KRISHNA LEELAMRUTHAM (THE NECTARINE STORIES OF THE DEEDS OF LORD KRISHNA)

5. LORD KRISHNA AND THE DEMON SHAKATASURA  

Nanda Maharaja celebrated on his child being able to stand on his legs. It was the star birthday of the Lord. The people of vraja were invited for the ceremony and there was a great feast at Nanda Maharaja's house. The Gopas and Gopis were neatly dressed and arrived the function of the Lord. Musicians, poets, singers, Veda-knowing brahmins were take part in the festive occasion and made it with a great pomp. Mother Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja respected them by giving golden printed garments, cows and grains in charity. Mother Yashoda arranged fruits, sweets and grains in an array to give away to them. Meanwhile, Kamsa sent another demon named 'Utkaca' to kill the Lord. The wicked Kamsa couldn't bear the pang of his sister Putana's death. So he was so angry to kill the Lord. Mother Yashoda found that her child slept after the completion of bath. As She wanted to the household work, She asked an old woman that where to handover Her child. The old woman replied, "O Yashoda, You can keep Your child under this bullock cart". So Mother Yashoda kept the Lord under a damaged bullock cart. The demon Utkaca, was a bodiless demon due to the curse in his previous life. The demon Utkaca in his previous life was the son of demon Hiranyaksha. When he was playing in the forest, he destroyed the green trees and creepers of the ashram of Rishi Lomasa. The anger Rishi said, "Hey utkaca! you will be certainly punished. I curse you, may you become bodiless!". Rishi Lomasa also uttered, "You will attain the Lord's home when you are kicked by the lotus feet of Lord Krishna". As Kamsa ordered him to kill the Lord, the demon Utkaca reached the spot where the ceremony was celebrating.  The demon then reached the spot and transformed into a cart that was not present in the previous day but it appeared during the ceremony. The word 'Shakata' refers to 'cart'. So, he is called as "Shakatasura". The old woman asked the small children who were playing to take care of the child placed under the bullock cart. The children replied that they will take care of the child. 

 Mother Yashoda placed her child under the cart that contained vessels of milk and curd and She was so busy in receiving guests for the ceremony. Shakatasura saw the sleep of the divine child and thought that it is the right time to kill the Child. The demon Shakatasura appeared with hundred reptile eyes of a sudden by opening the mouth widely to kill the Lord. Timely, the Lord opened His eyes and cried aloud as He was very hungry. Mother Yashoda didn't hear her Child's cry as She was busy in the ceremony. The cart gradually descended to crush the body of the divine child even though the demon knew about Putana's death. Suddenly, they heard a terrible sound. The children who were playing saw the cart broken into small pieces. The small children were observing the wonderful scene. Due to extra ordinary  hunger, Lord Krishna kicked the cart with his little legs to get milk and curd. As soon as the Lord kicked the cart (Shakatasura), it overturned and the demon flung high up into the sky. The demon fell down and the vessels containing milk and curd were broken into pieces. The Gopas, Gopis, the playing boys, Mother Yashoda, Nanda Maharaja and other villagers came rushing to the spot. Mother Yashoda out of immense love cried for the Lord and searched for her child. The Gopis, Gopas and other guests worried and cried that what if the child's eyes would be filled with tears. The Gopis consoled Yashoda that not to cry. They said, "O Mother Yashoda, don't worry, Let Us see if Our child is present!". Nanda Maharaj enquired, "What happened? How was the big bullock cart broken into small pieces? How was it possible so? What will be the reason?". Everyone were stuck with the wonderful phenomena. Everyone asked the playing children as they were the eyewitness of this phenomena. The children when narrated the event, their words slipped due to fear and their voice was perceived with much scare. The children with fear said, "What happened was... What happened was... The lotus feet of the child kicked the cart. The child was crying as He was hungry. So He kicked the cart. It flied up to sky. And then what happened was..". Like that the children didn't know what to say first and what to say later. The Gopas and Gopis asked the children, "Tell us whether the child cried after kicking the cart or cried before kicking the cart?". The children said, "Definitely the child would have broken the cart because He only killed demoness Putana". The Gopis were crying and searched for the child. They found the Lord smiling charmingly. On seeing the charming smile of the Lord, everyone reciprocated smile at the Lord! When Mother Yashoda saw Her child, there was no bullock cart! The Gopis and Gopas thanked the Supreme Lord, "O Janardhana! Due to Your mercy, the child has been saved!". Mother Yashoda took up her child and returned to the house. The demon Shakatasura attained salvation as Lord Krishna's lotus feet touched his body. The demon aimed and came to kill the Lord but not even a dust of His aim was present! Hence, Lord Krishna is the supreme friend of everyone. In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna utters that "whoever surrenders to the lotus feet can very easily cross their life from all illusion or maya."

                                                               

TO BE CONTINUED...