Reading Notes Week 11: Krishna

I watched the Krishna series from the Epified videos. Part A does a good job discusses his birth and upbringing. These give good insight into who he is and why.

(Image of a toddler Krishna. Image can be sourced here).

Episode 1: Krishna is to help the Pandavas and help end the ongoing war. Kansa was a cruel king that no one liked. One day he heard a voice that he was going to die, and that his cousin's child would slay people. Kansa, probably out of fear, threw his cousin in prison and killed their children. He killed 6 kids, the 7th was a miscarriage, and the 8th was a reincarnation of Vishnu. Being Vishnu, he was protected and therefore incapable of being harmed. Word would eventually get to Kansa. 

Episode 2: Vasudev is holding the newborn, wondering what is to happen. Something mysterious happens, his cell opens up and his son is taken from him.  He hears a voice telling him to go to Yamuna and when he gives himself to the rivers a serpent appears that apparently protected him and his son. He finds his "destination" and Yoshada just gave birth to Maya.

Episode 3: Kansa is awoken by a nightmare that his possessions would be ruined. For some reason he was happy and sacared with his cousin's 8th child birth (he killed the other 6 so why would he be happy?). He sees the child is a girl and thinks he has cheated death (sexist). When he was about to harm the girl, she took into the powerful form of Durga. Kansa realized his destiny was being manifested and was scared. Durga told him he was an idiot to think she couldn't hurt him (YAY). She also informed him the slayer was very much real and safe- and would emerge at the right time.

Episode 4: Yashoda found a boy next to her, even though she remembered she gave birth to a girl.  Her husband then brought another boy to look after. Kansa was killing newborns by the masses. Putana would visit but one day took her demoness form and stole Krishna. She actually was going to kill him by giving him poisonous breast milk but Krishna actually sucked her powers when drinking the milk- killing her. He is reunited by a puzzled Yoshada.

Episode 5: Yoshada finds out Krishna is quite powerful and naughty. In one instance, he even stole butter which became his image. Still, Yoshada knew he was special and defended him.

Episode 6: Yoshada confront a mud-eating Krishna to find a universe in his mouth. As the video explains, which I really liked how they described, "she felt eternity stretching out in all directions at once". She realized he was truly of another sentience.

Episode 7: A strange haze in Goku where everyone has to move from the village. Krishna becomes interested in music and begins learning the flute quite quickly. One day, Kalia set poison. Krishna realized because the music stopped and found his friends unconscious bodies. He gets on a serpent's back demanding them to be revived to which Kalia listened. They realized he is not like them, but of divine origin.

Episode 8: The video explains this as a typical empty-nest syndrome situation, Yashoda is nostalgic, Krishna is now a young man, etc. There is an incident in this video where Krishna steals the bathing clothes of women in the river. Krishna was kind of a nuisance it seems but the village knew he was special and he had protected them from Kansa's demons.

Episode 9: Krishna has Nanda pray to Govardhana instead of Indra (rain god) which angers Indra. He felt unappreciated so he sent a large storm to the village. The animals came to Krishna for protection. He helps the animals and lifted the hill with his pinky. At this, Indra realized he is no match to Krishna and now wants him to forgive him for sending the storm. I think this story clearly highlights Krishna's capabilities.

Episode 10: He get this image of Krishna playing by a lake with cows grazing- I imagine this very peaceful, entrancing image. Krishna wants Radha and covers her face out of jealousy? Radha was very loyal and loving to Krishna. 

Notes: I like Krishna better than some of the other male protagonists in this class. Though he can be a bit of a nuisance, he means well, and actually is capable enough on his own where he deserves the praise. Not really relying on others like Rama. I liked the Durga and Kansa story becomes it was one of the more progressive pieces we have read and just a classic story of how assuming can backfire. I think I might use this for the retelling story.

Bibliography:

Title and Source: Epified: Krishna, Part A (there are multiple Krishna videos, for this assignment I did the Part A section)

Author: Epified TV (India)