Narayaneeyam 07

 Bala Leela (i)

Balarama and Krushna, with smiles, moved about in their hands and knees, as though adorning the house. It was fun to hear their own anklets. They crawled faster, enjoying its quicker tinkling.  They looked back at their ankles, smiled and moved away, ignoring the bangle that had slipped from the arm to the wrists, and the curls of hair streaming over their face. 

 

Their parents and other audience followed them from a distance, particularly the beauty of the tender soles, which captivated them all. Enjoying being watched, the brothers hurried forward, making indistinct sounds with shrieks of laughter.  The onlookers experienced indescribable joy that seemed like eternity.  The boys crawled faster — and for a moment they looked back with beaming faces, before continuing their fun run.
 
Sometimes they would fall, and get smeared with dust. The taintless sages, watching this spectacle from above would pay their obeisance to the avatara purusha. The mothers would rush to pick them up in their arms and gently showed their affection with kisses.

The extremely fortunate Yashoda was overwhelmed - milk started flowing even before she could hold Krushna in her lap to feed him. Suddenly he would give a bewitching smile revealing his charming bud-like teeth.

 

God! What penance did Yashoda do?!

Narayaneeyam 06

Narayaneeyam 06

28-10-25 | Krishna Leela , Vishwaroopa , Shloka , Bala Leela , Narayaneeyam

Dashakam 44

Namakarana - Jatakarma 

In Mathura, Vasudeva decided to initiate the naming rites for Krishna, which was not done due to visible threats since his birth. 

He approached Sage Gargacharya, a master in astrology. He requested the sage to perform the Namakarana and associated rites (although Krishna was above all rituals and beyond the bondage of karma). He requested the sage to maintain secrecy, as Nanda did not know the truth about the mysterious birth of Krishna, or that, Vasudeva was the father of Krishna.

Gargacharya approached Nanda in Gokula and said he has come to perform namakarana for their son. Nanda was delighted. He honored the sage and requested him to perform the auspicious rites. Gargacharya said, “O Nanda, I am the priest of the Yadu clan, the ceremonies should be performed with utmost secrecy. Kamsa will be suspicious.” 

To maintain absolute secrecy, the rites were performed in a cattle shed (Goshala).

Gargacharya wondered: “How shall I give a name, to one who is already known to have a 1000 or even countless names?”

The sage Garga, then gave the name as Krushna (meaning his very existence is bliss. Also, it meant the quality of removing the sins of all). He was also named Vaasudeva. 

Krishna’s elder brother (son of Rohini and Vasudeva) was named Rama (or Balarama, due to his phenomenal strength).  

Sage Garga revealed the glory of Krushna and Rama to Nanda: “Whoever loves your son will not be deluded by Maya. Whoever is against him will perish. He will lead his people to a world free from sorrow. He will defeat many asuras. You will hear the blemishless glories of him, sung by the people. And you will cross all obstacles only through him. Have full faith in him.”  

The sage just stopped short of saying, Krushna was Hari himself.

When Garga left, Nanda and the other gopas were elated and hugged Krushna endearingly 

Andal in Vraj 17

 01-01-25 | Gopika , Tiruppavai

The sum and substance of Andal’s austerities is to make us realise : “The food that we eat, water that we drink and the clothes that we wear are all Kanha!”

Balarama and Yamuna

 

Balarama changes the course of Yamuna. Yamuna surrenders and realizes Balarama as the Supreme

Krishna Leela - The Wrestling Ring

The wrestling match began. Balarama and Krishna engaged with the wrestlers and played by the rules. Bugles and kettledrums played all around.  One by one the wrestlers fell to the heavy blows of the boys. With their quick movements, imaginative combinations and use of  skilled techniques, the boys proved their superiority.  The other wrestlers ran away. 

 

Kamsa was unable to bear this. He  stops the trumpets and drums.  He shouts "Kick the ill-behaved boys out of town!! Capture Nanda and tie him up! Let Vasudeva and my father Ugrasena, who are in the enemy camp be killed immediately!!"   He drew his sword and prepares to fight. 

 

Krishna gets angry. Even while Balarama tackled the other guards who came up against them, Krishna sprang up like an eagle and climbed to the top where Kamsa was seated. He caught him by the hair and pulled him down to the ground - and killed him.

Mathura heaved a sigh of relief.

Krishna Leela - Kuvalayapeeda

 Kamsa arranged a rogue elephant Kuvalayapeeda to kill Balarama and Krishna when they enter the wrestling arena. Krishna with his manoeuvres outwitted the elephant and killed it.

Krishna Leela - Grace to Garland Maker

 Balarama and Krishna, while entering Mathura, visit the house of a garland maker.  The florist family prostrates, provides them with a pedestal, washes their feet and worships them with choicest of the fragrant garlands, sandal paste, betel nuts, etc., The garland maker extolls Krishna.  As boons, garland maker asks for unflinching devotion to Krishna, friendship to all bhaktas and compassion to all living beings. Krishna adorned with garlands, grants the boons and proceeds to Kamsa's palace.

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Krishna Leela - Darshan to Akrura

On the way to Mathura, Akrura stops for his evening prayers. When he takes a dip in the Yamuna, he beholds Balarama and Krishna inside the water.  He checks the chariot again, but Balarama and Krishna are seated there.  When he takes a dip again, he has the darshan of Vishnu lying on Adisesha, with Lakshmi, the divine sages and other divine attendants. 

 

Akrura is overwhelmed and extols Balarama and Krishna.

Krishna Leela - Mathura Gamanam

 Kamsa gets to know that krishna is Vasudeva's eighth child. He instructs Akrura (a devotee of Krishna) to bring Krishna  to Mathura. Akrura gets the blessings of Krishna. The brothers, Krishna and Balarama, leave for Mathura.

 

The Gopikas are devastated by the separation. They lament, not knowing Krishna is always with them.

Bala Leela

 Grace to the wives of Sages: The cowherds led by Krishna wander too far into the forest. They are hungry. Krishna says, “There is a Yaga being conducted nearby. Go and tell the sages that Balarama and Krishna are here and they have sent us to seek food.”

 

The boys go and convey Krishna’s message to the sages. The sages are busy with the yagna and pay no heed.

 

The cowherds return empty handed.  An amused Krishna sends them back again, this time makes them approach the wives of the sages.

 

The sages wives are overwhelmed that their Lord is here.  In an instant, they pick up lunch that was ready for the yagna and rush to Krishna ignoring the sages' protests.

 

They find Krishna standing in style, bedecked with flowers, with random mineral designs on his body, twirling a lotus in his hand. 

 

The sages are remorseful and lament that their rituals prevented them from welcoming Krishna, the very Lord of those rituals, even when he came in person. And their wives happily fed Krishna and his friends out of love for him. 

Balarama and Krishna

Balarama and Krishna are playing with kunrimani (Manjiradikkuru/Red Lucky Seeds) and coconut shells. Krishna says, "Isn't the coconut shell and Manjiradikkuru more valuable than gold?"

Balarama and Krishna

Balarama and Krishna have a mock fight and Balarama falls to the ground. Krishna lies over him comfortably giving his mother Yashoda, the darshan as Madhusudhana lying on Adisesha in Ksheerasagara.