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 Boodaki, 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 celbrated as Deepavali. In the episode of
obtaining the Syamantakamani, he married Jambavati, Jambavan's daughter
and Satyabama Satrajit's daughter.
(Krishna's sister
Subadra was married to Arjuna. Their son Abhimanyu married Vatsala,
Balarama's daughter).
The pancha Pandavas
were cheated of their kingdom by Duryodhana, his brothers and
Duryodhana's uncle Sakuni. With Krishna by thier 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. |