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

14. LORD KRISHNA AND THE PYTHON DEMON AGHASURA

One day, Krishna and His companions wanted to have lunch in the forest. So, they went out early in the forest to enjoy the scenery with group of calves. Thousands of cowherd boys joined Krishna and they were equipped with lunch bags, stick, flute to control the cowherd. Krishna came out with an unlimited cowherd as He is the supreme unlimited of all. The cowherd boys played games with Krishna. The cowherd boys used to steal other's lunch and would throw the bag to a distant place. They used to return back  the lunch bag only when the respective boy weeps. 

Sometimes, They used to run and touch Krishna when the Lord runs to a distant place. They would enjoy the scenery of the fresh lands in Vrindavan which is filled with peacocks and waterfalls. They would imitate the sounds of cuckoo, cows and enjoyed their life. Sometimes, they would model like frogs and monkeys and when they see their appearance in lake, they would laugh spontaneously. In this way, Lord Krishna and His associates enjoyed their pastimes in Vrindavan.

                                         

Meantime, Kamsa sent a python demon named "Aghasura" who was the brother of demoness Putana and the crane demon Bakasura. Although the Demigods who were offered immortality by Amrita, (the immortal nectar) They were afraid of Aghasura. Aghasura appeared there and saw Krishna and His associates being enjoyed in the forest. The demon reflected within himself, "So He is Krishna, the slayer of my brother Bakasura and my sister Putana. I shall kill Krishna and the cowherd boys as ordered by the king Kamsa. So that my desire would be fulfilled and the people of Vraja will thereby attain death!". The evil minded Aghasura assumed a gigantic body of a boa-constrictor, and resembled a big hill. He spread forth his mouth to touch high up to sky where in, the lower lip touched the Earth's surface and it resembled a cave like mouth. His eyes fired like an evil blaze and his breath was like a hurricane. The tongue of the demon resembled a broad traffic way.  In order to distract Krishna and associates in the forest, Aghasura appeared before them with this wonderful form. On seeing this huge form, they formerly thought that this would be a statue. They talked among themselves, "Hey friends! I think this would be the magnificent spot of Vrindavan! But why it is in a form of snake? It seems like it would engulf us! Well! We shall enjoy the beauty of Vrindavan. Come! Let us go inside and explore the beauty of nature! Krishna is always with us. So, if anything happens, He will protect us for sure!".

 Thousands of cowherd boys smiled at Lord Krishna and began to clap. They requested Krishna to enter into it. But Krishna refused. Therefore, cowherd boys entered happily into the gigantic form. Lord Krishna tried to forbid His friends. He knows everything about Aghasura. So He wanted His friends not to go. Lord Krishna indwells in all the beings and the most supreme form of mercy. He was thinking how to save His friends. Aghasura uttered himself, "I shall wait for Krishna to enter into my mouth. So that i can engulf everyone and they will die as per my desire". In order to save His friends and calves, Lord Muraari entered into the mouth of Aghasura. At once Lord Krishna entered the mouth of the python demon, all the Demigods scared to see such an event by hiding themselves in the clouds and uttered, "Oh little Krishna! Alas! Alas!". As desired by the serpent, Lord Krishna set foot on his mouth and Aghasura shut his hill like mouth. Lord Krishna saw His friends in unconscious state. Lord Krishna after hearing the words expressed by the Demigods, in order to save His friends and calves, the supreme soul expanded His body in all dimensions. The demon's throat was choked. He couldn't breath anymore. And thus Aghasura died. Krishna saved His associates and calves by offering them a fresh life. Aghasura's spirit soul came out with a blaze in all directions and was waiting in the sky for the Lord to come out. When Lord Krishna, His companions and the calves came out of the demon's mouth, the glittering spirit soul of Aghasura merged with the body of sri Krishna. All the Devas and the Demigods showered flowers on Lord Krishna. When this incident was happening, Lord Krishna was only five years old! 

Even though the demons knew all mystic powers to transform as they desire, it is impossible to compete with the unlimited brilliance of Sri Krishna, the supreme personality of the Godhead. Aghasura got deliverance and it became a wonderful place in Vrindavan. Some says that the python body is not a beauty in the forest as he is a demon whose desire was to kill Lord Krishna and His companions. But some says that every creature is a product or a parcel of the Lord. Even the body of the python added beauty to the forest.

TO BE CONTINUED....