Today we did Vrindavan parikrama (circling Vrindavan on foot). The distance is 10 km (6.2 miles). Along the way are intriguing pastime places and temples. Each parikrama seems to provide a new insight into a place I have already been, or I am blessed to discover a new place altogether. Today we stopped at Kaliya Ghat, a pastime place of Krishna.
When Krishna had pastimes in Vrindavan (5,000 years ago), he was a cowherd boy. At first, it may sound far-fetched that the Supreme, Original Personality of Godhead herds cows, but don't forget Jesus was a shepherd, so like Father, like Son. One day the cows and His cowherd friends became very thirsty, so they stopped at the Yamuna River to drink. Unbeknownst to them, there was poison in the water spewed from the black serpent, Kaliya, and they fell deathly ill. Krishna provides protection, though, to His dear cows and friends, so He took action....
The whole area became contaminated, killing all the nearby trees and plants except one kadamba tree (a kadamba is a round yellow flower found only in the Vrindavan region) remained unharmed. This tree still stands today and is immortal, being here for at least 5,000 years so far. That's right- immortal, like vampires, the Noldor Elves of Middle Earth, and like Elvis ;) So Krishna climbed to the top of this tree and leaped into the Yamuna River, which at that time had flowed here (now she is a few hundred yards away).
Kaliya had about 100 hoods. For about two hours Kaliya held Krishna captive, wrapped in his coils, as all the Vrajavasis watched in dismay; some weeping, others fainting, some on the verge of death watching this scene. When the Vrajavasis couldn't bear it anymore, Krishna expanded His body, causing Kaliya great strain, forcing him to release his grip. Very angrily, Kaliya expanded his hoods, exhaled poisonous fumes from His nostrils, set his eyes ablaze like fire, shot fire from his mouth, and licked his lips with his bifurcated tongue. But Krishna quickly pounced on him; it appeared as though He was dancing on Kaliya's hoods. Dancing expertly and avoiding all Kaliya's attempts at attack, Krishna dashed the serpent's head until he had spewed out all his poison.
Seeing their husband on the verge of death, the wives of Kaliya came to offer prayers and obeisances to Krishna and begged for the life of their husband. Upon hearing their prayers, Krishna released Kaliya, who then submitted himself to Sri Krishna.
So what is the point of this story? Kaliya was full of poison, or envy, which makes him forget Sri Krishna, forget God. Because of this forgetfullness, all waters, lands, plants, animals and people became contaminated and were suffering or dying.
Krishna, by this act, was actually showing affection to Kaliya, as evident in the prayers of the wives, who say, "...because You are the Absolute Truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and punishment. We think, therefore, that this apparent punishment to Käliya is actually some benediction. It is already clear that this creature appearing in the body of a serpent must have been overburdened with all kinds of sin." Furthermore, in Kaliya's prayers to Sri Krishna, he says, "My dear Lord, I have been born in such a species that by nature I am angry and envious, being in the darkest region of the mode of ignorance....You are therefore the original creator of all kinds of modes of material nature by which the universe is created."
So Krishna actually has helped free Kaliya of his acquired nature and bring him to remembrance of God, of Sri Krishna. For this reason, affection and love can be found at the root of this pastime story. For anyone who is interested, the full pastime story can be found in Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead Volume1, Chapter 17, Subduing Kaliya.
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When Krishna had pastimes in Vrindavan (5,000 years ago), he was a cowherd boy. At first, it may sound far-fetched that the Supreme, Original Personality of Godhead herds cows, but don't forget Jesus was a shepherd, so like Father, like Son. One day the cows and His cowherd friends became very thirsty, so they stopped at the Yamuna River to drink. Unbeknownst to them, there was poison in the water spewed from the black serpent, Kaliya, and they fell deathly ill. Krishna provides protection, though, to His dear cows and friends, so He took action....
The whole area became contaminated, killing all the nearby trees and plants except one kadamba tree (a kadamba is a round yellow flower found only in the Vrindavan region) remained unharmed. This tree still stands today and is immortal, being here for at least 5,000 years so far. That's right- immortal, like vampires, the Noldor Elves of Middle Earth, and like Elvis ;) So Krishna climbed to the top of this tree and leaped into the Yamuna River, which at that time had flowed here (now she is a few hundred yards away).
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| Immortal kadamba tree Krishna climbed and jumped off to subdue Kaliya |
Seeing their husband on the verge of death, the wives of Kaliya came to offer prayers and obeisances to Krishna and begged for the life of their husband. Upon hearing their prayers, Krishna released Kaliya, who then submitted himself to Sri Krishna.
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| Krishna dancing on Kaliya; Kaliya's wives offering Him garland and lotus flower |
Krishna, by this act, was actually showing affection to Kaliya, as evident in the prayers of the wives, who say, "...because You are the Absolute Truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and punishment. We think, therefore, that this apparent punishment to Käliya is actually some benediction. It is already clear that this creature appearing in the body of a serpent must have been overburdened with all kinds of sin." Furthermore, in Kaliya's prayers to Sri Krishna, he says, "My dear Lord, I have been born in such a species that by nature I am angry and envious, being in the darkest region of the mode of ignorance....You are therefore the original creator of all kinds of modes of material nature by which the universe is created."
So Krishna actually has helped free Kaliya of his acquired nature and bring him to remembrance of God, of Sri Krishna. For this reason, affection and love can be found at the root of this pastime story. For anyone who is interested, the full pastime story can be found in Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead Volume1, Chapter 17, Subduing Kaliya.
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| This protruding root of the kadamba tree has a heart shape in it!!! |
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