikshit was listening to Shuka’s narration of Krishna’s lilas, many doubts occurred to him. Shuka resolved all the doubts. “Parikshit! You are viewing things from a worldly point of view and missing the truth. No one can determine the form of the Divine. He can assume any form at any time. But, when he has to demonstrate the nature of Divinity to mankind, He has to come in human form. But man, because of his polluted mind is unable to recognise the Divine in the human form.”

Even Yashoda, despite many occasions in which Krishna demonstrated His divinity, continued to regard him as a human child and frequently thanked the Lord for saving her child from many dangers. But Krishna tried to change her view by the words He used on different occasions.

Once when Yashoda asked Krishna whether it was true, as alleged by Balarama, that he was in the habit of eating mud, Krishna replied: “Mother, am I a child, or a naughty boy or madcap to eat mud? People are mad about me. I am here to cure the world of its madness.” From these words, Yashoda began to realise that Krishna was no ordinary Child but a manifestation of the Divine.

The Ways Of The Avatar

There are many subtle truths relating to an incarnation that cannot be easily understood. Merely to describe the various sports and exploits of Krishna as a child is only a pastime. God’s ways are infinite and inscrutable. No one can determine or dictate to God how He should act. He can transform anything at a moment.

It must be clearly understood that Krishna was such a manifestation of the Divine. The name Krishna has to be properly understood. “Krish” + “Na” = Krishna. This means that He is the one who cultivates (Krish) the heart. “Kars” + “Na” is another derivation, which indicates that Krishna is one who attracts - Karshati-iti-Krishna. Krishna attracts people not only by the matchless beauty of His form, He also attracts people by His music, His dance, His sports and His words. Krishna, by His winsome ways, could turn the anger of the Gopis toward Him because of His pranks, into an enjoyable joke.

Not was that all. Krishna, in fulfilling the pledge, He had given to Mother Earth, rid the world of many wicked rulers and sought to establish the reign of Righteousness for the protection of the good.

The Divine incarnates from age to age for the purpose of protecting the virtuous, punishing the wicked, and establishing Dharma. Krishna is said to have destroyed many wicked persons. But this is not quite correct. It is their own wickedness which destroyed these evil persons.

Today if the Divine wants to punish the wicked and protect the righteous, there will not be even one wholly righteous person. All will qualify for punishment. It is not a question of destroying the wicked. The task today is to transform Adharma (unrighteousness) into Dharma (righteousness). How is this to be done? Through love alone.

Men’s Thoughts Determine Their Destiny

Krishna also changed the hearts of many people through love. It may be asked: “Is it not Krishna who killed Kamsa?” Not at all. This is the textbook version. In truth, it was Kamsa’s own heated Bhrama (delusion) which killed him. He was always haunted by the fear of Krishna. His death was a result and a reaction of that fear.

Men’s thoughts determine their destiny. Hence, men should cultivate good thoughts and eschew all bad feelings.

God has no dislike for anyone. He envies no one. He has no ill-will towards anyone. Nor does He have favourites. The grace one gets is the result of one’s own feelings. “Bhavatitam Triguna rahitam” (The Divine is beyond feelings and attributes). He is “Ekam Satyam Vimalam Achalam” (the One, Truth, Pure, Immovable). He is “Sarvadhi Sakshibhutam” (Eternal Witness in all minds).

When devotees complain nowadays why they are being punished by the Lord in various ways, they do not realise that it is not God who is punishing them. Their own fears and fancies are the cause of their troubles. He alone is a true devotee who recognizes that his sufferings are the consequence of his own bad thoughts and actions. One such devotee was Kuntidevi, sister of Vasudeva (and mother of the Pandavas). She was Krishna’s paternal aunt.

Kunti’s Strange Prayer To Krishna

Krishna was leaving Hasthinapura for Dwaraka. He was bidding farewell to all his kinsfolk and taking leave of Dharmaja and others. Everyone silently accepted his decision. The chariot was ready for Krishna’s departure. But the Divine can change his mind at any moment. After taking leave of all others, he went to Kunti. Kunti told him, “Krishna! All the troubles we experienced were due to our delusions. If Dharmaja had not been lured by the game of dice, would we have been subjected to exile in the forest and all the troubles we went through? Hence my children were the root cause of all our troubles. You are always our protector. During all our troubles, I always remembered you. In the world, people remember God only in times of trouble and not when they are happy. Therefore, Krishna, as long as I have a body, give me always difficulties. However, having had you with us all these years, we are deeply distressed to see you part from us. I have no power to change your mind. I only pray, do not forget this aunt of yours.”

After that, Krishna went to Uttara (Abhimanyu’s wife). Hearing that Krishna was leaving for Dwaraka, Uttara ran towards Krishna and fell at his feet. “Lord! Since Abhimanyu’s death, I have been trying hard to bear the pain that is gnawing at my bosom. There is a fire burning in my womb. I cannot divine the reason. You should not leave at all for Dwaraka now. You must stay. You have been the protector of my forebears for many generations. You were the saviour of the Pandavas. The child in my womb is the only hope of the Pandava clan. If anything untoward happens to that child, the Pandava dynasty will be extinguished. Therefore, you must not leave.” So saying, Uttara firmly clung to Krishna’s feet.

Krishna was immediately moved by Uttara’s deep devotion. The journey to Dwaraka was given up. Krishna made a promise to Uttara. “I will not leave for Dwaraka till your child is born,” assured Krishna. At that moment, Dharmaja and his brothers, Draupadi and Subhadra praised Uttara’s devotion to the Lord. Though young in years, Uttara was pre-eminent in her devotion. This was because when she was enceinte, Krishna entered her womb to protect the fetus from the Brahmastram (a terrible missile) of Ashvatthama. She had a vision in a dream of Krishna entering her womb. From that moment she was ceaselessly chanting the name of Krishna and seeing Krishna in every person and every object. Because of this, when the child was born, Krishna named him Parikshit as he tested everyone till he recognised Krishna.

Divine Madness Of Gopikas Has A Lesson For All

It is clear that the leelas (miracles) of God are inexplicable and infinite. It is ludicrous to seek the whereabouts of the Divine, who is omnipresent. Uttara was one who recognized the omnipresence of God. Recognizing her supreme devotion, Krishna was prepared to change His plans. People should realize that God responds only to deep and genuine devotion. Verbal supplications will not suffice. The devotee must acquire the yearning that will melt the heart of God. Even butter which is so soft melts only when heat is applied. Likewise, the warmth of Bhakti (love of the Lord) has to be applied to the butter of the human heart to make it melt. It was their intense devotion that made Krishna dwell in the hearts of Gopikas. They became God-intoxicated. Once when Krishna disappeared from their midst, they started searching for him everywhere, among the trees and the bushes of Brindavan, oblivious to everything else. Their appeals to the creepers to tell them whether their Krishna was hiding amongst them might seem hysterical. But it would be a good thing if such hysterical love of God filled people’s hearts today. The world will be a calmer and better place.

Craze For God Removes The Craze For Wealth

Some people talk caustically to Sai devotees saying: “You have gone crazy over Sai Baba.” This craziness is sublime madness. There are all kinds of lunatics in the mental hospital, many of whom pose difficult problems for the doctors. If some God-mad devotee sits in a corner chanting God’s name, what a relief he would be to doctors! If you develop this kind of sublime madness, you will be supremely fortunate indeed! Everyone should be crazy about God. Only then they will get rid of the mad craving for wealth and the things of the world.

The craze for money is the cause of all the ills in the world. With the result that the desire for God declines. Because of the craze for riches, all other evil qualities like pride, greed, envy, and hatred have grown among mankind. Wealth is, indeed, needed, but it is the wealth of Divine Grace and the treasure of Divine Love. That alone is lasting. All other things are transient.

Krishnavatar Is Hailed As Purna Avatar

Once Yashoda appealingly asked Krishna why he was going to the Gopika’s houses to steal their butter when there was so much butter in their own house. The Child Krishna replied: “Mother, I am not stealing butter but the hearts of the Gopis.” (Swami sang a beautiful song relating to this episode). “Their hearts are pure and full of devotion,” said Krishna. “Their butter is filled with the devotion with which they churn the buttermilk. Their bangles keep time as they sing Krishna’s name while churning. The butter that is got contains the essence of the Vedas.” Krishna asked Yashoda whether this kind of churning was taking place in her house. In this manner, every word of Krishna was replete with spiritual significance. The Krishnavatar is hailed as Purna Avatar, compared to all previous Avatars.

Vyasa could obtain peace of mind only when, on the advice of Sage Narada, he began to write about the glorious incarnations of the Lord (described in the Bhagavatam). All his earlier writings, including the codification of the Vedas and the writing of the Puranas, could not confer peace on him.

Embodiments of Love! No amount of scholarship will give you peace unless you are filled with the love of God.

Discourse on Gokulastami Day in the Sai Ramesh Hall, Brindavan, on 28-8-1994.