Narayaneeyam 11

 

02-11-25 | Yashoda Krishna , Krishna Leela , Bhagavatha , Gopika , Shloka , Damodara , Bala Leela , Narayaneeyam

Bala Leela - Damodara

 

Yashoda took the rope and bound it around the wooden mortar. Then she took the other end of the rope and bound it around Krushna’s midriff. It was two inches short. She tied another rope to it and tried again. Also two inches short. Krushna did not grow up like Vamana, to warrant additional ropes.

It was his Maya, which created that gap. No amount of extensions of the rope could possibly tie Krushna. She was being watched by her friends who smiled in wonder. Yashoda was perspiring and tired. She now didn’t have the desire to tie him up.  Seeing her struggle, Krushna,  out of compassion, allows himself to be tied to the mortar. Yashoda asked him to stay there, and went back home. 

 

Krushna stood there eating the butter which he hid in the cavity of the mortar. The gods who were observing all this, named him as Damodara (one whose stomach was tied with a rope).

 

From there, Krushna spots the two Arjuna trees. 

(Nalakubara and Manigriva, were sons of Kubera, the god of wealth. Their prosperity made them haughty. Sage Narada saw them in the river Ganga, intoxicated and unclad, surrounded by women, enjoying water sports. After seeing the sage, the women covered themselves. But these two, were unmindful of the sage’s presence.

The sage had a lot of compassion. He wanted them to have a calmness of mind, which in turn will lead to devotion of Hari. He said: “You two will remain as Arjuna trees in Gokula for a long time. On seeing Hari, you will regain your original state.”)

 

Krushna approached the Arjuna trees, pulling the mortar behind him. The mortar got stuck between the trees. They were decayed due to age.  A small tug, and the two trees fell. The two yakshas, the sons of kubera, emerged from the trees with great splendor. They worshipped him by singing hymns of praise. 

 

The gopas, hearing the loud and frightening noise of the trees falling, rushed to the place. Nanda looked at Yashoda, who felt ashamed, and released Krushna from the mortar. 

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 04

 Narayaneeyam - 4 

Shakatasura 

It was Krishna’s birthday. Yashoda decided to celebrate the day by inviting elders and relatives. 

She left Krishna beside a cart, and asked some boys to look after the child. She went into the kitchen to prepare the feast. 

Suddenly, there was a loud noise of heavy wooden logs falling. It was near the cart, where Krishna was lying down. The boys who were present there, ran out crying, shouting with fear. 

The gopikas ran to the spot and saw Krishna lying amidst the huge logs of broken wood. Yashoda picked up Krishna. Nanda and the other elders also rushed there.  There were all happy and shed tears of joy, seeing Krishna safe in Yashoda’s hands.

The boys guarding Krishna said: “ He was hungry and wanted his mother to feed him… He cried and kicked his feet about — which turned the nearby cart upside down and broke. I saw this! I saw this!” 

Those who did not know of him, brushed it off as improbable. But those who recalled what happened to Putana earlier, were reluctant to dismiss it. Meanwhile, the gopis caressed his tender feet and checked whether Krishna was hurt anywhere. 

Nanda took Krishna in his arms, thrilled that Krishna was safe and hugged him closely. “Oh! It’s certainly due the grace of God that the baby was saved.”

(Note: Sri Narayana Bhattadri (the author of Narayaneeyam) observes: In the case of Putana, she fell with her original form as a demon, and it was cremated. But the Asura in the form of a cart (Shakatasura)  was also killed, but he did not regain his original form — he just merged with the Krishna.)

Tiruppavai 17 - The Guru