Aug 18, 2007

Krishna, Buddha and Kalki Avatars

Ravan again shows off his pride. Says he will kill Rama, etc. War ensues. Rama shoots arrow to knowck Ravan's head off. But head reappears. Rama is perplexed. Same thing happens a number of times. Rama is nonplussed. He does not know what to do. Then Vibhishan comes and tells him that the only way to kill Ravan is by shooting an arrow at his navel. Rama does so. Ravan dies. War ends. Hanuman gets Sita from Ashoka Vatika. Rama and Sita unite. But Rama asks her to go through a trial by fire although he knows that she is pure. It is more for folks. Sita is shocked. But she sits through fire and easily passes it. Once done, Rama apologises for making her go through it but Sita tells that no one should ever again go through this trial. Now, all are happy.

It is also the end of 14 years. So they head to Ayodhya via Pushpak Vimana. Meanwhile Bharat is contemplating suicide because it has been 14 years and Rama has not yet returned. Just at that time, Rama comes and brothers unite in great ecstasy. End of Rama Avatar.

Avatar #8: Krishna Avatar

Kans

Jai takes form as Kans in Mathura. He gets his sister Devaki married to Vasudev. On the parade, a sage wishes the couple well. And tells that their 8th child will kill Kans. Kans gets scared and is about to kill the couple when Vasudev convinces that he can kill the children and not parents. He then imprisons the new couple.

First six children are all slaughtered by Kans inside the prison only. Vasudev's first wife Rohini comes inside prison to take away the seventh son from inside her womb to her own (Rohini) womb. Kans comes to know that Devaki suddenly is no longer pregnant with the 7th child, & is surprised. Rohini gives birth to this person and is called Balram also called as Dau. Balram hence eventually will become Krishna's brother.

Finally, Krishna takes birth in the prison. Fate tells Vasudev to take the child across Yamuna to city of Gokul and deposit with his pal Nandlal. When they are wondering how, all the prison shackles fall down and doors open. Vasudev keeps Krishna on his head and crosses Yamuna, reaches Gokul and delivers kiddo to Nandlal. Nandlal's wife Yashoda then sends her daughter instead back to prison. Kans comes to kill the infant albeit a daughter but the infant flies away!

Kans learns that his death is awaiting in Gokul. Kans sends his maid Putna (witch) to Gokul to kill Krishna. Putna sees Krishna and takes him away to a jungle. But the little Krishna albeit an infant quite easily kills him.

In his childhood, in order to save the nature, Krishna dives into a river and kills poison insider the Kaalia serpent. Once poison goes away, Krishna dances on top of Kaalia's head.

When Krishna grows bigger, Radha falls for his charm.

Kans asks for Krishna to come to Mathura from Gokul. His parents are sad that he might get killed. At Mathura, Krishna sees one lady with a humpback, walking with great difficulty. Suddenly she is able to walk correctly. Everyone sees Krishna's miracle.

At Kans's palace ground, Kans gets a wild elephant to kill Krishna. But looking at Krishna, Elephant salutes him. Kans is shocked that the maniacal elephant saluted him. Kans then asks wrestlers to fight Krishna and Balram. K and B easily fight them all.

Then K and B go to Kans. Krishna then kills Kans. There was peace in Mathura.

Rukmini

It is time for Vidharba Princess Rukmini to get married in Vidharbha. Prince Shishupal wants to marry her. Same thing with Ruk's bro Rukmi and dad. Rukmini wants to marry Krishna. So Ruk writes a letter to Krishna to help her from this pre-arranged Swayamvara which is unjust since Bride needs to choose her Groom in Swayamvara.

At Dwarka, Krishna tells Balram that he will go to Vidharba to save Rukmini. Balram wants to come with army. So Krishna wants to go before and leaves. On the morn of Swayamvara, Rukmini goes to temple to pray for quick arrival of Krishna. Krishna comes. Rukmini boards the chariot. Krishna then prepares to leave. Rukmini says yes. Krishna blows into his conch to announce to the world that he is taking Rukmini as per her wish, not as a kidnap.

News arrive at Vidharb. Rukmi confronts Krishna. Big battle ensues. Dwarka's army vs Vidharb's army. Krishna uses his Sudarshan Chakra to defeat the Rukmi. He then takes Rukmini home to Dwarka.

Subhadra

Once back at Dwarka, Krishna hears that his sister Subhadra is getting married to Duryodhan due to Balram's improper promise. So Balram asks Krishna to save Subhadra who loves Arjun. At that time, Arjun is traveling all over the world as a Brahmin. He sees Subhadra. Love at first sight. Krishna goes to talk to Vasudev about S's wedding. At the same time Balram goes to talk to his parents to talk about S's wedding with Duryodhan (Hastinapur Prince) which he has already promised. Krishna interjects and tells that it is better to give time till morrow. Balram suspects something but Krishna tells all for S's good.

Krishna then goes to Arjun and tells all. Arjun asks what to do. K tells follow Kshatriya dharma - If man agrees, woman agrees, just take her. It is not kidnap. It is dharma. Arjun agrees. Krishna arranges for both S and A to meet at a Pooja place in the morning. Arjun gets blessings from both Balram (although he doesnt know what Arjun is seeking blessings for!) and Krishna. Krishna also tells to make sure there is no fight between Draupadi and Subhadra. Krishna also tells that there is a deeper meaning to the union of A and S, which is not understandable right now. He also tells that S should be the charioteer for this, not Arjun. Because this journey is more of S's, not Arjun's. Arjun agrees. A and S elope away.

Jharasand

Krishna knew who all would take Kaurav's side even before Mahabharat began. Maghadh samrat Jharasand is one such guy, so Krishna wants to get rid of him. Added to this, J is doing some wrong things like wanting to give 1000 kings as sacrifice to lord Shiva to become all powerful. Krishna wants to stop this nonsense. Birth of Jharasand is as follows -

Brihadrath married two wives and told he will love equally. Old age, still no wives. Once he saw a rishi while traveling. B asks Rishi for son. Rishi gives one mango. King cuts the mango into two pieces and gives to two wives. Each wife gives birth only to half child - half only from top to bottom. Wives get scared and get the infants thrown away. A monster called Jhara sees these infants. She takes the two pieces and joins together. It became a boy. That is Jharasand. So he is in fact two people. So it needsKrishna, Arjun and Bheema to kill him. They move towards Jharasand to challenge him for wrestling. Jharasand agrees for the wrestling competition. Jharasand chooses Bheema amongst the three. Finally Bheema is able to tear him into two pieces. He throws the pieces away but they join back. So Krishna tells that he needs to throw them in opposite directions, meaning left part of body to right and right part of body to left side. Bheema does so and finally Jharasand dies. Krishna then releases all the kings who were kept in prison for sacrifice.

Shishupal

There is one more enemy left for Krishna - Shishupal. When S was born, he had many eyes and many arms. His mother asked when will this be rectified. Fate responds that it will be set right as soon as it is kept on one person's lap. But that same person will also kill him.

Once when Krishna comes to his aunt's place, he keeps the baby on his lap and baby becomes better. Mother suddenly becames afraid of Krishna. She asks Krishna to give him a vow to never kill her son Sishupal. But Krishna says that is not possible but he will definitely give him 1000 chances to make mistakes. But his 1001st mistake will kill him. Sishupal although aware of this never heeds. He insults Krishna for more than 1000 times in Royal Court. Krishna releases his Sudarshan Chakra and that ends Sishupal's life. Sishupal was one more of Kaurav's supporter and hence Pandavs had one less army to worry about.

Geetopadesh

Just prior to start of Mahabharat war, both Arjun and Duryodhana come to Krishna to ask either for Narayani Sena or Krishna Himself be part of their team (Pandav and Kaurav respectively). D is waiting beside the bed while Krishna is sleeping and he came first. Arjun comes next and stands bowed before Krishna. Krishna looks at Arjun first. So he asks him what he wants, but D says I came first. K says Arjun is younger brother, so let him go first. Arjun doesnt want the great Narayani Sena but he wants just Krishna without any weapons. Krishna agrees to be Arjun's charioteer. Perhaps he took this life only to be Arjun's charioteer. D is very happy that A didnt ask for Sena because D wanted the Sena only. A is also happy because A didnt want the Sena and he wanted Krishna.

At the big battle of Kurukshetra between Pandavs and Kauravs, Arjun asks Krishna how can he fight this battle against his own family, his own guru, etc.

Krishna replies - Rely on me, trust me. I am the Truth, I am the Universe. I am Om, I am Sound of Universe, I am the Fire, I am the Life, I am the Penance done for, I am the Fragrance, I am the Beginning, I am the Mind, I am the Intelligence, I am the Strength, I am the Power, I am inside all and yet I am different. I dont have a race nor religion. I am know the Past, Present and Future, I am Father, Mother, Protector, I am all Vedas, I am Swamy, I am student, I am everyone's Ideal. I am everything.

So Arjun asks how can I identify you. Krishna says - there is no end for Him and yet he says - I am the Soul. I am Mareechi, I am Vishnu, I am Chandhra, I am Prahallad, I am Timeless Time, I am Words, I am Death, I am the Beginning, I am character, victory, attempt, I am Shukracharya, I am even Arjun! I am the Creator, I am the Eye.

Arjun says now he is clear. But he wants to see the Viswaroopa version of Krishna. Krishna says he cannot see it in naked eyes. He needs Divine eyes. Krishna grants those eyes to Arjun. Once Arjun gets those eyes, Krishna transforms himself to Viswaroopa Darshan which starts with Om, then he sees Krishna growing in size. Many forms appear before him. A blaze of flame appears behind Water, Fire, suffering all can be seen now. Suffering people enter from one side and leave from one another depicting death and birth where suffering occurs in both instances. Then Brahma and Shiva are seen in the middle of Krishna's heart. Krishna opens his mouth. Whole Universe is inside that mouth. The purpose of this Avatar was to tell the Importance of Good Deeds.

Avatar #9: Buddha

Next Avatar is Buddha. Buddha was born at a time of high deception and heavy violence. After Battle of Kalinga, King Ashok gives up everything to take up non-violence and preach good deeds - and informs that meditation is the only means of achieving success.

Avatar #10: Kalki

Mother Earth then says that Vyas has informed that Vishnu will again take Avatar as Kalki in Kalyug to save mankind. Mother Earth is awaiting this incarnation. [Me-thinks this incarnation is nothing but the daily do-good-ers, saviors!]

Epilogue

And thats the end of that! I am not sure why the makers of Vishnupuran serial made a haste of the last three avatars - they were all encapsulated within 3 hours! And hence the blog entry is less too, compared to other Avatars. Nevertheless -

I feel much honored to have jotted down all of these episodes telecasted on TV over a span of many years. And then in the middle of Ramayana, I could not see any more - either I went abroad or they stopped telecasting. And for a long period of over 15 years, I never thought I could see it till the end. And then one fine day in 2016, in my local library in Pleasant Hill, California, USA, I saw Vishnupuran DVD - and it was not just one DVD, it was the full series of 23 DVDs. Imagine my joy! So not only did I see the rest of the episodes that I had not seen and finish this journal but I also got the opportunity to correct some of the previous errors that I had made due to the telecast on TV where the luxury of pause and rewind is unavailable. And during this process, my daughter became a huge fan of Vishnu too!

Such is the marvel of Lord Vishnu that if you really seek Him out, He will surely come to you! This blog on Vishnu is my own form of a tiny yet significant penance to The Great Almighty!

Hope you enjoyed reading Vishnu's enchanting stories.

May Vishnu be with you always!

Errata:
1. Chapter 47 was incorrectly numbered as 48. And so, the chapters from 48 onwards are one number up!
2. Chapter 87 has two occurrences. Hence, the chapters from 88 onwards are, in effect, in correct order!

3 comments:

Mithun said...

Great job!!

Anonymous said...

// Om Shri Hanumate Namah: //

Thanks for this cool website. Never seen something like this before.

If you love Shri Hanuman Ji, you may download Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman Mantra Jaap Mala and other Mp3-Bhajans at:

http://hanumanji.wordpress.com

YouRs SinCereLy M!sTer CrippLeD SaM

Unknown said...

great job harsha
its simply excellent
i feel u continue this good deed & make us also aware
keep up the good work