PREFACE Recently I chanced upon a book called ‘कृष्ण लीला का चिंतन’ published by The Geeta Press, Gorakhpur. The author’s name is not mentioned; however, it leaves me in no doubt about this book having been written by a leading Vaishnava saint of his time. The depth, tone, the subtlety of the musings that probably…

Illustrated by Rashi.   A messenger from Vasudev swam hurriedly across the Yamuna in the dead of the night. Secrecy was paramount as he stepped onto the banks, having crossed over from Mathura. He could see the lamps flickering on the rooftop of Nanda’s palace. He runs towards the palace, carefully avoiding any patches of light…

Illustrated by Ritu. Having killed many newborns in the last few days, Putana, a she-daemon of gigantic proportions, cruel, cunning, endued with yogic powers, entered Gokul. She was confused about her amnesia regarding Nanda’s son, who was born the same night as Devaki’s daughter. Why hadn’t she thought about him sooner? She wasn’t aware that…

Illustrated by Khushboo Three weeks had passed since Putana had tried to kill Nanda’s son. Anxious about his son’s safety, Nanda hadn’t stepped out of his palace in so many days. A smile passed his lips ever so often when he saw his child’s blissful countenance. Consumed by thoughts of his son’s safety had made…

Illustrated by Khushboo        Something stirred in the wind, and a peal of invisible laughter was heard. Everyone looked up to the sky. It was their friend, daemon Utkach, who couldn’t control his mirth upon hearing Kakasur’s story about what had transpired with him that day. Kakasur at Kamsa’s behest had gone to Gokul to kill…

Illustrated by Rashi None except the most trusted of servants were allowed into Rohini’s chamber, which was tucked away in a remote corner of Nanda’s palace. It was mainly Yashoda who personally managed the affairs of Rohini and her son. Nanda had been very cautious about keeping the news about Rohini’s son a secret. Kamsa…

Illustrated by Ritu and Khushboo. Queen of Gokul, Srimati Yasoda Devi, hadn’t slept a wink that night. She waited impatiently for the dawn, which would bring forth the day of her son’s ‘Annaprashan.’ The entire night was spent in delightful imaginations of how she would celebrate her child’s special day. The early morning breeze, laden…

Illustrated by Rashi A goose was flying across the blue sky towards the horizon, closely following its mate. Krsna looking up at the sky, suddenly got up from his mother’s lap. He pointed at the birds and, in his inarticulate speech, asked his mother to make him fly. Yasoda laughed and told him humans could…

Illustrated by Khushboo and Ritu Girding around Krsna, the womenfolk of Braj would motivate Krsna to dance to the beat of ‘Thaiya, Thaiya, Tat, Tat, Thaiya Thaiya.’ Krsna would smile and joyfully move his arms and legs, delighting them. One day, Yashoda, unaware of her son’s newly sprouted talent, watched him dance from behind a…

Illustrated by Khushboo It was the midnight of Prabodhini Ekadasi. Nanda, who was intensely devoted to Lord Narayan, staunchly observed all Ekadasis. He performed pooja of his Shaligram by doing ‘षोडशोपचार’ (sixteen methods) service to the Lord. After his pooja, he took flowers offered to the Shaligram and proceeded to put them on the heads…

Krsna and Balaram had nothing else to do than play all day, and Yashoda, having given her household duties to Rohini, had decided to chase them around wherever they went. Yashoda had to practically run to keep up with them as they roved around the entire village, sometimes playing near the palace and sometimes far…

Illustrated by Khushboo An old hag hollering, “Buy fresh fruits, buy fresh fruits,” meandered her way to Nanda’s palace. Setting down her heavy basket laden with fruits, she sat under a shady tree to escape the sweltering heat. The day was unusually tough for her. Maybe due to the summer heat or something else, but…

Illustrated by Ritu Kanva Brahmin lived in a small hut in Madhuvan. He lived all alone and subsisted upon the fares provided by the forest. He would offer the roots and fruits collected by him to his ‘Ista Devata’, Lord Narayan, and partake of them as ‘prasad.’ Dense bushes covered the narrow pathway to his…

Illustrated by Khushboo The readers of ‘Story of the Unborn’ must be wondering about Krsna’s predilection when it came to his mischiefs. He had been tormenting his mother regularly while the father was not affected. Well, the chief mischief-monger of the three worlds decided to give Nanda a glimpse of his shenanigans after all. It…

Illustrated by Khushboo Yashoda had a recurring anxiety about letting Krsna go out and play far off into the jungles or on the banks of Yamuna. She wanted to accompany him at all times, watching over him as he played and frolicked around with his friends, but her household chores especially taking care of the…

Krsna, the grandest and most flamboyant thief, was now old enough to start harassing the Braj maidens. Till now, his mother, Yashoda, seemed to be the target of his shenanigans. From this day onwards, started the leela of stealing the butter. It was a usual day in Gokul when a Braj maiden looked at Yashoda…