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

 55. THE STORY OF PRADYUMNA, SON OF LORD KRISHNA AND RUKMINI

Lord Krishna and Rukmini gave birth to Their son, Pradyumna. With the affection and love of Rukmini and Lord Krishna, Pradyumna was grown up. Meanwhile, a demon named Shambarasur came to know the information from Narada Muni that Pradyumna, the son of Lord Krishna and Rukmini would slay him. The demon was eagerly waiting for the birth of Pradyumna. When Pradyumna was just seven days old, the demon Shambarasur transformed into a woman with his super-natural powers entered the Dwaraka Kingdom. He abducted the child and thrown him into the sea. Lord Krishna, the well wisher of all living and non-living entities, knew about Shambarasur and kept calm. As soon as the child was thrown into the sea, a large fish swallowed the child. 

Then the big fish  was trapped by a net of fisherman. He then sold the big fish to demon Shambarasur. There was a maidservant in his kitchen named Maayavati, who had more knowledge on Mahavidya or mystic knowledge on super-natural powers. Shambarasur asked his maidservant to make a palatable food using that big fish. The maidservant agreed and started cutting the fish into pieces. When she was cutting the fish, a gorgeous baby was found inside the belly of the big fish. Maayavati was so surprised on seeing this. She was deeply perplexed that how come this beautiful baby present inside the belly of the fish. When was conversing with herself, suddenly Narada Muni appeared in the scene and narrated the happenings. He disclosed Maayavati's past life with Pradyumna.

Pradyumna and Maayavati were Manmatha(Kamadeva) and Rati in Their past life. The story starts from Lord Shiva. When Goddess Sati jumped into firepit as She couldn't tolerate Her arrogant father, Daksha's words who illtreated and insulted Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was deeply affected by extreme sorrow and extreme wrath. As a result, He incarnated as Veerabhadra and killed Daksha. After this incident, Lord Shiva remained in trance free from all passions and desires. Devas wanted to reunite Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi and so Lord Muruga would born and kill the demon Taarakasura. So all Devas asked Kamadeva to induce passion and desire in Lord Shiva so that They can reunite. Therefore Kamadeva with His bow and arrow of passion reached Lord Shiva and began to induce Him the passion of lust and desire towards Goddess Parvathi using the passionate arrows. Even after introducing many arrows, Lord Shiva was not captivated by the mode of passion. At that time, Goddess Parvathi along with Her deities arrived there. She was gorgeous and at that moment Lord Shiva resumed to see Goddess Parvathi. Kamadeva felt that that was the right time to introduce Modes of passion in Him. Immediately He induced the modes of passion in Lord Shiva with His arrows. Lord Shiva instantly felt the deep impact of modes of passion towards Goddess Parvati. He looked around and saw Kamadeva was standing at the side with His bow and arrows of passion. Lord Shiva opened His third eye and Kamadeva was spontaneously burnt into ashes. Goddess Parvathi and Her companions became scared to see this scene. When Rati saw Her husband burnt into ashes, She couldn't recover and tolerate His death. She cried out of pangs of separation and offered Her prayers to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva told that Kamadeva would born as a son of Lord Krishna and Rukmini in Dwapara Yuga. He also told that Rati would born as Maayavati in Dwapara Yuga and asked Her to wait for Pradyumna's arrival. And therefore She reborn as Maayavati in Dwapara Yuga.All Her past life happenings were narrated by Narada Muni. He also narrated how Pradyumna was kidnapped by demon Shambarasur. 

When Maayavati was informed Her past life, She retrieved Her memories with Mamatha. With conjugal love, She began to bathe Him. Soon the baby grew up into a handsome man. He was looking so beautiful. On seeing the handsome Pradyumna, Maayavati recollected Her memories with Him. After seeing His bodily features, Maayavati was captivated by His attractiveness and lusty desire arose. Pradyumna asked, "How is it possible for You to see Me in a lusty desire? You grew up Me as a mother? Now You are seeing Me with much passion and desire. How is it possible so?". Maayavati replied, "I was Your consort, Rati in the past life. Now I reborn as Maayavati. You were kidnapped by the demon Shambarasur. He thrown You into the sea and a big fish swallowed You. The fish happened to arrive this house and You were found inside its belly while cutting that into pieces. Narada Muni narrated all these happenings. Your Mother, Rukmini is deeply frustrated and immersed in sorrow. Please remove Her sorrow by killing the Shambarasur demon". Maayavati taught Pradyumna all Mahavidya to kill Shambarasu. He was well trained. Pradyumna arrived infront of Shambarasur and challenged to fight with Him. Shambarasur on hearing this became extremely angry and decided to fight with Him. With his club Shambarasur began to fight with pradyumna. Pradyumna protected Himself with the help of His club. Shambarasur called his 100 sons. Pradyumna slayed all his 100 sons. Irritated Shambasura came up with his four strong demons namely Dhurdar, Ketumali, Shatruhanta and Pramadan. Shambarasur ordered the four strong demons to kill Pradyumna. But with the grace of the Supreme Lord, Pradyumna killed all the four demons. Evil Shambarasur became angry and with his mystic powers, he transformed into many lions, elephants and other wild animals approached Pradyumna to kill Him. Pradyumna at the mean time remembered Maayavati's teachings and destroyed all the groups. Perplexed Shambarasur then transformed into many serpents and approached Pradyumna. Pradyumna used the power taught by Maayavati and transformed into a large eagle and killed all the serpents. When Shambarasur taught how to kill Him, he thought of using golden weapon offered by Goddess Parvathi. Lord Indra offered Vaishnavastra to Pradyumna and informed Him to pray goddess Parvathi. Pradyumna then offered His deep prayers to Goddess Parvathi. Goddess Parvathi was elated and appeared in front of Pradyumna. Pradyumna said, "O Maa Parvathi. Please make the effect of golden weapon into a flower garland when it approaches me". Goddess Parvathi made the effect of golden weapon into a flower garland. The demon was astonished that how come was that possible. Pradyumna then used Vaishnavastra and slayed him. On seeing this, Devas and other personalities felt so elate and began to offer Him rain of flowers.

Having killed the demon Shambarasur, Pradyumna and Maayavati returned to Dwaraka Kingdom. The inhabitants of Dwaraka were so surprised to see the handsome man who has same features like Lord Sri Krishna. They were all attracted to His bodily features. When Rukmini saw Him, She experienced a motherhood affection and said, "Who is this handsome young boy? Why He accompanies with that girl? It remembers of My son when I see this boy. I lost My son when He was just seven days old. He might have grown up as a young man living somewhere else. This is My only guess". Suddenly Rukmini felt some auspicious signs. Narada Muni appeared there and narrated all the happenings. She could immediately understand that this young was Pradyumna and no one else. Tears shed in her eyes and Pradyumna and Maayavati embraced Lord Krishna and Rukmini. The inhabitants of Dwaraka became so surprised and elate to see the lost Pradyumna.

  

TO BE CONTINUED..