Reading Notes, Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories, Part A

Photograph Information: Young Krishna, Source

The Coming of Krishna

Kansa is the demon Kalanemi incarnate. Vishnu killed him at some point.

The earth, in the form of a cow, one black and one white and said that each hair would be born into human form. The white would be Balarama, Vishnu’s serpent and the black would be Krishna incarnate of Vishnu.

Kansa the demon attempted to thwart the birth of both Balarama and Krishna by killing and imprisoning anyone who might bring the birth of both. But, the birth of Krishna was eventually made possible my the deception of his prison guards.

The Childhood of Krishna

Kansa decrees to kill all the male children in another attempt to thwart the rise of Krishna.

Nanda and Yamuna take Krishna and Balarama and flee beyond the border of Kansa’s kingdom to spare both boys from death. Putana attempted to feed the boys poisonous milk from her breasts, but was defeated by the divine child Krishna by the act of the boy sucking the life out of her. Upon losing her life, Putana returned to her monstrous form. Trinavarta then attempted to destroy Krishna by turning into a dust tornado, but Krishna defeated him.

Krishna splits the arjun tree thus freeing Nala Kubera and Manigriva.

The Boyhood of Krishna

 

Krishna and his divine strength continue to destroy demons sent by Kansa to kill him.

The Youth of Krishna

Kansa decides to take a break from trying to kill Krishna as his strategies continue to fail. In hopes of causing Krishna immense grief, Kansa directs his attention to killing Balarama.

Krishna thwarted the attempts on the life of Balarama as well.

Krishna saves herdsmen from the wrath of Indra by lifting a mountain to cover them from Indra’s storm. In gratitude the herdsmen celebrate and worship him.

The Manhood of Krishna.

Krishna defeats the great bull Arishta with his mighty strength by breaking off its horn and beating the demon turned bull with it.

Krishna kills Kansa in an arena designed to be a death trap for Balarama and Krishna.

Krishna founds Dwarka

Krishan frees his father Ugrasena fron Kansa’s prison.

Krishna and Balarama take Sandipani as a teacher.

Krishna leaves Mathura to build a city by the western sea and names it Dwarka.

Rukmani 

Rukmani was the incarnation of Vishnu’s wife, Queen Lakshmi. She was the only woman worthy of marriage to Krishna. But she was betrothed to Shishupala. She asked a Brahmin to help her out of her betrothal. She wrote a letter to Krishna and gave it to the Brahmin to deliver to Krishna.

Krishna’s response was love for Rukmani and so a plan was devised to steal her away.

Bibliography:

C.A. Kincaid, Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories