The Curse behind Krishna's death and destruction of Yadavas

After the Great War in Kurukshetra Pandavas won and Yudhisthir was coroneted as king in the presence of Lord Krishna. Krishna before leaving Hasthinapur met Gandhari to take permission of leaving. Gandhari was in great sadness as she lost hundred sons including Duryodhaan (the eldest and closet one) in that battle. She got angry seeing Krishna and stated why He didn’t stop the war as He is the God and only He had the power to stop it. She also mentioned that Krishna wanted this ending intentionally. He made Pandavas win and Kauravas defeat. She cried at her loss and cursed Krishna that He’ll die a normal death (not glorious) and His clan will be destroyed by killing each other the way Kauravas destroyed.

 Gandhari was the great devotee of Lord Shiva and was loyal to her husband. Krishna smiled and replied, “Mother, it doesn’t matter how I leave the world” and “No one can kill Yadava except they kill each othert.” And Krishna left.

Yadavas became very powerful under the protection of Lord Krishna and also they had the boon of being defeated by anyone. So the Yadavas became very luxurious, forgot morals and good conduct. They started celebrating and drinking. 

Once a group of sages visited their palace, Yadava boys decided to prank them. Samba dressed as a pregnant woman and went in front of those sages to ask whether he would deliver a boy or a girl. The sages became furious to see this insult and cursed him that he would deliver an iron mace and that would be the reason for their destruction.

Soon after Samba delivered an iron mace. They were so afraid that they smashed that iron mace except a small piece that they couldn’t smash and threw it near sea side. Later on, those smashes grew into plants near sea but they were not aware of it. Once a hunter, named Jara found that small piece of iron thrown by them, thought of making arrow head, so he took that piece.

Yadava used to make big false stories of past war of Kurukshetra while parting together. Once they started fighting each other on the argument, who performed well in that war. The fight became so furious that one Yadava took a sword and killed another Yadava.

 Thus their destruction started. Krishna and Balaram already hid all the weapons but they found those same plants grew in the sea side and they used those to kill each other.

Balaram left seeing this, started meditating under a tree and left his body in the form of big serpent. Krishna seeing this left too and went to a jungle. The hunter Jara misunderstood Lord’s feet as dear and he shot. It was the same arrow he made from that piece of iron. The hunter came close and found it was Lord Krishna, he asked forgiveness.

Krishna smiled and said He was waiting for him only. Lord narrated to Jara as he was confused, he was Baali in his previous life and Lord Ram killed Baali from behind in Treta Yug. So in this life Lord Krishna did penance being killed by Baali (the Hunter).

Thus, Lord Krishna left this Bhulok (earth) and returned to His Vaikuntha. Lord also kept Gandhari’s curse fulfilled.

Why Lord Krishna wears peacock feather on His head???

The peacock feather signifies the all-attractiveness of the extravagant beauty of Lord Krishna. Although he had many ornaments of gold and gemstones, He wore peacock feather on His head. Peacock feather naturally colored and ornaments of tender petals.

Once Lord Krishna blew His flute to call His cows back, a melodious raga with a slow rhythm flows in the wind. Everything around pleased by His flute. The whole surrounding was so charmed that even the peacocks nearby started dancing in front of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna was pleased and smiled to see the peacocks dancing around and flapping their wings.

Lord Krishna felt so joyful that He danced with those peacocks. All the animals stood stunned seeing Lord dancing. It was so beautiful that peacocks requested Lord Krishna to wear a feather shed by them as decoration on His head. Lord accepted their offering and wore a feather as a symbol of passionate devotion and how they gaze at Him without blinking.

The lotus-faced Lord is so beautiful with His so-sweet smile; His hairstyle with its intoxicated peacock feather is so captivating. The feathers of love-intoxicated peacocks are His ornament.

Why and How Karna attained Moksha???

It’s was the last day of Karna’s life. In Mahabharata, it was the moment when Karna was trying to take out the wheel of his chariot which was immersed in earth; Arjuna threw his arrow (indrastra) to kill Karna who was fighting on the opposite side of Pandavas. Karna was the chief of Kauravas army when he got killed by the instruction of Lord Krishna.

 

Lord Krishna disguised himself as Brahman and went to Karna who was lying on ground after being shot by Arjuna. Lord Krishna tested his “danveerta” by asking him something. Karna replied he was waiting for death and he had nothing to give him as he got defeated. Krishna (disguised as Brahman) requested as he heard of Karna as a great giver and generous. Karna found nothing to offer that brahman. Karna remembered he got two golden teeth. He took a stone and broke his teeth and offered those to Krishna.

Krishna rejected those golden teeth as it was stained with his blood. Karna somehow took his arrow and threw it ground and he created a fountain, washed and offered those to Krishna. Thus being hurt and waiting for death again Karna proved he was the great “danveer”.

Krishna took those teeth and came to His own form. Krishna got so pleased and asked Karna to ask any boons. Karna refused as he never take anything after giving. But as Krishna insisted Karna asked three boons from Lord Krishna.

First, Suta jaati (cast) should be honoured in society as Karna being known as Suta faced much insulation throughout his life. Second, he requested Krishna to take birth in his rajya (area) in His next incarnation. And third he requested Lord to burn his body in sinless place.

Lord Krishna found there was no place left where no sin had happened. Lord Krishna granted his third boon too. Krishna performed his antim sanskaar (last rite) in His own hand finding no sinless place in earth. The only place was Lord Krishna’s hand, where no sin was committed.

Since it was Lord’s own hand, Karna attained Moksha and went to Vaikunth, where Lord Krishna resides.

why we apply Tilak???

Tilak is a traditional mark to identify the devotees of Lord Krishna. Tilak is clay found on the bank of sacred river. It’s sacred because it is the dust of feet of devotees (Gopi Chandan) and the lotus feet Supreme Lord. 

A devotee decorates his body with Tilak as the body is the temple of individual soul (Atma) and Lord Krishna (Parmatma). Applying Tilak, purifies body and reminds us that we are belong to Lord Krishna, When we see a devotee with Tilak, we are reminded of Lord and relieve our sinful reactions.

In India there are many types of Tilak devotees wear in their forehead. These varieties of Tilak indicate their affiliation with a particular group and their devotion of a particular form of God. Among the Vaishnabas devotees are identified by their styles of Tilak, its shape, colour and the material used to make it.

Applying Tilak shows that we are the disciple of Chaitanya Maha Prabhu. 

Tilak’s upper part is like

‘U” shaped indicates the Lord Krishna’s lotus footprint, and the lower part is like a leaf shape represents the Tulasi leaf, Krishna’s favourite plant and a great devotee.

Tilak can be applied anytime you want but it is best to apply after bath, during worshiping the Lord Krishna.

                                                                           ...Hare Krishna...

Why Lord Krishna had 16108 wives???

The supreme personality of God Lord Krishna had 16108 wives but many don’t know the reason behind it.

Lord Krishna had only 8 wives there were called as ‘Ashtabharya’ (astha means eight and bharya means wife) named Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Nagnajiti, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Bhadra and Lakshmana. All wives were basically His devotees.

     

                                                       

Once a powerful demon named Narkasur king of Pragjyotishpur had abducted 16100 women and kept them as captive. Satyabhama, one of Lord Krishna’s wives, was informed about this act of Narkasura. She requested Krishna to free them from his bondage.

Krishna attacked Pragjyotishpur and defeated Narkasura. Devi Satyabhama killed Narkasura with an arrow. 

He released these 16100 women from his captive. But those women denied going back to their homes as the society wouldn’t accept them and disgrace them for being captive of Narkasura.

Lord Krishna married them in order to restore their honour and dignity in society. Krishna offered each queen a palace and used to turn himself into 16100 Krishna’ bodies to present in every palaces at the same time.

Thus Lord Krishna had additional 16100 wives with 8 wives, 16108 in total.

                                                        ...Hare Krishna...

Why Karna is great ‘Danveer’ than Arjuna???

Arjun was always envy upon Karna as Lord Krishna praised Karna’s generosity. Once while spending time with Krishna, Arjuna asked “why you do always praise Karna in terms of donation whereas I donated a lot too”?

Krishna understood his envy and smiled, Lord said he could understand if he did a task for him. Arjuna agreed.

Krishna pointed a huge mountain and turned it into the huge heap of gold coins. Then Krishna told Arjuna to distribute those gold coins among villagers who were suffering a lot. Arjuna agreed and appeared in front of villagers and declared proudly that their sufferings came to end as Arjuna arrived to help them.

Arjuna decided some equal portion to be donated each by his own hand. But since that was a huge heap of coins, Arjuna felt tired and refused any help in distribution from his army as he used to think generous work to be done by him only.

Krishna noticed everything silently. He disguised Arjuna as Bramhan and took him to Karna’s palace.

Krishna repeated the same story and asked Karna to distribute. Karna felt happy of being selected by Krishna to do such noble task. Immediately he ordered his men to call all villagers to the mountain. Karna appeared there and declared politely that these gold coins given by Krishna and to collect as per their needs. Also he ordered his men to help villagers to carry their coins. He also left the place not waited to be praised by villagers.

When disguised Arjuna asked Karna why he distributed his all coins, Karna replied these were not his coins, these offered by Lord Krishna and if so then also he would distribute all as villagers need most than him.

Thus Karna proved his generosity again.

There was another great incident. Here it is,

Once on a rainy day someone visited Arjuna while sitting with Lord Krishna asked for dry woods for his need. Arjuna saw it was raining so dry woods couldn’t be arranged to give that person. He apologized that person for not capable of giving dry wood.

Krishna saw this and told that person to visit Karna, also commented that Karna might be able to give him dry woods. Arjuna noticed and asked Lord Krishna how he could give when Arjuna could not.

They both disguised themselves and went to Karna’s palace with that person to see what Karna would do.

That person requested Karna the same. Karna saw outside it was raining so he broke his palace’s wood logs and offered it to that person.

Krishna smiled on that kind act and Arjuna felt ashamed and understood why Karna is greater “Danveer” than anyone.

...Hare Krishna...

Why Lord Krishna teach a lesson to Lord Brahma???

People of Braj already started worshiping little Lord Krishna, seeing this Brahma was angry why a child was worshipped as a God. Brahma decided to visit Krishna and check whether he was God or not.

Krishna with his friends was playing, seeing this Bramha abducted all the cows. Krishna went on searching those missing cows keeping all friends to wait. Bramha kidnapped those friends too. Then he went to Bramhalok and kept them all together.

Krishna already understood this. When Bramha returned to earth (mrittulok) from Bramhalok already a year passed. Bramha got surprised to see all cows and boys whom he abducted already with Krishna and there was no sign of worry. Seeing Brahma perplexed Suddenly Krishna turned into many forms and showed many Bhrahmas, Shivas, Indras and Demigods worshipping Lord Krishna.

Brahma realised the Supreme Lord and prayed for forgiveness. Lord Krishna forgave Brahma and informed that this was the smallest Universe he gave Brahma for creation; there were uncountable universes where in numerous Brahmas living and worshipping Him.

Brahma understood his mistake and returned all the cows and kids back.

 

                                                                           …Hare Krishna…

Why Lord Shiva had to fight with Lord Krishna???

There was a demon named Banasur, was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He was the elder son of king Bali among 100 sons and the 10^th descendant of Lord Vishnu devotee Prahlad. Once Banasur pleased Lord Shiva by his utmost devotion and meditation (tapasya), Lord Shiva gave him two boons, first, 1000 powerful arms and second, whenever Banasur fell in problem would be protected by Lord Shiva.

Demon Banasur attacked Kailash once after receiving such powerful boons from Lord Shiva. Being disappointed by Banasur’s act Lord Shiva warned him that his end had already been born and he could see this whenever the flag on his kingdom gate would be broken.

Usha, Banasur’s daughter, once saw a handsome prince in her dream and fell in love with him.

She requested Chitralekha to draw the portrait of that prince she’s in love. And after seeing the portrait Usha confirmed it’s him and requested Chitralekha to bring the prince to her.

It was Anirudda, Usha saw in her dream, Krishna’ grandson. Thus Anirudda was kidnapped by Chitralekha and placed in front of Usha. Usha explained everything to Anirudda and Anirudda fell in love too.

Meanwhile Banasur noticed that the flag of his kingdom broke, he understood someone entered his kingdom. Finding Anirudda in Usha’ room he put him in jail (Karhagar). They were already searching for Anirudda in Dwarka and somehow Krishna was informed that Anirudda was captivated by Banasur.

Krishna with his elder brother Balaram attacked Banasur. Balaram was very powerful to kill Banasur’ army, then Krishna faced Banasur. Seeing his army killed by Balram Banasur got scared and prayed Lord Shiva for help.

Lord Shiva appeared in front of Krishna and started fighting. Though both were devotees of each other. Krishna knew he couldn’t kill Banasur if Lord Shiva protected him. So Krishna silently prayed Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva gave a quick strategy.

Krishna threw an arrow and Lord Shiva fell unconscious. Krishna took out his “Sudarshan Chakra” and cut off Banasur’s arms. But when Krishna tried to cut Banasur’ head, Lord Shiva woke up and hold the “Sudarshan Chakra”, Lord Shiva requested Krishna to forgive Banasur as he’s his great devotee.

Meanwhile Banasur felt ashamed after seeing all these. He stood up and promised that he would leave all bad acts. Both Lord forgave Banasur.

This was the situation when Lord Shiva stood against Lord Krishna.

 

…Hare Krishna…