Post by jksivan on Aug 29, 2013 7:40:37 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
62 " THE CHILDRENS' RETURN''
Do you know Kathakali ? It is a famous and popular dance for performing dramas and stage plays. It originated from Kerala State in India. Many interesting Krishna stories are performed regularly by Kathakali artistes and these dance dramas are enjoyed by many people all over the country.
The kathakali artistes have to undergo rigorous training and discipline for performing their roles of Krishna and other divine characters to make their shows successful they say. They dont treat it like any entertainment show and perform these dance dramas with devotion and dedication.
I give below a story which was a kathakali dance drama and was well known.
It was after some years since the Mahabharatham war between Pandavas and Kauravas was won by the Pandavas and they commenced ruling the land.
Krishna and Balaram returned to Dwarka to rule their kingdom. It was their customary practice everyday to meet many people who came with any grievance and relieve them of their difficulties. There is therefore no doubt that everyone was happily living in Dwarka
Pandavas and Krishna who were thick friends frequently met with each other . Krishna visited them whenever he could, and likewise the Pandavas too periodically visited Dwarka to stay with Krishna.
Once Arjuna was at Dwarka at Krishna’s palace as his guest. He was at the royal court with Krishna and they were talking to each other.
“’Krishna, I am happy I had been with you for a few days and I am sad I have to leave Dwarka today to return back . I have to attend some urgent commitments ordered by Yuthishtra.”
“Arjuna, I will be missing you. Any way wait till evening. I shall send you back. Let us spend a few more hours till then. ”
As they were discussing, a Brahmin came to Krishna’s palace at Dwarka, carrying the dead body of his child. He was crying, and laid down the dead child at the entrance of the palace. He desired to see Krishna. The palace guards reported the matter to Krishna . The Brahmin was called in.
Krishna pacified the Brahmin explaining death was inevitable being part of life itself but the Brahmin was unable to understand and interrupted saying:
''My Lord Krishna, this child was born as our 9th child to die immediately on its birth. Like this we have suffered by losing the earlier eight children also one after the other immediately after they were born. Both my wife and I consulted many astrologers and pundits. I am very sorry to say that such things would happen to people living in a kingdom not ruled properly by a king , As I am a citizen of Dwarka I have to blame you as the cause for my tragedy”
Krishna never replied to this allegation. But Arjuna who was listening to this conversation became very agitated and angry. He could not tolerate anyone talking ill of Krishna or blaming him.
‘’ Revered Brahmin, I tolerated what you said because it was not your own statement. You believed someone misguiding you. There is something behind what you said and suffered. It has become my bounden duty now. Perhaps there is some curse or evil act which caused your childrens’ death.. I am going to protect you all and your next child. Please let me know well before the birth of your next baby. I shall save it for you, if any evil force approached again.'' The brahmin was relieved but he looked at Arjuna with disbelief. Arjuna therefore assured the brahmin '' If I did not save your next child I vow to end my life before you iimmolating myself in a pit of fire''
The Brahmin went back. He and his wife were hoping that their next child would live and make them happy. Well in time, the Brahmin sent word to Arjuna, before the birth of his 10th child. Arjuna came to the brahmin's house, guarded it with his mighty bow, Gandeeva. He made a thick fence around the house with his sharp arrows permitting nothing and no one inside.
Soon the 10th child was born and it too died immediately within a few hours. The Brahmin and his wife cried and were disappointed with Arjuna 's ineffectiveness. The frustrated brahmin blamed Arjuna for his false promise and inability to save his child. Arjuna was sad and felt defeated and was heart broken. Though the brahmin reconciled that it was his fate and prevented Arjuna from ending his life, Arjuna was determined to end his life, by self immolating. He was digging a pit and filling it with firewood and burning it when Krishna appeared just in time to stop him entering the fire pit.
''Come with me. Let us find out what happened to the child to die'' said Krishna. The reluctant Arjuna went with Krishna to the other worlds tracing the children as guided by Krishna''s Sudharshan chakra. When they visited Vaikunth, they saw the ten small children being happily playing in Goddess Lakshmi's palace. ''These innocent children are safely here'' said the goddess on seeing Krishna and Arjuna. Hearing labout the visit of Krishna and Arjuna, all the devas assembled there with happiness to see them together.
She then addressed Arjuna, “’your valour and might in the Mahabharatha war is well known with Krishna as your constant companion. You both are known as Nara-Narayanan. This is just to appreciate that your role in establishing dharma and justice has been nicely performed.
You, Pandavas are ruling well your kingdom and all the Devas wanted to have dharshan of Krishna and you together. This incident is a boon to have you both here. We are all very happy. Here is a gift for you”. Goddess Lakshmi was pleased to hand over the 10 happy children to Arjuna.
''You may take them with you to their parents with Krishna’s blessing because He made us happy bringing you here with him.''
Arjuna looked gratefully at Krishna and in a flash all the incidents in the past when Krishna helped the Pandavas in times of their crisis.
Arjuna and Krishna returned back to Dwarka with the 10 children. Arjuna rushed with the children to the Brahmin’s family.
It is not possible to write exactly, expressing the happiness of the Brahmin and his wife when they got back all their children alive. The Brahmin embraced Arjuna and fell at the feet of Krishna in perfect surrender.
Krishna smiled at them and reminded the Brahmin ’’Don’t forget to tell he king if he did not rule the kingdom properly” and told Arjuna ''Now you may go back"
62 " THE CHILDRENS' RETURN''
Do you know Kathakali ? It is a famous and popular dance for performing dramas and stage plays. It originated from Kerala State in India. Many interesting Krishna stories are performed regularly by Kathakali artistes and these dance dramas are enjoyed by many people all over the country.
The kathakali artistes have to undergo rigorous training and discipline for performing their roles of Krishna and other divine characters to make their shows successful they say. They dont treat it like any entertainment show and perform these dance dramas with devotion and dedication.
I give below a story which was a kathakali dance drama and was well known.
It was after some years since the Mahabharatham war between Pandavas and Kauravas was won by the Pandavas and they commenced ruling the land.
Krishna and Balaram returned to Dwarka to rule their kingdom. It was their customary practice everyday to meet many people who came with any grievance and relieve them of their difficulties. There is therefore no doubt that everyone was happily living in Dwarka
Pandavas and Krishna who were thick friends frequently met with each other . Krishna visited them whenever he could, and likewise the Pandavas too periodically visited Dwarka to stay with Krishna.
Once Arjuna was at Dwarka at Krishna’s palace as his guest. He was at the royal court with Krishna and they were talking to each other.
“’Krishna, I am happy I had been with you for a few days and I am sad I have to leave Dwarka today to return back . I have to attend some urgent commitments ordered by Yuthishtra.”
“Arjuna, I will be missing you. Any way wait till evening. I shall send you back. Let us spend a few more hours till then. ”
As they were discussing, a Brahmin came to Krishna’s palace at Dwarka, carrying the dead body of his child. He was crying, and laid down the dead child at the entrance of the palace. He desired to see Krishna. The palace guards reported the matter to Krishna . The Brahmin was called in.
Krishna pacified the Brahmin explaining death was inevitable being part of life itself but the Brahmin was unable to understand and interrupted saying:
''My Lord Krishna, this child was born as our 9th child to die immediately on its birth. Like this we have suffered by losing the earlier eight children also one after the other immediately after they were born. Both my wife and I consulted many astrologers and pundits. I am very sorry to say that such things would happen to people living in a kingdom not ruled properly by a king , As I am a citizen of Dwarka I have to blame you as the cause for my tragedy”
Krishna never replied to this allegation. But Arjuna who was listening to this conversation became very agitated and angry. He could not tolerate anyone talking ill of Krishna or blaming him.
‘’ Revered Brahmin, I tolerated what you said because it was not your own statement. You believed someone misguiding you. There is something behind what you said and suffered. It has become my bounden duty now. Perhaps there is some curse or evil act which caused your childrens’ death.. I am going to protect you all and your next child. Please let me know well before the birth of your next baby. I shall save it for you, if any evil force approached again.'' The brahmin was relieved but he looked at Arjuna with disbelief. Arjuna therefore assured the brahmin '' If I did not save your next child I vow to end my life before you iimmolating myself in a pit of fire''
The Brahmin went back. He and his wife were hoping that their next child would live and make them happy. Well in time, the Brahmin sent word to Arjuna, before the birth of his 10th child. Arjuna came to the brahmin's house, guarded it with his mighty bow, Gandeeva. He made a thick fence around the house with his sharp arrows permitting nothing and no one inside.
Soon the 10th child was born and it too died immediately within a few hours. The Brahmin and his wife cried and were disappointed with Arjuna 's ineffectiveness. The frustrated brahmin blamed Arjuna for his false promise and inability to save his child. Arjuna was sad and felt defeated and was heart broken. Though the brahmin reconciled that it was his fate and prevented Arjuna from ending his life, Arjuna was determined to end his life, by self immolating. He was digging a pit and filling it with firewood and burning it when Krishna appeared just in time to stop him entering the fire pit.
''Come with me. Let us find out what happened to the child to die'' said Krishna. The reluctant Arjuna went with Krishna to the other worlds tracing the children as guided by Krishna''s Sudharshan chakra. When they visited Vaikunth, they saw the ten small children being happily playing in Goddess Lakshmi's palace. ''These innocent children are safely here'' said the goddess on seeing Krishna and Arjuna. Hearing labout the visit of Krishna and Arjuna, all the devas assembled there with happiness to see them together.
She then addressed Arjuna, “’your valour and might in the Mahabharatha war is well known with Krishna as your constant companion. You both are known as Nara-Narayanan. This is just to appreciate that your role in establishing dharma and justice has been nicely performed.
You, Pandavas are ruling well your kingdom and all the Devas wanted to have dharshan of Krishna and you together. This incident is a boon to have you both here. We are all very happy. Here is a gift for you”. Goddess Lakshmi was pleased to hand over the 10 happy children to Arjuna.
''You may take them with you to their parents with Krishna’s blessing because He made us happy bringing you here with him.''
Arjuna looked gratefully at Krishna and in a flash all the incidents in the past when Krishna helped the Pandavas in times of their crisis.
Arjuna and Krishna returned back to Dwarka with the 10 children. Arjuna rushed with the children to the Brahmin’s family.
It is not possible to write exactly, expressing the happiness of the Brahmin and his wife when they got back all their children alive. The Brahmin embraced Arjuna and fell at the feet of Krishna in perfect surrender.
Krishna smiled at them and reminded the Brahmin ’’Don’t forget to tell he king if he did not rule the kingdom properly” and told Arjuna ''Now you may go back"