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KRISHNA-BHAKTI |
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Krishna's father carries the
newborn to
safety, away from his wicked uncle Kansa |
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Every detail of the child
Krishna's upbringing
in Vrindavan is lovingly imagined. |
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The delightfully naughty child
steals butter,
but is too charming to be punished |
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A demoness named Putana puts
poison on her
breast and offers it, but the child Krishna responds by sucking the
life
out of her |
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When the jealous Indra sends a
torrential
rainstorm, Krishna picks up Mount Govardhan and shelters all the
villagers
beneath it
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This "Govardhan-dhara" episode
gives rise
to a special Rajasthani form of Krishna called "Shri Nath-ji,"
associated
with the pilgrimage center of *Nathdwara* |
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Krishna subdues the deadly serpent
Kaliya
and dances on his hood, while Kaliya's serpent-wives beg for mercy |
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As a youth, Krishna never goes
anywhere
without his flute, and he is always surrounded by gopis, and of course
Radha in particular |
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He steals the gopis' clothing
while they
bathe, and makes them beg to have it back |
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Sometimes Radha and Krishna almost
merge
into one, so that their separate identities are blurred |
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Finally comes the painful time of
"Mathura
gamana," when Krishna leaves Vrindavan to assume his adult life and
royal
role as a prince; the gopis are inconsolable |
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VRINDAVAN, or Brindaban, becomes a
pilgrimage
center |
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So of course does GOVARDHAN
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DWARKA, where Krishna lives out
the final,
royal part of his life, also becomes a pilgrimage center |
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MATHURA too becomes very much
Krishna country--
though it has the usual fortress as well |
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Krishna and the gopis have
inspired modern
South Asian artists as well |
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