Tales of Krishna & The Greek Connection of Krishna
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He is the
preceptor, the teacher born on earth to guide the humans on the path of virtue
and rights, He is the voice whose timbre shatters the shards of ignorance. He
is the keeper of justice, He is the soul of love. He is the creator, negotiator
and destroyer. He guards his believers, protecting them from all calamities. He
is the LORD Krishna.
We have
read reams of books on and about Krishna. Numerous saints, sages, teachers,
devotees have dedicated their life’s work chronicling the life and teachings of
Krishna. Many of his tales have entertained us, taught us and acted as a beacon
during the dark hours of life nonetheless there are many tales and facts about
Krishna that has been obscured in the wisps of time and some of the tales have
spread far and wide assuming a completely different hue.
One such
tale is about Fake Krishna versus Real Krishna
Paundraka
Vasudeva was a gullible, foolish and vain king. He was a friend of Jarasandha.
He had heard about Vasudeva Krishna and was immensely jealous of his fame and
popularity. Vasudeva’s growing popularity and the praises he drew from
everyone’s lips sent Paundraka Vasudeva into deep depression.
Paundraka
Vasudeva’s depression grew so much that he begun to ignore his royal duties.
His courtiers whose livelihood depended on the generous gifts gotten from the
king grew worried. They hit upon a plan to snap the veil of depression from the
king. This courtiers many of whom were sycophants began to feed Paundraka
Vasudeva with false news, they implanted the idea that he, Paundraka Vasudev
was the real Krishna while the actual Vasudeva Krishna was a fake one.
Paundraka Vasudeva who desperately wanted to usurp the popularity of Vasudeva
Krishna took the bait hook line and sinker. He started to think that he was the
original Krishna while the Krishna at Dwaraka was a pretender. Paundraka soon
begun to ape Vasudeva Krishna in every way, he dressed up like Vasudeva Krishna
adorning himself with peacock feather, holding a flute. But very soon Paundraka
realized that he lacked one vital component to complete his illusion that was
Sudarshana Chakra.
Intent on
acquiring the Sudarshana Chakra, Paundraka Vasudeva challenged Krishna for a
battle aimed at establishing himself as the real God. Paundraka’s friend the
king of Kashi counselled against this foolhardy venture but Paundraka refused
to heed the wise advice of the King of Kashi.
The King of
Kashi the ally of Paundraka Vasudeva and Paundraka met Krishna on a
battlefield. Paundraka demanded the Sudarshana Chakra. Krishna, with a hint of
smile released the Chakra from his hand. Paundraka Vasudeva eagerly stretched
his hand to receive it but in his eagerness he forgot that only Vasudeva
Krishna could control the Chakra.
The chakra
continued its onward march beheading Paundraka and decimating the armies of
Paundraka and the King of Kashi. The alarmed King of Kashi hastily organized a
Yajna and created a demon to burn down Dwaraka. The demon rushed to burn down
the city of Dwaraka but had to contend with the Chakra. The demon could not
fight against the Chakra, the demon returned to Kasi which the demon realized
was the source of her agony. In her anger and frustrated rage, the demon razed
down the city of Kashi and killed the king of Kashi too.
Ergo Vanity
and ego brought down the cities of Paundraka and the king of Kashi
The
Resurrection of Sandipani’s Son
It is said
that Bhagavad Gita has influenced other major religions. There have been
several instances where the edicts, incidents and percept’s of one religion is
similar to the teachings of another different religion. One such theme is that
of resurrection. The resurrection of
Jesus or even Lazarus is quite popular in the Bible but resurrection was
present in Hindu scriptures much before the advent of Christianity.
Krishna was
the disciple of Sandipani. Once their education was complete, Krishna as a way
of Gruru dakshina resurrected Guru Sandipani’s son who was sucked into the
shell by a demon. Krishna resurrected the boy with the help of Yama, lord of
death.
The Similarities between Krishna and Hercules
Hercules is
a hero in Greek legends, born of divine father Hercules slays various demons,
nasty beasts to restore peace and harmony. It is widely believed that
Megasthenes borrowed the tale of Krishna from India, changed it to suit the
local milieu and thus Hercules was born.
If you have
read about the twelve labors of Hercules, you will notice a startling
similarity between Krishna’s slaying of demons and those of Hercules. The tale
of Hercules fight with Hydra is similar to the triumph of Krishna over Kaliya
(Kalingaraya).
Another
similar tale is that of Stymphalian bird and the Asura Bakasura (who was killed
when he had assumed the Bird form), The Cretan Bull versus Arishtasura, Horses
of Diomedes Vs the slaying of Keshi. Hercules carrying the world versus Krishna
lifting the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger.
Ovid, the
famous Greek who wrote Metamorphoses narrates that the Greeks and Romans were
greatly intrigued by the gods and deities of Hinduism. They tried to understand
and acclimatize the teachings and gods of Hinduism into their own culture by
changing the names of Hindu Gods to Greek.
Krishna
with his mischievous pranks, his unconditional love for everyone, his upholding
of righteous and virtue was irresistible even to Greeks!
Krishna & Achilles Heel
In Greek
Mythology, it was foretold that Achilles would die young. Thetis, the mother of
Achilles grew concerned on hearing about this oracle. She resolved to prolong
Achilles life by any means. Thetis took the infant Achilles to river Styx,
supposed to have powerful qualities and dipped Achilles headlong into the
river. Since Thetis held Achilles by the legs, the river waters could not run
over the sole. Thus Achilles heel remained his vulnerable point. An arrow to
his heel claimed his life, similar to this is the tale of Krishna and Sage
Durvasa.
Sage
Durvasa who had a short fuse once visited Krishna. Both partook feast while the
course was ending, Durvasa suddenly told Krishna to smear himself with the
Kheer. Surprised but obedient, Krishna smeared himself with Kheer all over the
body except leaving out his heal (as rice and milk is held sacred in Hindu
culture and is not stamped by feet). When Durvasa realized that Krishna had
failed to apply the Kheer on his heels. Durvasa cursed that Krishna would die
because of his heel while the rest of his body would be impregnable. This curse
came true years later and Krishna did meet his end through his heel.
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