GODS and GODDESSES
Dasavataram
Krishnavataram - friend, philosopher and guide
Ugrasenan ruled Mathura.
He had a daughter called Devaki who was married to Vasudevar. Devaki's
brother Kamsan was driving the chariot with the newly wed couple. An asariri
(divine voice) called out that the eighth child of Devaki would kill Kamsan.
The outraged Kamsan rushed to kill Devaki, but Vasudevar pleaded, that
since the trouble was from Devaki's children, he would hand over all her
children to Kamsan. Kamsan put Devaki, Vasudevar and Ugrasenan in prison.
Kamsan mercilessly killed six of Devaki's children. Devaki was pregnant
for the seventh time and this time it was Adisesha's amsam in her womb.
Lord Vishnu arranged for this child to be transferred to the womb of Rohini,
another wife of Vasudevar, who lived in Aayarpaadi. Rohini gave birth to
a beautiful and powerful child who was named Balarama. Kamsan assumed that
Devaki had lost her seventh child.
The eighth child was Lord Krishna.
When Krishna was born Vasudevar, carried the child by God's grace from
the locked prison through rain and floods to the house of Nandagopar and
Yasodha in Aayarpaadi. On the way, Aadiseshan covered the basket, protecting
the child Krishna from the ravages of nature. Vasudeva left Krishna beside
Yasodha and carried away her new born child (Parameswari, the maya child)
to the prison.
Kamsan, on hearing the birth of Krishna
rushed to the prison, grabbed the child and tried to kill the child. The
child however, rose up to the skies and ridiculed kamsan, that his arch
enemy was still alive elsewhere and vanished.
Krishna as a child
In Aayarpaadi, everybody was thrilled
and overjoyed. There were great celebrations. Krishna grew up enjoying
the love and affection showered by all. Kamsan started sending asuras in
search of Krishna. Even as a child, Krishna killed several asuras such
as Boodhaki, Thirunavardhan, Denukan, Bagan, Sagadasuran, and several others.
He revealed to his mother Yasodha, the entire universe within his tiny
open mouth. The mighty Kaalinga (snake) was subdued by him. He controlled
the snake and danced on its head. He gave protection to the people of Gokulam
for over a week from the heavy rains caused by Indra, by lifting the Govardana
giri (mountain) and holding it as an umbrella. He killed Kamsan of Mathura.
The Gopikas were thrilled by his venu gaanam (flute).
Krishna
married Rukmini. (Rukmini's brother Rukmi wanted her to marry his friend
Sisubaalan. Krishna lifted Rukmini on to his chariot, swiftly reached Dwaraka
and married Rukmini).
The day that Krishna killed Naragasuran
is celebrated as Deepavali. In the episode of obtaining the Syamantakamani,
he married Jambavati, Jambavan's daughter and Satyabama, Satrajit's daughter.
The pancha Pandavas were cheated
of their kingdom by Duryodhana, his brothers and Duryodhana's uncle Sakuni.
With Krishna by their side, the Pandavas ultimately defeated the Gauravas
and got back their kingdom. (In the war field Krishna advised Arjuna to
do his duty only and not to worry about the consequences, when Arjuna worried
over killing his relatives.) Geethopadesam to Arjuna by Lord Krishna is
truly a way of living to be followed by all human beings.
There have been several queries posted such as,
"How can Krishna, if he is a God, advice to kill brothers and close relatives and Gurus?"
We cannot decipher from this, that it is not a sin to hurt another human
being, since Lord Krishna himself has adviced Arjuna as such. Lord
Krishna's statement has to be understood in context. His advice
was, "If you know and are sure that your close ones are following the
path of adharmam (sin), do not hesitate to take action against them, as
your duty towards upholding dharma (justice) is more important than
protecting your close ones."
Krishna
- Images
Ashtalakshmi temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai
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