HariOm Parents
Greetings and namaste. After our routine of exchanging greetings and enquiries about what happened in the week, we settled down for our starting prayers. Thereafter we went around and completed the daily prayers and Krishna Ashtakam.
As we come to the end of the academic year, we are closing in on the Bala Bhagavatam most important event - the slaying of Kamsa which we covered in the two weeks.
At Kamasa's order, Akrura set out for a journey to Vrindavan, little did Kamsa know that Akrura was filled with joy at the prospect of visiting the land of the lord where the lord strolled, walked and played. At the time Akrura reached Vrindavan, Krishna and Balarama just got refreshed, took a bath and were wearing beautiful clothes and ornaments and were strolling in their front yard. Akrura's chariot stopped in front of Nanda's house and seeing the boys in the yard, Akrura could not stop himself, jumped out of the chariot even before it came to a full stop, and ran towards Krishna and lied down prostrate. Akrura's eyes teared up with joy and he could not believe himself being in the company of lord and moments went by.. Akrura lay prostrate as if the time stood still!. Krishna picked Akrura slowly and hugged him affectionately, so did Balarama after. Hearing all this Nanda walks out to see what is happening and greets Akrura and requests him to be seated and asks for some refreshments to be served. Akrura explains in detail the reason and intent behind his arrival and informes that Kamsa had asked Krishna and Balarama to accompany him to Mathura to participate in the annual celebrations. As this was the king's order, Nanda could not refuse, knowing fully well the evil intentions of Kamsa, ordered his men to prepare for their journey the following morning.
The next day early in the morning, the boys dressed up in their best attire got ready for the trip to Mathura. The word got out that the boys were leaving Vrindavan, and the entire people of Vrindavan went into a state of shock more so the maa Yashoda and Gopis who could not think of a moment where Krishna was not part of their life. Such was their love for the lord they all made a determination to go along with Krishna. It took Krishna a lot of persuasion to console gopis and very reluctantly agreed to stay back. Maa Yashoda's grief was entirely different, it was the grief of a mother who was aware that her son was leaving for ever and she would never see him again. Krishna finds many soothing words to console Yashoda maiya and promises her that in fact she will be the one known as the mother of Krishna. In Fact that was the fact - the world knows Yashoda as Krihna's mother more than Devaki, also another interesting fact is that Krishna never revisited Vrindavan or maa Yashoda after he left - strange indeed.
Krishna and Balarama jump into the chariot of Akrura and set out. Nanda along with a few villagers and gopas follow them in other chariots behind. The sun was slowly rising up and was getting hotter as the mid day approached. Akrura sought permission from the boys to stop on the banks of Mandakini river to perform his afternoon prayers. The boys jump into the refreshing waters of Mandakini, refresh themselves and walk back to the chariot. Akrura then goes to the banks of the river and starts his midday prayers. As he prepares to offer waters to the sun, right in the middle of the river he sees lord Vishnu in his splendor, seated on the thousand headed sheshnag with Sankaham, Chakra, Gada and lotus flower in his four hands. Seeing this Akrura's joy knows no bounds and rushes back to the chariot only to see Krishna and Balram happily seated in the chariot. Still wondering at the divine darshan, Akrura and the boys continue the journey and reach Mathura late in the evening.
The next morning, both the boys wander around the streets of Mathura - a beautiful city with wide roads, lots of gardens, and business venues. They stop at a washerman's shop which had some really nice clothes and inquire if they can have some. The washerman was a royal washerman and was serving Kamsa and accordingly was arrogant!. Appalled at his arrogance and bad attitude, the boys teach him a lesson and pick some of the finest clothes for themselves and continue to wander. Wandering through the streets they encounter a beautiful young girl, although she was very sweet and beautiful - she was a hunchback and people called her trivakra. Trivaka was carrying sandal paste for Kamsa when she encountered Krishna. Krishna requests her if he could use the sandal paste and she willingly parts with the sadal paste. Pleased with her generosity, Krishna in return touches her, transforming her into an up straight beautiful person with a hunchback. Slowly and steadily the miracles of Krishna and Balaram travel through Mathura and people begin to wonder about the two divine boys who came from Vrindavan. The entire Mathura was eager to see these brave and kind boys and at the same time were worries about the evil intentions of their king Kamsa
On the main day of the festivities, Krishna and Balarama wake up early, finish their daily rituals and start for the main arena where the festivities were to take place. On their way, there was a huge entrance to the venue and it was guarded by an equally huge and cruel elephant handled by an equally cruel mahaut. The elephant was named kuvalayapida. It was trained to be a violent and cruel one and would crush anybody to death at the slightest hint from it's mahaut. Seeing the boys and recognizing them based upon their splendor and the vacchas that was evident on their faces, the mahaut provokes the elephant to attack. The boys who had slayed much more mighty asuras than Kuvalayapida, make a short work out of the elephant and kill it along with the mahuat in no time and enter the arena.
The arena was buzzing with people and their loud noises and was looking forward to the entertainment that was about to start. In the meantime Kamsa enters the arena, gets seated on the highest throne and declares the festivities open. The very first act was the wrestling matches. Kamsa had great wrestlers in his court. Some of his wrestlers like Chaanura, Mushtikasura. These asuras were undefeated, Krishna and Balarama were chosen to fight against them. Chanura was chosen to fight Krishna and Mushtika against Balarama. As the boys descended into the wrestling arcade, the crowd roared in displeasure at the one sided match. Chanura and Mushtika were real good fighters and used every trick in their books to kill Krishna and Balram, however in the end it was the victory of good over evil. Seeing Krishna and Balram victorious and fearing for his safety and life - Kamsa orders his other minions into the fight. Krishna and Balram make a short work out of all of Kamas's evil warriors and kill them all one by one. Seeing this, as Kamas prepares to get out and run out, Krishna leaps from the arena on to the dias where Kamsa was seated and in a single swing movement, pulls Kamasa down holding his hair down. Kamasa fought violently with Krishna, but Krishna was much more versatile and agile. Krishna keeps Kamsa pinned to the ground and climbs on top of his chest and starts pounding him and lands mighty blows to his chest. A mighty fight ensues, however Kamas was no match for Krishna's strength and agility and eventually Kamasa succumbs. In the meantime, Balaram was taking care of all the other warriors who came to support Kamsa. As soon as Kamsa died, a bright light came out of him and merged with lord Krishna. Kamsa was none other than one of the Jaya Vijay the sentries at the entrance of Vaikunta who were cursed and chose to take there births as the enemies of the Lord rather than take 7 births as humans and bhaktas of the lord, as they could not think about staying away from the lord for 7 births!
After slaying Kamsa and other asuras, Krishna and Balram rush to release their parents Devaki and Vasudeva from prison and eventually release Ugrasena. Later they restored their grandfather Ugrasena to his kingdom. Vasudeva after performing the upanayanam of their kids realized that it was time for them to go to a guru and learn sastras. Vasudeva choses Sandeepany muni as their guru and leaves them at his ashram. Krishna and Balram befriend Sudama and become very close. Krishna and Balaram quickly learn the shastras and serve their Guru diligently. At the end of the 64 days after completing their shiksha, they approach Sandeepany muni and ask him what Dakshina they can give to him. Initially Sandeepany muni declines to take any dakshina for educating them as it was his duty, however upon insistence, they ask Krishna and Balram to search and find their lost son, who never came back after going to Prabhasa sea. The boys set out of the sea and seek out from the sea if the guru's son was abducted by the sea. Sea denies having swallowed him, the boys then go to Yamaloka and ask Yama of the whereabouts of their guru's son. Yama welcomes them with honor and restores life back to Sandeepany's son. Sandipani muni was overjoyed seeing his son return back. Later Krishna and Balrama leave the ashramam and go back to Mathura and settle down.
This completes Bala bhagavatham and a temporary halt of the fight of good vs evil... but as we all know .. this fight is eternal and continues every day, every moment in all our lives - young and old. We hope these puranic episodes of Sree Krishna have instilled some semblance of right vs wrong in the kids and laid a beautiful foundation to their lives for a better future based upon human values.
We all, at Chinmaya Vrindavan, are looking forward to seeing all the kids back in the next grade balavihar. It has been such a lovely experience for us as teachers and glad to acknowledge we are better off learning a few things along the way from all of the kids.
Hari OM all have a very safe and restful summer
Shivram & Meena
