Tiruppavai 25

 09-01-26 | Krishna Leela , Bhaghavata , Gopika , Tiruppavai

Krishna: “Dear children! You have come very early in this cold winter morning…”

 

Gopikas: “O’ Lord! We came singing your praises, so we didn’t feel the chill.”

 

Krishna: “What is it that you want?  

 

Andal unequivocally states the purpose of their visit.  She begins by articulating the objective of his avatara.

 

“You were born to one, but in the same night, you chose to grow up with another. One lost the experience of motherhood (Devaki), another one (Yashoda) fully experienced the joy of motherhood, without even giving birth to You.  You grew up with her, glowing vibrantly in Gokula. How can one hide your divine radiance?

 

“Kamsa could not bear this. He couldn’t stop thinking of you.  He wanted to do away with you by any means. You stood as a blazing fire in his belly, ultimately destroying him. 

 

“O’ Krishna! O’ infinite one!!   You ask ‘What do we want?’ — We want only You. 

 
“If you give us what we seek, We’ll sing about the glory of your valour.  We’ll sing about your stature as the consort of Lakshmi. That is infinite wealth.  Experiencing you, serving you eternally, is our goal.  It will end all our sorrows and bring eternal joy.

Tiruppavai 08

 23-12-25 | Krishna Leela , Bhagavatha , Gopika , Tiruppavai

To remove darkness, we light a lamp. This lamp removes darkness and also spreads its aura of divinity around it. The oil that fuels it, is devotion.

 

Andal is determined to make everyone realise the Supreme:  “O learned girl, wake up and open your eyes. The beautiful eastern sky is lightening up the horizon. Even the buffaloes have left to graze the early morning grass, wet with dew".

 

“We have made the other gopikas to wait, so that you can join us all in the austerities. And you know why we insist that you join us?! You are an enthusiastic girl. It is only proper that we all complete all austerities with wholehearted zeal. It is a festive occasion. We need you to inspire us. Get up and join us".

 

“Krishna has reached Mathura. He has killed the rogue elephant  Kuvalayapeeda and also eliminated the wrestlers challenge with speed and alacrity.  He has come to Mathura to kill Kamsa. He’s a cowherd. Now he has proved to the world that he is the Supreme, the lord of lords.

 

“We have to go and worship him. Surrender to him. We will plead with him to ignore our sins born out of desire.  Let’s submit ourselves to all scrutiny and wait for his blessings. He’s generous. He would feel that he has made us wait.  He will call us closer and accept us with joy!”

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 

Narayaneeyam 05

 Dashakam - 43

Once, when Yashoda was having Krishna on her lap, she felt that Krishna was unusually heavy. She put him down on bed and went in to attend to her chores. But the unusual weight of Krishna made her wonder about the cause. She prayed.   

Meanwhile Trinavarta, who had the wind as his power, was sent by Kamsa to Gokula. The killing of three of his mighty friends, was unmistakable proof that the ‘eighth child’ lived there. 

Trinavarta’s entrance was dramatic. With a thundering noise and powerful blasts of wind, he came in the form of a whirlwind. The thick and dark dust clouds rose very high and reduced visibility. It quickly took Krishna away.  

The cowherds didn’t even realize what was happening. Yashoda, who groped around in darkness and came to the same spot where she left the baby. Krishna was missing. She cried aloud. 

Trinavarta, found that the baby was extremely heavy. His speed reduced, weakening his force. The noise subsided. It was then that Gokula heard the wailing of Yashoda. Nanda and all the others also joined.

Meanwhile, the Asura who was already weakened, thought of releasing Krishna. Krishna did not allow him to go - Trinavarta fell from the sky on to a rock and was smashed to death. 

Entire Gokula saw the spectacle. They ran to the place and saw Krishna sitting on the dead asura. He was beating his tender hands playfully on the asura’s chest. He appeared unaffected by the happenings and laughed loudly. The gopas hurriedly picked up Krishna from there, just as one would pick up a blue gem from a big mountain. 

Entire Gokula thronged to get a glimpse of Krishna and took turns in embracing him, kissing and adoring him. He also would jump to those arms of gopikas, who were eager to take him, but were shy to do so.

Narayaneeyam 02

 

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 - Kamsa

When Kamsa was about to kill Devaki's child, she slips from his hand and appears as Kali: "O' foolish one,  what would you gain by killing me?! The one who will kill you is already born in some other place. Don't kill other children in vain".

This prophecy haunts kamsa. He fears Krishna.  He thinks about Krishna all the time and sees krishna in everything. The prophecy of Yogamaya turns out to be a blessing for Kamsa.