Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

 When the Gopikas went about selling butter on the streets shouting "Govinda!! Damodara!! Madhava!!..." (Swami Bilvamangalacharya's Kriti - Govinda, Damodara, Madhaveti...) 

Bhaghavata

 28-01-26 | Bhaghavata , Guru and Devotee , Shloka , Affordable Originals

When Sage Sukha began narrating the Srimad Bhagavatha to Parikshit, it was like nectarine fruits flowing from the tree of the sacred scriptures.

 

निगमकल्पतरोर्गलितं फलं शुकमुखादमृतद्रवसंयुतम् ।

पिबत भागवतं रसमालयं मुहुरहो रसिका भुवि भावुकाः ॥

Srimad Bhaghavatam - 1:1:3

Kaisika Ekadasi and the story of NampAduvAn

Nampaduvan, was a Bhagavatha (devotee of Vishnu) born in an underprivileged family. He used to fast and sing praises of Vishnu in the Kurungudi Nambi temple every ekadashi.

Once, while on the way to the temple, he was stopped by a fearsome Brahma Rakshas (demon). The Rakshas had not eaten food for several days. It caught Nampaduvan. Nampaduvan did not resist, but appealed to the Rakshas to allow him to have darshan of Sri Nambi and complete his prayers, before offering himself as food.  

Famished, the rakshas refused to let him go. Then Nampaduvan takes an oath that if he did not come back, he would bear a multitude of grave sins. When he declared the last sin, the rakshas was shaken.  “Let that sin befall on me, which accrues to those who say Narayana is equivalent, or inferior to other devathas.”  The rakshas lets him go.

After completing his musical prayers, Nampaduvan started walking back. An old man appeared before him (it was Lord Nambi). He told Nampaduvan to take another route to save his life. Nampaduvan, insisted on obeying dharma. Nambi smiled and blessed him. Nampaduvan returned to the Rakshas.

Rakshas was moved when Nampaduvan offered himself to the Rakshas.  It narrated its own story.  He was Soma Sharma, a Vedic scholar in his previous birth. He incurred a curse due to his arrogance and some mistakes made during a yagna (ritual). 

The Rakshas then asked Nampaduvan to give the merits accruing from his musical prayers for it to be liberated.  Nampaduvan refused, saying that he sang to Narayana with devotion and never sought any reward for it. 

Brahma Rakshas felt he was doomed to live in his fierce form. He begged for the merits of at least the last verse, in the raga Kaishika.

Nampaduvan relented. He offered the rakshas the fruit of the last song in praise of Nambi.  The Rakshas was transformed into his original form and liberated.

This was narrated by Sri Varaha to Bhumidevi in the Varaha Purana.

Narayaneeyam 16

Brahma Mohanam - (ii)

(Delusion of Brahma) Dashakam 52

(Recap: It was incredulous for Brahma to believe what Krushna did in the Aghasura episode. He decides to test Krushna further. With his illusory powers he makes the entire herd of calves disappear and also the gopas disappear.)

Using his power of Maya, Krushna himself took the forms of all the calves, the gopas, the slings, the vessels, flutes, horns etc., He played with the gopas for a long time as usual in the forests, while Brahma watched.  Krushna returned home in those many forms.  The mothers of the gopas received their sons with joy and the cows rushed to lick their calves. They all experienced extreme happiness. This continued for one year. Such was Krishna’s Maya, that none could hardly notice that their sons or the calves were Krushna himself. 

At the end of the year, when Brahma saw both the old and the new calves and boys together. He was stupefied. Each of the boys and the calves were adorned with crowns, diadems, had four arms and all were of the color of rain-bearing clouds. (One human year was just one fraction of a moment for Brahma.) He immediately realized the truth. He saw each one of them as Narayana Himself, caressed by Lakshmi, reclining on Adisesha and attended by Sanaka and the other sages. He was overpowered with confusion. Krushna then became one as he appeared earlier, holding a half eaten ball of rice in the hand. 

Brahma’s pride was humbled. He fell at the feet of Krushna again and again, praised the Lord of the Universe and returned to his abode.

Narayaneeyam 15

i) Vanabhojanam: 

 It was afternoon. Just another day for the gopas led by Krushna. Completely at ease after the ordeal of Aghasura, Krushna stopped for lunch. It was graze time for the calves. It was customary for the boys to have lunch only after the calves were fed.   

Krushna mingled with each one of the gopas, enquiring about the welfare of their families etc., and talked humorously, sometimes playing his flute, sometimes serving food to his friends, and regaling everyone with witty responses. The boys laughed. Krishna had a ball of curd rise in his hand, with different kind of pickles tucked between his fingers. After every mouthful, he would lick the pickles. Did he enjoy the food! The gods observed with praise: “The meal he enjoys with the gopas, seems to please him more than the offerings of sacrifices in the midst of gods.”  

ii) Brahma Mohanam:

After watching the extreme glory of the liberation of Aghasura, unique to this avatara, Brahma wanted to test Krushna. Invoking his power of illusion, he made the herd of calves disappear. The gopas were worried!  Krushna!!

Krushna pretended to search for the calves, but was actually intending to aid Brahma’s plan much further. With the rice ball still in hand, he went around as if to search for them. Now the gopas, who were having lunch, also disappeared. 

Narayaneeyam 14

Aghasura

(Dashakam 51)

One day, Krushna led the cowherds and the calves to the forest. For lunch, they packed curd rice and condiments and various pickles, to celebrate the food in the woods. 

The sages, engrossed in their austerities saw Krushna. They were filled with ecstasy. They drenched themselves in the dust emanating from the footsteps of Krushna, with horripilation. It was the dust which sanctifies the three worlds.

The calves were grazing in an area dense with grass. A demon, Aghasura, in the form of a python, blocked the way. He lay with his mouth wide open, like a cave in a mountain.

Some boys, looked at the cave-like mouth of the demon with wonder. It invited their curiosity. Without thinking, they walked into the mouth of the snake, with some calves too. When they reached its belly, they started to feel the heat. Aghasura did not close his mouth. Krushna was still outside.

Krushna, knew that the boys and the calves were helpless. He knew that they trusted only him. He quickly entered the mouth of Aghasura. Reaching inside the throat, Krushna increased his size drastically, choking Aghasura’s breath. He grew bigger until Aghasura was torn asunder. Krushna came out of the cave with the boys and the calves intact. 

(Agha means sin. The rest is self explanatory)

A light emanating from the body of the asura, was glowing in the sky. When Krushna came out, it merged with him. The gods who watched this spectacle, praised Krushna with song and dance. 

(Note: This incident of Aghasura, was narrated in detail by the boys to their families when they returned home. After one whole year. )

Narayaneeyam 13

(i)Vatsasura vadham

Krushna, as a routine, grazed the cattle, with his flute, horn and cane - accompanied by Balarama and other gopas. Krishna played the flute atop the Goverdhan mountain. Vrindavan became prosperous with trees, creepers, waters, fertile land, and other bounties of nature. No wonder! Vrindavan was graced by the divine footsteps of Krushna, the Lord of Lakshmi.

Krushna, noticed that one of the calves in the cattle was behaving peculiarly, turning his head back, wagging his tail vigorously, waiting for the right time to attack. Krushna knew it was a demon in disguise. He caught hold of his hind legs, whirled the calf in quick circles and threw the lifeless asura on a tree. Many other trees fell under the impact. 

The gods showered flowers on Krushna. The gopas were amazed when they saw the fragrant flowers falling on him from the sky, The gopas ask Krushna about it. He said, “My dear gopas, you all saw the asura hit the trees? Many flowers suddenly went up the sky on impact. Now they’re slowly coming down.”  

(ii) Bakasura vadham

Vrindavan was simmering in heat. Krushna and the gopas went to the Yamuna to drink water. While the boys were quenching their thirst, a gigantic crane (Bakasura) approached Krishna, flapping his wings. With great speed, he swallowed Krushna. But instantly, the crane spat him out, as though it was a blazing ball of fire. Bakasura rushed to tear apart Krushna with his beak. Krushna grabbed both parts of the asura’s beak, tearing it apart. 

Then they all left for home.

—————
Hearing the melodious flute played by Krushna in a distance, the gopikas quickly came near him with great joy. How they adored him!
———————

Narayaneeyam 12

 

03-11-25 | Krishna Leela , Bhagavatha , Shloka , Bala Leela , Narayaneeyam

Vrindavan 

Dashaka 49

The gopas saw the acts of Putana, Shakatasura, the falling of trees etc. were ominous.

They did not understand the glory of Krushna. They all decided to shift elsewhere. Upananda, a senior gopa decided on a forest called Vrindavana, towards the west.  It would be an ideal settlement for them. It was Krushna, who prompted the choice to Upananda, from within. 

Quickly, they gathered all their belongings and the cows, and moved out in carts - with Yashoda and Krushna in a majestic cart. The gopikas drank in the exuberant talk by Krishna in the midst of the delightful jingling carts rolling along and the rhythmic sound of the hooves of the cows. The long journey did not feel tedious. 

Krushna was delighted to see Vrindavana with its jasmine and other trees in full bloom. The vast green pastures appeared like a floor paved with emeralds.  The gopas settled down comfortably in houses in the form of a half-moon. 

Krushna revelled at the river Yamuna, coursing through winding paths. He also relished the beauty of the Goverdhana mountain, with peacocks seemingly reflecting the innumerable gems in the mountain and its peaks, so majestic that it seemed they would touch the Satyaloka. 

Krushna and Balarama roamed about with other boys, grazing the cattle  in the forest. It was very congenial for tending the calves.

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 10

 Tying Krushna to the mortar 

(Ulukala bandhanam)

Krushna was eager to have milk. Yashoda was in the midst of churning curd. He climbed on to her lap and was having milk to his satisfaction — when Yashoda saw that the milk boiling in the kitchen was about to brim over. She interrupted Krushna’s feed and rushed there.

When the joy from feeding milk was cut short, Krushna was angry. He took the churning rod and broke the pot which Yashoda was churned. Hearing the loud noise, she came out and saw the curd flowing all over the floor, like Krushna’s fame. 

Krushna was not to be seen. Yashoda was furious.  She searched for him, as one would seek the Supreme through the Upanishads. The fortunate mother had such easy access to Him. 

Krushna was sitting on the mortar, feeding fresh butter to a cat. 

For Yashoda, the anger multiplied. While her friends looked on, she caught him.  Fear was written all over his beautiful face — pretended fear. She fetched a rope to tie him up.

Narayaneeyam 09

 

Narayaneeyam 09

31-10-25 | Yashoda Krishna , Krishna Leela , Vishwaroopa , Bhagavatha , Shloka , Bala Leela , Narayaneeyam

 

Bala Leela (iii)

Vishwaroopa darshana to Yashoda.

 

Once, Krushna and his friends were collecting fruits together. The boys, angry with some issue, reported to his mother that Krushna had eaten mud.  

 

Yashoda, fearing that he may fall sick, was angry. She asked Krushna repeatedly, whether he had consumed mud.  

 

Krushna laughed for a long time, finally answering — “No, it’s false.” 

 

“If it’s false, open your mouth” says Yashoda.

 

He opens his mouth, which was like a blossoming lotus. She expected a little mud. 

 

But what she saw was not only the entire earth, but all the other worlds as well. The forests, the sky, the ocean, the nether regions, human beings, asuras and the gods!

 

She saw Krushna himself reclining in the ksheera sagara (milk ocean), in his abode Vaikuntha. Her own child in front of her in countless different forms. She also saw Krushna standing with his open mouth, inside which she saw all the worlds again, and again, and again, bringing out clearly, the infinitude of the universe! For an instant, Yashodha had the knowledge of the Reality. 

 

Krushna clung to her, asking her to feed milk. Deluded by Maya of affection, Krushna made her forget that knowledge immediately, making her look upon him as her child alone. 

Narayaneeyam 08

 

Narayaneeyam 08

30-10-25 | Krishna Leela , Bhagavatha , Shloka , Bala Leela , Narayaneeyam

Bala Leela (ii)

Balarama and Krushna started to walk on their feet. They played with other boys in the neighborhood — chasing cats, running after calves and sometimes parrots. The other boys laughed and ran behind the brothers, albeit with restraint.

Wherever the brothers went, gopikas were transfixed looking at them —unmindful of their household duties at home. Krushna and Balarama liked the fresh butter served by the gopikas. They sang melodious songs and danced charmingly - expecting an affectionate reciprocation with butter and freshly boiled milk. 

Maybe Krushna remembered the way he had to beg before Mahabali. He decided to give up begging and decided to steal curd and butter. 

The gopikas never felt anger or sorrow because of the theft.  He stole their hearts too, plunging them in an ocean of bliss!! 

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 

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 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.)

Narayaneeyam 02

 

Narayaneeyam 01

 

Nigama Kalpataru

 Nigamakalpatarorgalitam phalam shukamukhadamrtadravasamyutam|

Pibata bhagavatam rasamalayam muhuraho rasika bhuvi bhavukah ||3||

 

The Kalpataru, the wish fulfilling tree, represents the Vedic knowledge. Srimad Bhagavatam is the delicious, ripened fruit of this tree. The teachings flow like nectar, easy to digest and full of life.  For a devotee, this is the culmination of all spiritual seeking—it's the essence of the Vedas, delivered in its most palatable and nourishing form. It's the ultimate wish fulfilled - a direct connection to the divine.

 
This idea focuses on the role of the Guru in disseminating the knowledge which is made even sweeter as it is touched by the beak of a parrot (the shuka), the Guru par excellence. The parrot here represents the great sage Sri Shuka, who narrated the Srimad Bhagavatam. For a devotee, this signifies that the Bhagavatam is a blessing, sweetened by the grace of a perfect master. 

The shloka encourages devotees to drink the nectar again and again – a never-ending feast. Every time a devotee reads or hears the Bhagavatam, a new layer of meaning, a new wish, is fulfilled. It is an endless source of joy, wisdom, and divine love, satisfying the heart's deepest longings.

Gitamrita

सर्वोपनिषदो गावो

दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः

पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता

दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्

sarvopaniṣado gāvo

dogdhā gopālanandanaḥ

pārtho vatsaḥ sudhīrbhoktā

dugdhaṃ gītāmṛtaṃ mahat

This depicts Shloka 4 of the Gita Dhyana, which begins with "Sarvopanishado gavo…”, encapsulates the essence of the Bhagavad Gita by likening it to a cow. In this metaphor, all the Upanishads, the ancient philosophical texts, are envisioned as cows. The cowherd boy, Krishna Himself, takes on the role of the milker, drawing forth the nourishing milk. Arjuna, is depicted as the calf, eagerly waiting to drink.

The milk that is yielded is the Gitamrita – the nectar of the Bhagavad Gita. This is the distilled wisdom of all the Upanishads, for the benefit of all Jeevatmas. It offers insights into Karma (action), Jnana (knowledge) and Bhakti (devotion). It’s guides devotees towards Ananda - eternal bliss.