The Life and Deeds of Lord Krishna
Book Specification
Item Code: | NAO936 |
Author: | Dr. V. Gouri Suresh |
Publisher: | Indus Source Books |
Language: | English |
Edition: | 2018 |
ISBN: | 9789385509223 |
Pages: | 208 |
Cover: | Paperback |
Other Details | 8.5 inch X 5.5 inch |
Weight | 210 gm |
Book Description
Krishna, one of the most loved Gods of the Hindus, spent one full life time in the form of a human being on this earth. He performed many miracles, attracted innumerable devotees, destroyed many asuraas, helped and guided the Paandavaas in the battle of Kurukshethra and ultimately ascended to heaven. The dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna at the advent of the Mahabharata War is the famous Bhagavad Geeta. It is one of the most revered books of the Hindus and the advice given and the arguments put forward by Krishna in the Geeta are invaluable assets for the whole of humanity at all times.
This book narrates stories from the life of Krishna, starting from his miraculous birth through his naughty childhood, heroic youth, and profound teachings to humanity in the form of the Bhagavad Geeta and Uddhava Geeta, and his final ascendance to Vaikunttha.
Dr. V. Gouri Suresh obtained her Ph.D. in 1993 from Ranchi University After thirty eight years of teaching at the undergraduate level and twenty years during the same period at the postgraduate level, she retired as Associate Professor of Botany and Vice Principal in 2012.
She has presented many research papers in National and International Conferences, and published papers in various National and International journals. She is the author of several books including Stories from Bhagavatam published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, in 2004 Environmental Studies and Ethics and Environmental Studies. After retirement, Dr. Gouri Suresh has taken to writing books based on scriptures and epics such as The Ten Incarnations of Mahaavishnu, and an Elderly Couple’s Pilgrimage to Holy Kailas – Manasarovar.
I wrote my first book, Stories from Bhagavatam more than a decade ago, taking a few years to complete the work. It was published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 2004. In this maiden venture, I had presented the latter half of the Bhagavat Purana at length, dealing with Lord Krishna's life from birth to Swargarohan. Writing Bhaagavatam gave me such immense pleasure that I wanted to write more and more on such and similar themes.
I had a wish of compiling the -stories of Lord Krishna alone in a separate book, right after the publication of my first work. However, tied down by professional demands, I could not find time to pursue this interest, though on the request of my students, I had published during those days two text books on Environmental Studies for final year undergraduates.
After retirement, I am finding time to fulfill my earlier wish. I am taking excerpts from my first book, modifying them and adding to them where required, and presenting this new book to the readers as an offering. I hope and pray to God that this work will be appreciated by them, especially by devotees of Lord Shree Krishna.
Krishna, one of the most loved Gods of Hindus, popular all over the world, spent one full life time in the form of a human being on this earth. He performed many miracles, attracted innumerable devotees, destroyed many asuraas, helped and guided the Paandavaas in the battle of Kurukshethra and ultimately ascended heaven. The dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna at the advent of the Mahabharata War is the famous "Bhagavadgita" It is one of the most revered books of the Hindus. In fact, the advice given and the arguments put forward by Krishna in the Geeta are invaluable assets for the whole of humanity at all times, irrespective of religion, caste or creed. Similarly, the spiritual knowledge that Lord Krishna imparted to his friend and devotee Uddhava before the former ascended to his original abode Vaikunttha is collectively called "Uddhavageeta" In addition to these two Geetaas, innumerable instances can be seen in the life of Krishna where he is teaching various aspects of righteous living to different people. Let us offer our salutations here to that great teacher, Lord Krishna, Master of the universe.
Om namo Naaraayanaaya!
Om namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaaya!
As per ancient Hindu scriptures, Mahaavishnu, the Supreme Lord, took different forms at different times to protect the noble and punish the wicked. Whenever wrong deeds on earth outweighed the good deeds beyond a limit, there was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Krishna was one such incarnation. Mahaavishnu has incarnated twenty six times on earth; his twenty seventh incarnations will be Kalki. Of these incarnations, ten are more important and well known. These are called the Dasaavtaars of Vishnu. Of these ten, Krishna was the eighth incarnation.
Lord Krishna performed many miracles. The divine music that flowed from his flute attracted men and women, and even the animals and birds living in the vicinity. Handsome beyond words and heroic in his deeds, he was adored by all the boys and girls of the town. He killed the wicked Kamsa and many asuraas and brought peace on earth. He acted as charioteer of Arjuna in the great Mahabharata War. His advice to Arjuna in the battlefield is famous as the Bhagavad Geeta. The manifested purpose of the Mahabharata War was to establish a righteous ruler as king of Hastinapura. The hidden purpose was to destroy the deadly weapons accumulated by wicked kings in those days.
Krishna gave spiritual knowledge to Uddhava, his devotee. This part of Sreemad Bhaagavatam, the eighteenth and the last of the Puraanaas, is called Uddhava Geeta. After the completion of all the work that he planned to do on the earth, Krishna retired to Vaikunttha.
Blessed are those who contemplate on Krishna or even those who listen to his story. The life of Krishna, starting from his miraculous birth through his naughty childhood, heroic youth, and profound teachings to humanity in the form of the Bhagavad Geeta and Uddhava Geeta and final ascendance to Vaikunttha are most fascinating. As for me, I am praying to him silently so that I will be able to finish narrating his story successfully. I am also praying for all my readers so that they will benefit from reading the story of Krishna.
Contents
Preface | ix | |
Introduction | xi | |
1 | Lord Brahma taking Goddess Earth to Vaikunttha | 13 |
2 | The Marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki | 22 |
3 | Keertimaan, the First Born | 27 |
4 | Devaki's Seventh Son | 48 |
5 | The Birth of Lord Krishna | 54 |
6 | How Vasudeva Took his Eighth Son to Gokul | 60 |
7 | Back in the Prison Cell | 64 |
8 | The Minister's Evil Counsel | 75 |
9 | Ecstasy at Gokul | 100 |
10 | Pootanaa-Moksham (Liberation of Pootana) | 19 |
11 | Stories of Asuraas Shakata and Trinaavarta | 21 |
12 | The Naming Ceremony | 24 |
13 | The Pranks of Little Krishna | 26 |
14 | The Universe in Krishna's Mouth! | 31 |
15 | Kubera's Sons Freed of Curse | 33 |
16 | The Journey to Vrindaavan | 36 |
17 | The End of Vatsaasura and Bakaasura | 38 |
18 | How Aghaasura Met With his End | 41 |
19 | Brahma Testing Vishnu! | 43 |
20 | The End of Dhenukaasura | 46 |
21 | Dancing on Kaaliyas Hoods | 21 |
22 | Death of Pralamba at the Hands of Balaraama | 52 |
23 | Wildfire in Munja forest | 54 |
24 | The Call of the Flute | 56 |
25 | Gopikaas Praying to Goddess Paarvati | 58 |
26 | How the Braahmin Women Were Blessed | 60 |
27 | Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan | 62 |
28 | Varuna Paying Respects to Krishna | 65 |
29 | Raasakreeda (Krishna Playing With Gopis) | 67 |
30 | Salvation of Vidyaadhara | 72 |
31 | Gopis Saved from Shankhachooda | 73 |
32 | The End of Arishta | 74 |
33 | Naarada Instigating Kamsa Again | 75 |
34 | How Krishna Got the Name Kesava | 77 |
35 | Naarada in Gokul | 79 |
36 | The End of Vyomaasura | 80 |
37 | Akroora’s Mission to Gokul | 81 |
38 | Vaikunttha in Yamuna! | 83 |
39 | Krishna and Raama in Matthura | 84 |
40 | Kamsa's End | 86 |
41 | Studies at Sage Saandeepani's Gurukul | 89 |
42 | Uddhava at Gokul | 91 |
43 | Jaraasandha | 94 |
44 | Rukmini's Swayamvaram | 98 |
45 | The Story of Syamantaka, the Divine Jewel | 103 |
46 | Balaraama and Krishna at Paanchaala | 110 |
47 | The Strange Story of the Wedding of Subhadra | 111 |
48 | Khaandava Forest Burnt Down | 113 |
49 | Yudhishtira's Amazing Assembly Hall | 116 |
50 | The Wives of Lord Krishna | 117 |
51 | Death of Narakaasura | 118 |
52 | The Story of Pradyumna | 121 |
53 | Conquest of Baanaasura | 124 |
54 | How Nriga Attained Moksha | 128 |
55 | The End of Paundraka | 130 |
56 | Balaraama's Adventures | 132 |
57 | The Holy Samantapanchaka | 134 |
58 | Death of Jaraasandha | 136 |
59 | Yudhishtira's Raajasooya Sacrifice and Shishupaalas End | 141 |
60 | Duryodhana Mocked | 143 |
61 | The End of Saalva and his Friends | 145 |
62 | Prelude to the Mahaabhaarata War | 147 |
63 | Krishna: Taking Sides | 150 |
64 | Krishna as Messenger of the Paandavaas | 152 |
65 | TheWar | 154 |
66 | Balaraama at Kurukshetra | 158 |
67 | After the War | 160 |
68 | Dhritaraashtra's Plan to Kill Bheema Foiled | 163 |
69 | Krishna's Return to Dwaaraka | 164 |
70 | The Story of Kuchela | 165 |
71 | Devaki Shown her Dead Children | 168 |
72 | Devotion is What Matters Most | 169 |
73 | Santaana Gopaalam | 170 |
74 | The Prosperity and Piety of Yaadavaas | 173 |
75 | The Beginning of the End of the Yaadava Race | 174 |
76 | Vasudeva's Doubts Cleared by Sage Naarada | 176 |
77 | Devaas in Dwaaraka | 180 |
78 | Worried Uddhava Approaches Krishna | 181 |
79 | Krishna's Advice to Uddhava | 182 |
80 | The End of the Yaadava Race | 189 |
81 | Lord Krishna's Swargaarohan | 190 |
Epilogue | 193 |