KRISHNA AND KALIYA

ॐ श्री कृष्णः शरणं ममः

“Om Sri Krishnah Sharanam Mamah

Lord Krishna I pray for your shelter

When they were old enough, much to the delight of the two brothers, Balarama and Krishna, their parents Nanda and Yashoda permitted them to tend to the herd of cows and calves. The boys could now take their cattle out to graze along with their band of friends.

Krishna and Balarama were excited about the prospect of frolicking through the exquisite woodlands of Vrindavan with their playmates. All across Vrindavan the trees were resplendent with blossoms in myriad hues; their branches weighed down with ripe succulent fruit. The thick grass covering the earth cushioned their tender feet as they raced around chasing each other and playing pranks that would have them end up rolling on the ground in tumultuous laughter. The flock, unmindful of the frolicsome cowhands and free of their tethers would amble along slowly making their selection from among the most succulent morsels of the lush woodlands.

As the noon day sun climaxed, the young boys exhausted from their merriment would flop beside a cool pond blanketed over with white, pink and purple lotuses and under the shade of a mighty tree, dense with plentiful foliage. Sitting in the shade with the cool breeze from the pond wafting towards them the young boys would open their cloth bags, lovingly packed by their mothers, with tasty treats. They would relax and relish their noon-day meal.

Once they had taken their repast they would lie back on the soft grass. Krishna would take out his flute from under his waistband and begin to play the most mellifluous tunes. The music was so sweet that it brought in the humming bees, the dancing peacocks, the deer and their fawn from around the woodlands. The cows hearing the sound of Krishna’s flute would gather their calves, end their wanderings and return to settle down close to the cowherds. They would shut their large eyes and peacefully drink in the notes emanating from the divine flute. Krishna and Balarama spent several idyllic days in this manner enjoying the company of their friends and the many beauteous treasures that the pastures of Vrindavan revealed.

One hot summers day, the herd of cattle and the young boys wandering through the Vrindavan reached the banks of the Yamuna River. Their throats were parched with the heat of the summer sun and hence both the cows and the boys thirstily drank from the waters of the flowing river. They had no way of knowing that the river waters had been contaminated by the poisons of the venomous, giant, black snake Kaliya.

Deep down in the river bed was a pool of water that had been inhabited by the serpent Kaliya. Kaliya’s venom was so powerful that it heated the waters of the Yamuna. The fumes of hot water that arose, from above where Kaliya lay, poisoned and killed the birds that flew over it. So potent was Kaliya’s venom that even the wind passing over the Yamuna was compelled to carry the indestructible poison in its breeze. The lethal fumes carried by the wind would kill the living beings it blew over.

Kaliya like all other snakes had once lived on the island of Ramanaka-dvipa -the abode of snakes. The great bird, Garuda, the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu, would eat the snakes from this island. Terrified that they would all be killed by Garuda, the snakes, gathered up courage to approach Garuda. With trepidation they beseeched the powerful bird, “O mighty Garuda! Obeisance to you! If you eat all of us how will our species survive? May we request that you accept a voluntary offering from us each month of a snake picked from different household and in return we beg that you spare the rest of us?”

Garuda graciously accepted their offer. However, when the time came for the offering to be made, the deceitful serpent Kaliya forcibly ate the offering meant for Garuda. When Garuda arrived and realized what had happened he became very angry. He swooped down on Kaliya and kicked Kaliya unconscious. Kaliya managed to revive himself and began hissing and darting his forked tongues at Garuda. He expanded his one hundred hoods and with his many fangs savagely bit Garuda. Garuda was now livid with rage. He picked up Kaliya with his gigantic beak and threw him to the ground again and again. The divine bird used his strong wings to beat the hapless snake. Somehow Kaliya managed to escape the vice like grip of Garuda’s beak and fled as fast as he could. With Garuda chasing him Kaliya slithered quickly away till finally, he reached the waters of the Yamuna.

Garuda used to hunt for fish in the Yamuna. One day he picked up a large fish from the river who happened to be the leader of the other fish. The remaining fish in the Yamuna were desolate without their leader and were in deep sorrow. The kind Sage Saubari finding the fish in the river so sad at losing their leader, cursed Garuda. The pious Sage Saubari’s curse ensured that Garuda could never thereafter fly anywhere near the River Yamuna. The cunning Kaliya knowing this took refuge deep down in the river. Kaliya had found a place where he could live without any fear of Garuda. Kaliya now rejoiced because he could freely and fearlessly continue with his wicked ways.

Krishna’s friends, the young cowherds and their cattle had drunk the noxious water of the Yamuna River. Barely had they taken a sip of the water than they all fell dead. However, with Krishna by their side there was no way that the young boys or their herd could be destroyed by evil. With no more than a glance, Krishna restored his friends and his beloved cows back to life. Instantly they all arose as though they had just awoken from a refreshing nap.

Krishna was not about to let the wicked Kaliya continue to torment the innocent.

To everyone’s surprise Krishna dived right into the deadly waters. Then to their amazement, there before their eyes, Krishna grew to an enormous size. The huge waves caused by Krishna’s giant form disturbed the resting Kaliya. The evil serpent rose from under the waters to ascertain who it was that had dared to enter his abode. The venomous serpent coiled its giant body around Krishna. The cowherds screamed in terror and the cows and calves let out agonizing cries. In the village the simple folk sensing bad omens feared that something terrible had befallen Krishna. They left their homes and gathered together. Nanda, Yashoda, all the men, the women, the elderly and even the very young children decided that they would walk to the woodlands to find out what had happened. The villagers scrutinized the hoof prints of the cattle as they traced their way to where Krishna, the cowherds and the cattle were. To their horror they saw that the Krishna they adored was being crushed within the coils of the wicked Kaliya. Everyone shed tears of despair except Balarama who knew Krishna to be the indestructible Supreme.

Krishna who until then had been pretending to be a mere mortal seeing the agony in the hearts of those he loved dearly now began to expand his body even more. Krishna became so wide and large that the exhausted Kaliya could no longer clasp him within his coils. Kaliya let go of Krishna but quickly lifted his hundred giant heads to sting Krishna. Krishna as though in sport spun around the dreaded snake as its many forked tongues kept darting out to bite him. There was wild fire emanating from Kaliya’s fangs and venomous fumes arose all round. Yet Krishna with a smile darted around the serpent sending it into a confused tizzy. Then in a flash Krishna mounted Kaliya’s giant hood and began to dance with abandon. By now Kaliya was hissing loudly in utter rage. Krishna danced on each one of the hoods that the serpent raised. His lotus feet gleamed in the light of the precious jewels embedded in Kaliya’s head. As Krishna continued to dance each of Kaliya’s hoods began to collapse one after another. Blood and venom began to pour out of Kaliya’s mouth and nostrils. Krishna kept on dancing. The mighty snake sank. Kaliya had been reduced to a helpless mass. In his abject misery, the once mighty Kaliya turned to Lord Narayana and begged, “Lord protect me!’

It was Lord Narayana disguised as Krishna, the cowherd that was dancing on Kaliya. He heard the serpent’s pitiful plea. The Lord who is all loving forgives even the worst sinners.

At that very moment the many wives of Kaliya seeing their husband at the mercy of the Lord approached Him and begged Him to spare Kaliya’s life. They along with their children lay prostrate before the Lord and asked Him to forgive their husband. Krishna the fount of forgiveness and love restored to Kaliya his vitality. The serpent regained his breath and slowly the life forces within him enabled him to lift his hoods. He bowed before the Lord and in a faltering voice said, “Lord my wickedness is certainly deserving of your punishment. I leave it to you to decide whether I warrant your grace and forgiveness. However, repenting for my wicked ways I will willingly accept and bear whatever punishment you wish to impose on me.”

He then lay down silently at the feet of the Lord.

Lord Krishna looked at Kaliya with kindness and said, “Kaliya, stay not a moment more in these waters. Take your wives, children and kinsfolk and leave immediately for the deep ocean. Make your home in those vast waters and allow the animals and inhabitants of this hamlet to quench their thirst from the clear waters of the Yamuna. Also rest assured that that you no longer need to fear Garuda’s wrath. My footprints on you hoods will protect you from the mighty Garuda.”

The simple village folk who had gathered on the shores of the Yamuna clapped and cheered as Krishna emerged from the waters. The Yamuna now free of the wicked Kaliya gurgled and pranced about invitingly. Within moments Krishna’s friends plunged in and swam around with joy as their parents and the cattle watched indulgently.

LIFE LESSONS

1. Evil will be punished.

2. God will always protect those who have faith in him.

3. God forgives us even if we do something very bad. All we have to do is ask him for forgiveness, as Kaliya did.

4. If we have faith in God we never need to fear anything.