Lord Krishna – Childhood Stories
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Lord Krishna – Childhood Stories Lord Krishna‟s life is associated with a lot of interesting & instructive events. He is one of the most popular divine heroes. Here are a few interesting tales associated with Krishna‟s life: The Story of Krishna & Putana Kansa, the evil uncle of Krishna had told Putana-the female demon, to kill baby Krishna. Putana disguised herself as a cowherdess & went to Gokul. After killing many babies by feeding them with her poisoned milk, she entered Krishna‟ house. Krishna knew her real form . He sucked so hard that he extracted Putana‟s life along with the milk.Before dying ,Putana assumed her original form & died. The Gopis with Rohini and Yasoda came rushing to the spot and took up the child, which was playing fearlessly on the body of Putana who was freed from her sins as she had offered to give milk to the Lord. So no matter how powerful evil is, it always gets defeated by the Good. Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 1of 17 Overturning of the Cart The ceremony observed on the child being able to stand on his legs, and the birthday ceremony was observed together. There was a great feast at the house of Nanda. After completion of the bath, Yasoda found that her child closed His eyes in sleep and so she put Him to bed under a cart which contained vessels full of milk and curd. After some time, the child opened His eyes and cried for His milk. As Yasoda was busily engaged in receiving her guests, she did not hear Sri Krishna‟s cry. He then kicked the cart with His feet. The cart was upset, the vessels were broken, the wheel and axle were upturned, and the yoke was shattered. The Gopis and Gopas were struck with wonder. They could not account for this wonderful phenomenon. The boys who were playing there told the Gopas and the Gopis, that the child Krishna while crying had overturned the cart by His kicks, but the latter could not easily believe what they said. They did not realise the immeasurable strength of that child. Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 2of 17 The Killing of Trinavarta One day Yasoda was fondling the child on her lap. Suddenly Krishna became very heavy like a rock. She was not able to bear the weight of the child and so she left the child on the ground and proceeded to do some household work. A demon Trinavarta by name, a servant of Kamsa, carried away the child in the form of a whirlwind at the instigation of Kamsa. The whole Gokula was wrapped in dust and darkness for sometime. The demon reached the sky but he was not able to proceed further on account of the heaviness of Krishna. The child gripped his neck tightly and the demon was strangled. He became powerless and could not throw down the wonder-child. He fell breathless from the sky with all his limbs shattered on the stones below. The Gopis and the Gopas saw Krishna lying unscathed and happy on the chest of the dead Asura and became immensely happy. They restored the child to Yasoda. Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 3of 17 The story of Krishna eating dirt One day Balarama and the other boys complained to Yasoda that Krishna had eaten dirt. Yasoda got afraid that this might affect Sri Krishna‟s health. She rebuked Krishna, “O my naughty child! Why did you eat earth in secret?” Sri Krishna replied, “O mother! I did not eat earth. These boys have told a lie. Examine my mouth.” Yasoda said, “Open your mouth, my child!” Sri Krishna opened His mouth. Therein she saw the whole universe of animate and inanimate things, the sky, the cardinal points, the mountains, continents, seas, the whole earth, air, fire, the sun, the moon and the stars, the seven Dvipas, the planets, the Devas, the mind, the senses, the three Gunas and their modifications, the Jiva, Karma and its seeds, even Brindavan and herself. She was amazed, and began to reflect thus, “Is this a dream or a strange vision of God‟s illusion or does my child possess any inborn Yogic powers?” She said, “Salutations to the Lord, I take shelter under Him whose Maya produces the wrong notions—This is Nanda, my husband. This is my son. I am Yasoda. This is mine.” She had the true knowledge, but she lost her memory of the vision by the Yoga Maya of the Lord. She again knew Krishna to be her own son and placed him on her lap. Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 4of 17 The fruit Seller One day Krishna heard a woman shouting, “O people! Purchase fruits.” He quickly took a handful of grain and hastened to her side to get some fruits, though He is the Lord who confers all fruits of all works and worship. The woman filled both his hands with fruits and in return took the grain and put it in her basket. Her basket became full of gems and precious stones. Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 5of 17 Brindaban Upananda by name, who was a wise man said to the Gopas, “It is not safe now to dwell any more in Gokul. Many portents have occurred here. This place has become unsafe for our children. This child Krishna was saved with great difficulty from Putana. Through the grace of Hari the cart did not fall on him. He was carried up into the clouds by the Asura. He fell on a rock and was protected by the great Gods. Achyuta only protected him when the trees fell down. Let us take our children and go to Brindavan this very day with our attendants and followers. That only is a fit place for our cattle, Gopis and Gopas. There are lovely hills, pasture lands, fresh verdure, herbs and plants.” The Gopas unanimously expressed their approval and said, “That is good. That is good. Well said. Well said.” They all proceeded to Brindavan. Balarama and Krishna saw Govardhana, Brindavan and the banks of the Yamuna and became immensely delighted. They tended the calves in the company of Gopa boys. They played with other boys as ordinary children Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 6of 17 The story of Krishna & Kaaliya The story of Krishna, and Kaliya the serpent is very well known. Kaliya, a naga (a serpent), had been occupying the river Yamuna and its banks.It had poisoned the waters of the Yamuna and also dried the forests nearby by the poison airs breathed by it. Krishna jumped into the water to kill the serpent. He was coiled around by Kaliya, the serpent king and he lay at the bottom of the river. But then he soon was reminded of his divine powers and exercising his powers he uncoiled himself from the serpent and danced on the head of the serpent and wanted to kill it. But on request from the wives of Kaliya, he left it alone and asked them all to leave the shores of Yamuna. So they left. Yamuna and its shores . Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 7of 17 Why Krishna lifted Govardhan hill? Indra,the king of the Devas & rain had too much pride and was angry when Lord Krishna advised the people of Vrindavana to take care of their animals and their environment that provide them with all their necessities, instead of worshipping Indra annually by spending their resources. In Bhagavat Purana, Lord Krishna says that the rain came from the nearby hill Govardhana, and advised that the people worshiped the hill instead of Indra. This made Indra furious, so he punished them by sending out a great storm. Lord Krishna then lifted Govardhan and held it over the people like an umbrella. Krishna holding Govardhan hill Indra worships Krishna Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 8of 17 Killing the Demons Deliverance From Vatsasura Once Krishna and Balarama were playing with other cowherd boys and tending the calves on the bank of the Yamuna. An Asura assumed the form of a calf and got mixed among the herd. He had the evil intention of killing Krishna and Balarama. Krishna discovered the Asura in the form of a calf in the midst of his calves and pointed him out to Balarama. Then He silently approached the demon. He caught him by the hind legs and tail and whirled him round and round his head and struck him against a tree. The Asura died. The cowherd boys praised Sri Krishna and shouted, “Well done, well done.” The Devas showered flowers on Sri Krishna. Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 9of 17 Deliverance From Bakasura One day the cowherd boys went to a tank to drink water. They saw a huge monster or Asura in the form of a Baka (crane), who was a friend of Kamsa. The Asura suddenly rushed at Sri Krishna to strike Him with his hard beak. Sri Krishna held the two beaks apart and tore them asunder like a blade of grass. The Asura died. The gods rained flowers on Krishna. Kindergarten – Krishna Childhood Stories Page 10of 17 Deliverance From Aghasura One day Krishna was playing with the boys in the forest. At that time a mighty Asura called Agha, who was the younger brother of Putana and Bakasura, came there under the direction of Kamsa. Even the Devas who were rendered immortal by Amrita were afraid of Agha. Aghasura reflected within himself thus, “This is the slayer of my brother and sister. I will take revenge now and kill Krishna along with Balarama and his friends.” The wicked Asura assumed the huge body of a boa-constrictor, one Yojana (8 miles) in length and stout like a big hill.