The Harikatha thread!

Since most of us are devoted to Bhagwan Sri Krishna, I thought a separate hread dedicated to just telling our favorite Krishna stories would be a nice place for us to come together and common ground and get along, irrespective of our philosophical differences. I'll begin with the tale of how bhagawan saved Lord Shiva from Bhasmasura a.k.a Vrkasura.

Lord Shiva's personality is such that he is very easily pleased. If someone shows even a little love for him, he immediately gives him everything he can.

There was this demon, Bhasmasura. He would worship Lord Shiva. Wherever he saw beautiful flowers and Bilva leaves, he would sit down to do puja. Lord Shiva's heart melted when he saw Bhasmasura's devotion and he appeared before him and offered him a boon. Bhasmasura, being a demon, said, "My wish is that whenever I touch anyone's head, it should explode."

Lord Shiva, immediately granted the wish. The moment the wish was granted, Bhasmasura said, "I want to tests this wish. Let me touch your head to see if it explodes." Lord Shiva was taken aback seeing this demon's thankless cunning. Now if he wanted to, he could have fought him and killed him easily enough, but he had come to bless him for hjaving performed so much puja and shown so much devotion, therefore he could not kill him there. So Lord Shiva ran away.

Bhasmasura started chasing him. This chase went on, and Lord Shiva managed to go and hide somewhere. Bhasmasura was in a rage, screaming, and ranting. As he stomped around looking for Lord Shiva, he chanced upon Bhagawan Sri Krishna.

Krishna was cool as ever, leaning against a rock, playing an airy tune on his flute. When he saw Bhasmasura bellowing and demolishing everything around, Sri Krishna called him and asked him why he was so upset. Bhasmasura told him the whole story.

Bhagawan Krishna said to him, "Why do you need that useless Lord Shiva? Here, follow my advice and you will know if the boon works or not." Bhasmasura, who had calmed down considerably, listened with attention.

Krishna said, "You just perform the achamana ritual, correctly according to the shastras, then you will know if the boon works or not."

The achamana is a part of a brahmin's daily ritual, during which he recites a set of mantras and touches a particular body part with each.

Keshava (left cheek) Narayana (right cheek)
Madhava (left eye) Govinda (right eye)
Vishnu (right nostril) Madhusudana (left nostril)
Trivikrama (right ear) Vamana (left ear)
Sridhara (right shoulder) Rishikesha (Left shoulder)
Padmanabha (navel) Damodhara (head)


So Bhasmasura started the achamana. When he reached the last Damodara and touched his own head, it exploded.

Lord Shiva, who was hiding in the woods nearby and watching the whole thing, came running and touched Bhagawan Krishna's feet. Bhagawan asked him, "Why do you give such boons to fools like this and cause all kinds of problems for yourself?"

Lord Shiva replied, "I cannot help it Krishna, when someone does puja and worships me sincerely, my heart melts, I cannt bring myself to refuse them anything."

Thus Sri Krishna gave Lord Shiva the name of Aashutoshi, which means he who is most easily pleased.

 

lol... that's a cute story...yay for outsmarting him...lol....

This is a very good idea for a thread... I love Krishna stories...

I know one...but I don't have the exact story...but I will try and remember it as best I can...



One day, Krishna's mother sent him to buy some fruit from the local seller. So, he went to the bag of grains and scooped up as many grains as he could get into his little fists. He was so excited to do this errand for his mother that he ran as fast as he could to the fruit seller...but as he ran all of the grains slipped from his little fingers. When he got to the seller he went to buy the fruit and opened his hands and found that he only had two small grains left. The Fruit Seller was a kind woman and she gave him as much fruit as he could carry in his arms for this amount of grain. As Krishna left to return to his mother, the fruit seller turned to her bag of fruit and found that it had all been turned to gold.

That is what I can remember of the story...I always thought it had a good lesson and the picture is just too cute...Baby Krishna is so adorable!

 

Nicole thank you for that adorable tale!

 

When Pootana came to feed baby Krishna poison from her breast, it is said that bhagawan closed his eyes for a moment. Why? The great devotee Hari Suri, in his bok bhakti rasayan, analysed every movement of the lord. These are the possible reasons why bhagawan closed his eye:

1. Krishna thought, "I took birth here, planning to eat butter and drink milk, but right away I have to drink poison! Oh well..." And when we have to drink something that tastes bad, we close our eyes, nose and everything and then gulp it down fast. So bhagwan also closed his eyes before drinking poison.

2. Krishna had never taken any poison before, but Lord Shiva had (during the churning of the milky ocean). So he closed his eyes and contacted Lord Shiva mentally, to ask him how he did it.

3. It is said that the entire universe lives within bhagawan. So all the jeevas were terrified, "if he drinks the poison, we will all die!!!" Bhagwan closed his eyes, to look inward and speak to them and reassure them, they will be fine.

4. He wondered how Pootana, a demoness, got the great furtune of seeing hagawan and feeding him with her own breast. So he closed his eyes to look up her past record. It is said that during the lord's vamana avatar, Pootana was Raja Bali's sister. When Vamana bhagawan first went to Raja Bali's yagna, seeing him, greta love arose in her heart, and she wished she could have a son like him. But later on, when he took the Trivikrama form and conquered Bali, She got angry andwanted to kill him. Due to these conflicting desires, she was born as Pootana, the demoness, but got the chance to feed Bhagawan.

5. Krishna closed his eyes, simply because he felt like blinking. Sometimes it is better not to think too much.

 

lol...I like the last reason hehehe

 

When Kamsa found that every time he sent a rakshasa to kill Krishna, he/she never returned at all. Then he decided that he must try something different. He decided that Krishna is very strong on his home ground, but perhaps away from there he can be defeated. So he decided to lure him to Mathura, by challenging him to a wrestling contest. In order to take the message to Krishna, he called Akroor.

Akroorji was a distant uncle of Krishna and he was a very good pious person, and a devotee of the lord. When he heard that he has to do this work, at first he felt terrible, that he must lure Krishna into a trap. But then he remembered Krishna's invincibility, and he knew no harm would come. And at the thought that he would meet Krishna, he was overjoyed!

He set out at once, his mind flooded with thoughts of bhagawan. He was wondering how he would talk and what he would do and "will he call me uncle? If that happens my entire life will be fulfilled!" And thus his mind was absorbed in thinking of Krishna and he reached the edge of Gokul.

There he saw footprints, with the special markings of Krishna's feet. Seeing Bhagawan's footprints, Akrrorji jumped out of the chariot and immediately did namaskar. And as he opened his eyes, before him stood a beautiful smiling young boy, blue-skinned, dressed in yellow. And Krishna said, "Akroor chacha (uncle)!!! When did you come!!! It is so nice to see you!!" And he took him by the hand and ran home to meet Yashodaji and Nandababa.

Such is the Lord's grace, that he fulfills all his devotees wishes.

 

Nicole, thank you so much for that story of the fruit. I was just captivated by that picture... madhuradhipater akhilam madhuram - The lord of all sweetness is nothing but sweet.

 

You're welcome. Its my favourite.

Also, I love the latest story you posted...that's sooo sweet. I'm so glad that he got his wishes.

 

This is great! keep them coming!
Adaram Madhuram,
Vadanam Madhuram ,
Nayanam Madhuram,
Hasitam Madhuram,
Hrudayam Madhuram,
Gamanam Madhuram,
MadhurAdipatEr Akhilam Madhuram

 

Today I will share the story of how the squirrel got the stripes on its back.

During the Ramavatar, when Sri Rama and his monkey army were building the bridge to Lanka, all the big animals of the forest came to help carry the stone. A squirrel saw BHagawan Rama and was totally captivated. He also wanted to serve him. But the poor squirrel was too tiny. Still, he decided to do what little he could. So he brought little pebbles in his tiny paws and kept them at Bhagawan's feet, hoping that they will help with the bridge.

Bhagawan Rama was so pleased with the squirrel's love thathe bent down and blessed it, by stroking his back with his fingertips, leaving the permanent mark of the stripes that is still borne by squirrels.

 

KRISHNA STEALS THE GOPIS' CLOTHES



**Scroll Down My Friends To Read More! **

 

Nicole, while this is a beautiful story, I feel the need to correct you on a couple of points.

First of all not all gopikas were young beautiful belles, there were gopikas of all ages, even Yashodaji was one of them. Not all of them loved Krishna in the same way, some saw him as a son, othrs as a friend, some as a lover. This episode is not about any sexual fulfilment, it is about the utmost purity. When one approaches the lord, we must cast of all our masks and sheaths and go naked - as we are, truly honest. If even being naked in front of another is no longer sexual, that shows the purity of mind. It is the same way that a child is naked before the mother.

Further nowhere is it said that Krishna did anything but return the clothes to the gopis. He was always seated on the trees, from there he dropped the clothes and they wore it that was that. After all he was no more than 7-8 years old at the time.

 

Oh...I got this exact story from somewhere...because I couldn't remember all the details... sorry if its a little warped. I know that is only about love...I take the stories symbolically If you can find a better version of this story, I would be happy to edit it...I would most def. want the best version to be shared.

 

Priye, my beloved Nicole,

I truly admire your humility. Many in your place, including myself, might have counter-argued the point. I am afraid I am afflicted with the pride of scriptural knowledge at times. All day I was thinking you would come up with some annoyed rebuttal and I was thinking of various statements to defend my point. You have taught me a big lesson today in not arguing unnecessarily.

I will post a version of the story tomorrow, taken directly from Srimad Bhagavatam.

 

Dearest Bhaskar,

Yay! That would be loverly.

*peace and love*
Nicole

 

The gopikas in Gokul were many, of different age and different levels of spiritual progress. They loved and related to Krishna also in different ways.

Now there were the kumarikas, the young virgins, 14-15 years old. They wanted to get Sri Krishna as their pati. The word pati means both husband and lord. So they performed the katyayani vratam, where they observed a particular fast. They had to wake up early, at sunrise, and bathe in Yamuna and offer puja to Goddess Katyayani (Durga). Then they all prayed to her to make Sri Krishna their pati.

They had to perform this vratam for a whole month.

One morning, they went for their bath, singing bhajans and laughing and telling stories of Krishna. Then they disrobed and entered the water and continued to happily sing songs about bhagawan as they bathed. Krishna went there. Krishna was always followed by all little children, 2-3 years old. They would come toddling after him. He himself was only about 7-8 years old at the time. Bhagawan quietly sneaked up and stole all the clothes of the gopis. Then he climbed the kadamba tree and sat there, with the pile of clothes.

Then, sitting up in the tree, Krishna started laughing. The little ones with him also began to titter. Then he called out to the gopikas, who had finished their bath and were bewildered at the disappearance of their clothes.

"Girls, your clothes are here, you can come and take them from me! Don't worry, I will give them to you, I know you are tired after fasting and I wont cheat you."

The gopikas hearts were still filled with love for Krishna, as always. But they were shy and abashed and they began to giggle in their nervousness.

They said to him, "Krishna, this is too much, the mischief has gone beyond bounds. Now if you don't give our clothes we will go and complain to Nandababa. We are your dasis, your servants, we love you. But you must not take advantage of us this way. You, who are the knower of dharma, don't force us to take action against you."

Krishna laughed. "You just said you ae my servants. If that is true, then come out and take your clothes form me. How can you complain, when the clothes are with me? And even if you find some way, the king also cannot do anything."

Finally the gopis gave up, after much arguing. They came out, shivering with cold and bashfulness, their hands trying to cover their bodies.

Then Krishna said, "By bathing naked during your vrata rituals, you have commited an offense, you must pray to the devatas for atonement."

By now the gopikas had completely surrendered to the lord's will. They could not go to the heavens and pray to devatas, so they decided to pray to the boss of all devatas, Sri Krishna himself. They folded their hands and prayed to him.

Krishna was pleased and he just dropped the garments, while still seated on the tree. The gopis took the clothes and wore them. Krishna told them that their vrata would not be in vain, their wishes would be fulfilled.

This was true, as soon after this episode comes raasa lila. The word rasa means "ejnoyment or pleasure" and the word raasa means "the sum of all possible pleasures," the highest pleasure. Therefore raasa lila was that dance in which the gopis experienced the total joy of all pleasures, or the total fulfilment of all desires. And Sri Krishna also established himself as their pati, or lord.

After the gopis took their clothes, they all went in the forest and Krishna and was saying how the trees are great yogis. They withstand the onslaught of wind, rain, heat and cold, while giving shelter to all creatures. They only take some water and some mud, but they give leaves, flowers, fruits, shade, roots, bark, wood, fragrance, sap, ashes, pulp and shoots.

Thus they went roaming in the forests of Vrindavan.

 

Dearest Bhaskar,

Thank you my friend for posting the correct story...I will go delete the other...for this one is more correct...and not just because you told me so...I can tell...it just seams that way.

Thank you again...I do love this story... I will take more care with the stories next time.

*peace and love*
Nicole

 

Nicole, the best thing is to read from many sources, but write them yourself. Then as you are writing you get involved in the katha, it is like you are transported to Talavanam, eating fruits and laughing, listening to Krishna's delightful music... There is great joy in telling these stories, maybe more so than even in listening to them.

 

This is a folktale that my mother used to tell me when I was small. I had forgotten it until I came across the story on a website. It is one of the most beautiful and touching stories of bhagawan's compassion and love for his devotees.
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In a small village near Vrindavan, there was a very poor family. The father had passed away, so only a little boy, Gopal, and his mother remained. She worked as a servant and somehow managed to feed and clothe the boy.

Now the boy was about 5 years old and she wanted him to go to school. She had saved up a little money, by making great sacrifices for herself. She used the money to send the little Gopal to school.

The school was a long way away in Gokul village. It took more than 3 hours for Gopal to walk and he had to cross the Vrindavan forest also. Someone from the village happened to be going to Gokul that day, so he showed Gopal the way. In the morning he went to school and made a lot of friends. Gopal was a bright boy, he enjoyed his lessons and had a great time.

On the way back, however, it became dark. And he h ad to cross the forest in the darkness and was very scared. Somehow, he went, walking alone through the dark woods, shivering with fear. He reached home and told his mother how wonderful school was, but that he did not want to go because the forest was too scary.

The mother thought for a minute. Then she told him, "Gopal, did you know that my other son lives in the Vrindavan forest? His name is Krishna and he is a cowherd. He is your big brother. When you walk in the forest, just call out his name and he will come and take care of you."

Gopal was very happy to hear this! The next day he left in the morning, excited to meet his big brother Krishna. At first he tried to be brave and walk through the woods, but soon he got scared, so he called out, "KRISHNAAA!!! Krishna!!! This is your little brother Gopal!! I am scared, please come and help me!!!"

Sure enough, out of the woods came a boy of twelve. He took Gopal by the hand and led himthroguh the forest. All the way they were playing and laughing and Gopal was in seventh heaven. At the edge of Vrindavan, Krishna told him to continue on his own the rest of the way. "I will meet you here in the evening," he promised.

Sure enough that evening Gopal and Krishna met and walked through the forest, playing, laughing, singing. Gopal went home hat night and told his mother how he met his big brother and how wonderful he was. The mother was amazed! She knew it could be no the other than the lord himself, who answered the prayers of his devotees. Her heart was filled with joy and she told Gopal to trust his brother completely with all problems.

So this went on, everyday Krishna would guide Gopal through the forest. Everyone was very happy.

Then one day, the school teacher announced that he was having a feast. The custom at such times was that all students would attend and bring gifts for the teacher. That evening Gopal told his mother of the feast and asked for a gift to take to the teacher.

The mother was saddened. She was working her fingers to the bone just to feed and clothe the boy and send him to school. She had no gifts to give. Then she remembered Krishna. She told Gopal, "Son, I have nothing to give you right now, but you will meet Krishna on the way, ask him for something to give your teacher."

So the next morning Gopal set out. He was wearing his finest clothes, his hair slicked down, and he toddled along to the forest. There he met Krishna and as they walked along, Gopal told him about the feast. "Mother told me to ask you for the gift since she had nothing to give."

Krishna looked lovingly at Gopal and said, "Gopal, my dear brother, I am but a cowherd boy. What can I give you? The best I can do is this bowl of milk." He gave Gopal a small bowl of fresh milk.

Gopal took the bowl to his master's house. The teacher was collecting gifts from the other boys. Some gave him beautiful paintings, some gave him books, other gave him delicious rich food. Then it was Gopal's turn. He gave the master the milk. he teacher knew Gopal was poor, so he took the gift and thanked him profusely. He gave it to his wife, who went to pour it into the big pot of milk in his kitchen.

When she emptied the bowl, however, it filled up again! So she emptied it again, it filled again! She kept emptying it, it kept filling up. The pot became full, she filled another 30 pots in this way! Then finally she gave up, and told the teacher what happened. He was amazed, he knew that only the lord himself can do something like this. So he asked Gopal, "Where did you get this milk?"

Gopal innocently replied, "My big brother gave it to me."

"Who is that big brother?"

"Oh he is a cowherd in Vrindavan forest, his name is Krishna. He walks with me every day throughthe forst and we play and sing and have a wonderful time!"

Now the teacher and his wife wanted to see Krishna! They told Gopal to take them to meet his brother. All the other school children also went along with them. They went to Vrindavan forest, there Gopal began to call out, "Krishna!! KRIIISHNAAA!! My teacher has come to meet you!!!"

But Krishna did not appear. Gopal kept calling out, confident that his brother would come. But for more than an hour Krishna did not show up. Then the others began to think that Gopal was just making up stories. They scoffed at him and were about to leave and go back.

Gopal did not know what to do. He began to cry and through his tears he said, "Krishna, why do you cheat me this way!!! Nobody believes that you exist and they make fun of me!!"

Of course Bhagawan could not stay away when his devotee called out ot him like that.

Suddenly all the sounds of the forst were hushed. In spite of themselves, the teacher and his wife, and all the other children, stopped in their tracks. And out of that silence, softly the sound of a flutesong floated through the forest. Everyone was entranced, completely captured by the divine music coming from deep in the dark woods.

Gopal was delighted! He clapped his hands in joy and cried out, "Krishna!!! That is Krishna playing flute!! Krishna!! Why don't you come here!!! Everyone is waiting to see you!"

The music stopped. From far withinthe darkness, Krishna's sweet voice wafted towards them, "Gopal, your teacher and friends are not ready to see me yet."

Then everything returned to normal. The forest sounds were back to full volume, the spell was released. But the teacher realized what a mistake hge had made in doubting Gopal, his lack of faith had cost him the chance to see Krishna.

From then onwards both the teacher and his wife spent their days in prayer and meditation and were finally blessed with the vision of Krishna within their own hearts.

 

Awww...that is so cute. I will have to share that one with my friend...I have been telling her these stories when we eat lunch together and she has been telling me Greek myths...its great fun. I know what you mean about the joy in telling stories; that is why it has been a large part of what makes humans humans. In many of our classes we discuss what creates culture in humans...and storytelling is one of the number one causes...it creates fulfillment and sharing...lol...but enough of me going on about my school work...lol. She will like this one very much...esp. because she liked the fruit one. Thanks again Bhaskar!