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.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.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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. The extremities of his open mouth touched the clouds and the earth. It kept open its cave-like mouth in order to swallow Krishna and his associates. All the boys with all their calves clapped their hands and with a smile entered the mouth of the serpent. The serpent did not close its mouth. It waited with its mouth opened for Krishna. Krishna entered the mouth of the serpent and expanded Himself to huge dimensions in the throat of the Asura. The Asura died. Krishna gave fresh life to the cowherd boys and calves and came out with them from the mouth of the Asura. A brilliant light emanated from the huge body of the serpent and entered the body of Krishna.
Brahma’s Delusion
Sri Krishna brought the cowherd boys to the sandy bank of the Yamuna. They all took their breakfast. The calves had strayed away somewhere and could not be found. The cowherd boys were overtaken with sudden fear. They were about to get up. Krishna stopped them and said that he would find out the calves. He started in search of the calves. Brahma came to the spot and removed the calves and the boys to some secured place and vanished.
Krishna could not find the calves. He returned to the sandy bank of the Yamuna and found that the cowherd boys also had disappeared. He at once knew that it was all the work of Brahma. The Lord Himself assumed the form of the calves and the cowherd boys in order to bring joy to the cows, to the mothers of the cowherd boys and to Brahma himself. All the calves and boys resembled exactly the calves and boys that were missing. The mothers became more attached to their sons, because Krishna Himself assumed the form of their sons. The cows also began to show extraordinary love to their calves.
Krishna went on playing his diverse parts for one year. When only five or six days remained for the completion of the year, Balarama saw one day that the cows were grazing on the summit of the Govardhana Hill. They saw their calves grazing near Vraja. On account of extreme affection,
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they ran towards the calves through a path which was most difficult for either men or beasts to pass. Milk flowed freely from their udders. Even cows which had given birth to new calves came to their former calves and began to suckle them at their udders. He observed that the people of Vraja had increased affection and love for their sons. He began to reflect within himself thus “I have never before witnessed such deep affection between the cows and the calves that had been weaned long ago. The residents of Vraja love their sons more than Krishna. Surely Lord Krishna has exhibited His Yoga Maya.” Balarama opened his eyes and saw that those calves and cowherd boys were none other than Sri Krishna Himself.
Then he said to Krishna, “O Lord! These calves and cowherd boys are neither Devas nor Rishis. They look all like Thee, O Krishna! What is this great mystery? Kindly explain.” Thereupon Krishna explained to Balarama what had happened. He informed him of the trick played by Brahma. Balarama came to know everything.
Brahma returned to Vraja. He saw the boys and the calves. He saw that Sri Krishna was playing with the cowherd boys and calves even as He had been doing a year before. He could not make any distinction between those he placed under his own Maya and those who were created by the Maya of Krishna. Brahma wanted to delude Krishna, but He himself became deluded. All the cowherd boys and calves appeared to him in the form of Sri Krishna. All possessed the blue complexion and were clad in the yellow silken robes. All had four hands and the divine weapons. All wore crowns on their head, ear-rings etc. Seeing this wonderful sight Brahma was amazed and stupefied. Sri Krishna drew off the veil of Maya. Brahma regained his consciousness and found Sri Krishna alone searching for the calves and boys.
Brahma fell at the feet of Krishna again and again with tears in his eyes and praised Him.
Nand Kishore - The makhan chor
When Krishna was a child he was very fond of eating butter. So much was the urge that he even used to steal it. One day Prabhavati,one of the Gopis (milk maid), thought of catching Krishna red-handed as she was suspicious of him stealing butter. Thus, she kept the butter in an earthen pot and hung it from the roof. No one was aware that she had tied a bell along with the pot so that whenever someone touches the pot, she comes to know of it.
On seeing the pot hanging from the roof, Krishna felt that something was wrong. He then thought of checking the urn and somehow managed to reach it by climbing on the back of his friends. The urn was filled with butter. He broke the urn & and a very tempted Krishna began relishing it & sharing it with his friends & some monkeys nearby. The moment he had his first scoop, Prabhavati caught him and tied him to a wall. When Yashoda (who had brought up Krishna) came to know of the incident, she asked Krishna if he had stolen and eaten the butter. But Krishna denied `the accusation` with a straight face, failing to realise that he had stains of butter on his face. Yashoda was convinced that Krishna stole the butter.
punished Krishna for this act of his by tying him to a large mortar( a heavy vessel used to grind things or churn butter). But the rope would always fall a few inches short. After several attempts, Krishna took pity on his confused mom, Yashoda, & got himself tied.
But do you want to know why Krishna stole butter?
He lived in a wealthy family and there was never a shortage of butter in his house. So He did not steal. He merely pleased his disciples & gods who had taken birth in this village specially to see Him in a human form. Also the butter was like a tax to be paid to King Kansa. It was more like „protection money. So the butter eaten by Krishna was always from those pots that were going to be given to the king.
Krishna liberating the two Arjuna trees
Sri Krishna thought of liberating the two Arjuna trees who had been sons of Kubera in their previous life, Nala Kubara and Manigreeva by name. They were endowed with immense wealth, beauty and splendour; but, on account of their pride, they had been turned into trees, by Narada.s curse for something bad they did.
After one hundred Deva years, the touch of Sri Krishna could save them. Krishna.s leela helped them get rid of the curse . . In an attempt to free himself, he started dragging the mortar & finally got stuck between the two trees. The two trees fell down with a crash & from them emerged the two Devas.They praised Lord Krishna for rescuing them & being a protector.
Legendary friendship of Krishna-Sudama
Sudama and Krishna became close friends in sage Sandipani.s hermitage. After completing their studies, both went their way. Krishna became the King of Dwarka, while Sudama began to lead the life of a devotee, reading scriptures etc. Due to Sudama.s austere lifestyle his family had to face difficulties.
On seeing their children suffer, Sudama`s wife persuaded him to meet his old friend Krishna. Sudama then set out on a journey to Dwarka with a small bundle of .powa. as gift for Krishna. On meeting each other, both Krishna and Sudama were filled with joy. Krishna and his wife Rukmini gave a hospitable welcome to Sudama. Krishna noticed that his friend Sudama was hesitating in giving him the gift that he had brought. Krishna forced Sudama to part with the gift,Powa(flattened rice) and ate it with relish. Each mouthful that the Lord took turned out to be a bliss for Sudama. When the poor Brahmin returned home, he saw his family well-off and living with comfort due to the blessings of Krishna.
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