Krishna - Kali

Radha is said to have married to a Gop named Abhimanyu, who is locally known as Ayan. According to folklore, Abhimanyu was a cousin brother of Yashoda (Krishna’s foster mother). He lived in village nearby Gokula. He was a milkman and a great devotee of Kali.

He had no interest in the worldly matters. His marriage to Radha was organized by Nanda (foster father of Krishna). In most of the folklores, Ayan is depicted as a eunuch. Now the question arises, why Radha, the incarnation of Laxmi and eternal companion of Krishna, would marry neuter like Ayan.

To answer this, there is another story. In his last birth, Ayan penanced to get Laxmi as his wife. Lord Narayana did not concede to this.

Ayan resorted to hard austerity, placed himself in the circle of fire. This time Narayana could not resist but had to give in. He said, "Laxmi is my eternal companion. I can’t part her for anyone. But since you have penanced so hard for her, you will get Laxmi as your wife in my Krishna incarnation. Laxmi will incarnate as Radha, and you will be known as Ayan. Radha will marry you, but you will be neuter."

Radha married Ayan, but there was no husband-wife relationship between them. It is thought that to establish the relationship of Radha and Krishna on the material plane she married Ayan. There is not much known about her life with Ayan except that she did her household duties satisfactorily, took care of her in-laws well.

Her marriage was not more than a duty to her. Her in-laws would keep a keen watch on her as they were aware of her love for Krishna. Ayan's mother (Jatila) and sister (Kutila) would complain to Ayan about her dalliance with Krishna, and he would run to check if they were correct. Ayan was like a pseudo husband to Radha. Not much has been chronicled about him.

On another occasion Krishna and Radha used to meet secretly in the forest close to Yavat. Once, Jatila and Kutila informed Ayan that his wife Radha was not as chaste, as everyone thought and that she was having pleasure pastimes with Krishna in the forest nearby.

They instigated him to go and catch them red handed, and he immediately ran to the place where Radha and Krishna were performing pastimes. So one day Ayan followed Radha along Jatila and Kutila to see where she actually going.

Krishna was easily able to see what was coming. He immediately informed Radha and others gopis about Ayan's arrival. All the Gopis including Radha became fearful and requested Krishna to find a solution to the situation. Aas all the gopis including Radha were sitting near Krishna's feet, Krishna reassured them and told them to just stay the way they were and not to worry.

Soon Ayan along with others reached there and to their utter surprise he fell flat on the ground to offer obeisances. Surprised at the turn of the events, everyone along with Gopis turned towards Krishna and saw that he had assumed the form of Goddess Kali, so that it appeared as though they were performing puja for the Goddess Kali.

Ayan was a great devotee of Kali. So seeing Radha worshipping Kali, he thought that she is doing all this to please him and hence he was overjoyed.

Such was Lord Krishna's Maya Shakti (illusory power) that everyone including Ayan could see she is praying to Goddess Kali, only Radha could see Krishna.  Everyone witnessed Goddess Kali, while Radha witnessed Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna and Narada

Once Sage Narada who was very intimate devotee of the Lord Krishna went to meet him. And while they were walking, Narada asked Lord Krishna,

My Dear Krishna, can you please show me power of your Maya Shakti, your illusory energy? Please explain to me the secret of this magic called Maya Shakti and how she acts?

First Lord Krishna hesitated to do it and asked Narada if he was sure to see it. Narada was determined and said: "Yes I am sure".

Lord Krishna replied: "Ok Narada I will show you. Let’s lie down here in the shade and I shall tell you everything. But first, Narada, it’s terribly hot; would you get me a cool glass of water"? 

“Right away,” Narada said as he was happy to service his beloved Lord Krishna.

He set out across the fields. The sun beat down and though he was a good walker, the little line of thatched cottages on the horizon that marked the nearest village seemed no closer as he strode along.  The heat grew unbearable. Narada’s throat became parched too, he began to think that he would ask for two glasses of water, and drink the second himself.

Finally he reached the village and ran to the nearest house. The door opened, and there stood the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She smiled up at Narada through long, dark lashes and something happened to him that had never happened before. Narada completely forgot the Lord was waiting for him and all he could do was to look at her beautiful face.

Finally he asked the girl’s father: "Your daughter is so beautiful, I would like to marry her".

The girls' father agreed and they were married, lived there and had three children. After twelve years, his father-in-law passed away and Narada inherited his property. He lived, as he seemed to think, a very happy life with his wife and children, his fields and his cattle, and so forth.

Then came a flood. One night the river rose until it overflowed its banks and flooded the whole village. Houses fell, men and animals were swept away and drowned and everything was floating in the rush of the stream.  

Narada had to escape. With one hand he held his wife, and with the other two of his children; another child was on his shoulders and he was trying to ford this tremendous flood. After some time the child on his shoulders fell and was swept away by the current of the water. In trying to save that child, Narada lost his grasp of the other children who were also swept away. At last his wife was also torn away from his tight clasp and Narada was thrown on the bank, weeping and wailing in bitter lamentation.

Unable to watch the destruction, Narada fell to his knees and cried for help from the very depths of his heart.

“Krishna! Krishna!”

Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder and looking behind, Narada was surprised to see Lord Krishna.

Where's my water? It's been half an hour already," the Lord asked.

Narada exclaimed!

Twelve whole years seemed to have passed through in his mind; but in fact all these scenes had happened in half-an-hour only.

Narada who was crying from the loss of his family came to his senses and realised it was part of Lord Krishna's play to make him understand the power of Maya Shakti. While in the clutches of Maya Shakti for twelve years, Narada found out only 30 minutes have passed in reality. The sage lost himself in the trap of Maya Shakti.

Finally understanding what is Maya Shakti, Narada begged Krishna to bring him away from the place and swore only to pray and sing his praises all his life to avoid getting stuck in the illusion again.

Lord Vishnu and Narada 

Once Narada was practicing severe austerities in a forest. Indra became concerned, “Why is Narada meditating so intensely? I’m sending Agni, Varuna and Vayu down to disturb him.” Agni, Vayu and Varuna went down and Varuna made it rain, and Narada didn’t respond. Vayu made the wind blow, and Narada did not respond. Agni lit the place on fire, Narada sat still in perfect stillness in meditation.  All three of them went back to heaven and they said, “Indra, we failed to disturb his meditation".

Then Indra called Kamadeva, the God of Love and Desire and said, “Kamadeva, you go down and break his meditation. Take Rathi, take the Apsaras, the celestial nymphs with you, do whatever you have to do, but make him stop meditating.”

Kamadeva went down and tried everything within his power. And he had all his girls, they were dancing, the bees were buzzing and the birds were humming, and it was the atmosphere of Love but Narada didn’t stir one bit.  Kamadeva admitted defeat. The God of Love went back to Indra and said, “I was unable to break his meditation.”

At that, Narada woke up and said, “I have defeated all the Gods, I have even defeated the God of Love and Desire, I am beyond lust".

Narada, proud of his accomplishments of defeating Kamadeva (who was sent by Indra to test the validity of Narada's penances), went to Lord Shiva and bragged about it.

Lord Shiva then advised him to keep the news to himself and not inform Lord Vishnu about it. However, Narada, eager to boast about his accomplishments, went to Vaikuntha( Lord Vishnu's abode) and bragged about his feat to Lord Vishnu.

Narada said, “Lord Vishnu, I’ve just come from the greatest meditation.”

And Lord Vishnu smiled and said, “Really, you look radiant like you’ve achieved a tremendous victory. What kind of meditation did you have?”

And Narada said, “I defeated the God of Love and desire. I am free from Love, I am free from lust and desire.” And Vishnu said, “Oh, that’s fine, that’s very nice, wonderful, I applaud your attainment".

Sage Narada was travelling back on Earth, when he stumbled upon a beautiful city. Intrigued by its beauty, he stopped by and visited the King, Sheelanidhi. During the visit, he was told about the King’s daughter, the beautiful Shrimati’s Swayamvara (marriage). On seeing her, Narada was overcome with the desire to marry her. He also instantly recognized her as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and knew that none other than a man as great as Lord Vishnu could marry her.

Blinded by lust, he prayed to Lord Vishnu and sought a boon to “Look like Hari(Lord Vishnu), himself and to make him the best looking Prince”.

Lord Vishnu granted him the wish. And Vishnu promised, “I’m going to give you the most distinctive appearance.”

And he dressed him in the finest, and gave him a golden crown ,jewels and necklaces and garlands and he made him the most beautiful looking prince with the face of a monkey.

Confident of his looks, he went to the Swayamvara and stood alongside several Kings who had come to win over Shrimati’s hand. Shrimati, thinking of Lord Vishnu, walked past him, without caring to notice him.

Narada, in an attempt to catch her attention stopped her on the way and said,

“Oh beautiful woman, I’m sure you are looking for me!”. The crowd burst out laughing and said:

"See what kind of distinctive appearance you have".

Narada immediately took some water in his palms and saw his reflection in it. In the meantime Shrimati walked on and Lord Vishnu miraculously appeared and accepted her garland, much to her happiness and to the anger of Narada.

Narada, fuming with anger, went to Lord Vishnu and asked him:

“Why did you cheat me?” “I asked for a face like Hari and you bestowed me with a face of a monkey!”.

Lord Vishnu calmly replied:

Narada, as a great Scholar, do you not know that Hari also means a monkey?” “Now, tell me, Did I dupe you ?”

So, will I be stuck with this face?”, asked Narada.

Lord Vishnu replied,

Look around you, Narada. All the events, were nothing but a Maya- an Illusion. There was no Kingdom, no princess and nor are you stuck with the face of a monkey.

It was to assuage your pride and to make it known that even you, the greatest of Sages is not above temptation as you believed and boasted about.

Narada, in all humility realised his mistake and paid obeisance to Lord Vishnu for having enlightened him.

Story of Dividing Elephants

“A man died, leaving behind 17 elephants as his only wealth. He had three sons, According to his will; the first son should get one-half of his wealth, the second one-third and the third one-ninth. Now how could the sons divide 17 elephants among themselves in the manner stipulated? The king, who happened to be passing by on his elephant, said he would solve the problem. He alighted from his elephant and put it beside the 17 of the dead man’s. He said he had added his elephant to the 17 to make the number even. So the first son got one-half of the 18 that is nine elephants. The second got one-third of the 18 that is six. The third got two, one-ninth of the 18 elephants. The king said: “This leaves one elephant, the one I added to your father’s collection. I take it back now that the division of the elephants among you is over.” The sons were happy that the division was in accordance with their father’s will.

However, was the division indeed in accordance with their father’s will? It was not. It was a mere illusion that they had kept to the provisions of the will. Such is the nature of illusion that we take comfort from what we see as just and get upset over what we perceive as unjust.”