Vidyadhara Liberated&Sankhasura Killed

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Vidyadhara Liberated and the Demon Sankhasura

Killedhttp://www.krsnabook.com/ch34.html

 

Once upon a time, the cowherd men of Vrndavana, headed by Nanda

Maharaja, desired to go to Ambikavana to perform the Sivaratri

performance. The rasa-lila was performed during the autumn, and after

that the next big ceremony is Holi or the Dolayatra ceremony. Between

the Dolayatra ceremony and the rasa-lila ceremony there is one

important ceremony which is called Sivaratri, which is especially

observed by the Saivites, or devotees of Lord Siva. But sometimes the

Vaisnavas also observe this ceremony because they accept Lord Siva as

the foremost Vaisnava. But the function of Sivaratri is not observed

very regularly by the bhaktas, or devotees of Krsna. Under the

circumstances, it is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam that the cowherd men

headed by Nanda Maharaja "once upon a time desired." That means that

they were not regularly observing the Sivaratri function but that

once upon a time they wanted to go to Ambikavana out of curiosity.

Ambikavana is situated somewhere in the Gujarat province. Ambikavana

is said to be situated on the river Sarasvati, yet we do not find any

Sarasvati River in the Gujarat province; the only river there is

Savarmati. In India, all the big places of pilgrimage are situated on

nice rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Narmada, Godavari,

Kaveri, etc. Ambikavana was situated on the bank of Sarasvati, and

all the cowherd men and Nanda Maharaja went there.

 

They very devotedly began to worship the deity of Lord Siva and

Ambika. It is the general practice that wherever there is a temple of

Lord Siva, there must be another temple of Ambika (or Durga) because

Ambika is the wife of Lord Siva and is the most exalted of chaste

women. She doesn't live outside the association of her husband. After

reaching Ambikavana, the cowherd men of Vrndavana first bathed

themselves in the river Sarasvati. If one goes to any place of

pilgrimage, his first duty is to take a bath and sometimes to shave

his head. That is the first business. After taking bath, they

worshiped the deities and then distributed charity in the holy places.

 

According to the Vedic system, charity is given to the brahmanas. It

is stated in the Vedic sastras that only the brahmanas and the

sannyasis can accept charity. The cowherd men from Vrndavana gave

cows decorated with golden ornaments and beautiful garlands. The

brahmanas are given charity because they are not engaged in any

business profession. They are supposed to be engaged in brahminical

occupations, as described in the Bhagavad-gita--namely, they must be

very learned and must perform austerity and penances. They must not

only themselves be learned, but they must also teach others.

Brahmanas are not meant to be brahmanas alone; they should create

other brahmanas also. If a man is found who agrees to become a

brahmana's disciple, he is also given the chance to become a

brahmana. The brahmana is always engaged in the worship of Lord

Visnu. Therefore the brahmanas are eligible to accept all kinds of

charity. But if the brahmanas receive excess charity, they are to

distribute it for the service of Visnu. In the Vedic scripture,

therefore, one is recommended to give in charity to the brahmanas,

and by so doing one pleases Lord Visnu and all the demigods.

 

The pilgrims take bath, worship the Deity, and give charity; they are

also recommended to fast one day. They should go to a place of

pilgrimage and stay there at least for three days. The first day is

spent fasting, and at night they can drink a little water because

water does not break the fast.

 

The cowherd men, headed by Nanda Maharaja, spent that night on the

bank of the Sarasvati. They fasted all day and drank a little water

at night. But while they were taking their rest, a great serpent from

the nearby forest appeared before them and hungrily began to swallow

up Nanda Maharaja. Nanda began to cry helplessly, "My dear son,

Krsna, please come and save me from this danger! This serpent is

swallowing me!" When Nanda Maharaja cried for help, all the cowherd

men got up and saw what was happening. They immediately took up

burning logs and began to beat the snake to kill it. But in spite of

being beaten with burning logs, the serpent was not about to give up

swallowing Nanda Maharaja.

 

At that time Krsna appeared on the scene and touched the serpent with

His lotus feet. Immediately upon being touched by the lotus feet of

Krsna, the serpent shed its reptilian body and appeared as a very

beautiful demigod named Vidyadhara. His bodily features were so

beautiful that he appeared to be worshipable. There was a luster and

effulgence emanating from his body, and he was garlanded with a gold

necklace. He offered obeisances to Lord Krsna and stood before Him

with great humility. Krsna then asked the demigod, "You appear to be

a very nice demigod and to be favored by the goddess of fortune. How

is it that you performed such abominable activities, and how did you

get the body of a serpent?" The demigod then began to narrate the

story of his previous life.

 

"My dear Lord," he said, "in my previous life I was named Vidyadhara

and was known all over the world for my beauty. Because I was a

celebrated personality, I used to travel all over in my airplane.

While traveling, I saw a great sage named Angira. He was very ugly,

and because I was very proud of my beauty, I laughed at him. Due to

this sinful action, I was condemned by the great sage to assume the

form of a serpent."

 

One should note here that before being favored by Krsna, a person is

always under the modes of material nature, however elevated he may be

materially. Vidyadhara was a materially elevated demigod, and he was

very beautiful. He also held a great material position and was able

to travel all over by airplane. Yet he was condemned to become a

serpent in his next life. Any materially elevated person can be

condemned to an abominable species of life if he is not careful. It

is a misconception that after reaching the human body one is never

degraded. Vidyadhara himself states that even though he was a

demigod, he was condemned to become a serpent. But because he was

touched by the lotus feet of Krsna, he immediately came to Krsna

consciousness. He admitted, however, that in his previous life he was

actually sinful. A Krsna conscious person knows that he is always the

servant of the servant of Krsna; he is most insignificant, and

whatever good he does is by the grace of Krsna and the spiritual

master.

 

The demigod Vidyadhara continued to speak to Sri Krsna. "Because I

was very proud of the exquisite beauty of my body," he said, "I

derided the ugly features of the great sage Angira. He cursed me for

my sin, and I became a snake. Now I consider that this curse by the

sage was not at all a curse; it was a great benediction for me. Had

he not cursed me, I would not have assumed the body of a serpent and

would not have been kicked by Your lotus feet and thus freed from all

material contamination."

 

In material existence, four things are very valuable: to be born in a

decent family, to be very rich, to be very learned, and to be very

beautiful. These are considered to be material assets. Unfortunately,

without Krsna consciousness, these material assets sometimes become

sources of sin and degradation. Despite Vidyadhara's being a demigod

and having a beautiful body, he was condemned to the body of a snake

due to pride. A snake is considered to be the most cruel and envious

living entity, but those who are human beings and are envious of

others are considered to be even more vicious than snakes. The snake

can be subdued or controlled by charming mantras and herbs, but a

person who is envious cannot be controlled by anyone.

 

"My dear Lord," Vidyadhara continued, "Now since I think I have

become freed from all kinds of sinful activities, I am asking Your

permission to return to my abode, the heavenly planet." This request

indicates that persons who are attached to fruitive activities,

desiring promotion to the comforts of higher planetary systems,

cannot achieve their ultimate goal of life without the sanction of

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is also stated in the Bhagavad-

gita that the less intelligent want to achieve material benefits and

therefore worship different kinds of demigods, but they actually get

the benediction from the demigods through the permission of Lord

Visnu, or Krsna. Demigods have no power to bestow material profit.

Even if one is attached to material benediction, he can worship Krsna

the Supreme Personality of Godhead and ask Him. Krsna is completely

able to give even material benediction. There is a difference,

however, in asking material benediction from the demigods and from

Krsna. Dhruva Maharaja worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead

for material benediction, but when he actually achieved the favor of

the Supreme Lord and saw Him, he was so satisfied that he refused to

accept any material benediction. The intelligent person does not ask

favors from or worship the demigods; he directly becomes Krsna

conscious, and if he has any desire for material benefit, he asks

Krsna, not the demigods.

 

Vidyadhara, awaiting permission of Krsna to return to the heavenly

planets, said, "Now because I am touched by Your lotus feet, I am

relieved from all kinds of material pangs. You are the most powerful

of all mystics. You are the original Supreme Personality of Godhead.

You are the master of all the devotees. You are the provider of the

planetary systems, and therefore I am asking Your permission. You may

accept me as fully surrendered unto You. I know very well that

persons who are constantly engaged in chanting Your holy name attain

release from all sinful reactions, and certainly persons who are

fortunate enough to be personally touched by Your lotus feet are

freed. Therefore I am sure that I am now relieved from the curse of

the brahmana simply by being touched by Your lotus feet."

 

In this way, Vidyadhara got permission from Lord Krsna to return to

his home in the higher planetary system. After receiving this honor,

he began to circumambulate the Lord and after offering his respectful

obeisances unto Him, he returned to his heavenly planet. Thus Nanda

Maharaja also became relieved from the imminent danger of being

devoured by the snake.

 

The cowherd men who had come to execute the ritualistic function of

worshiping Lord Siva and Ambika finished their business and prepared

to return to Vrndavana. While returning, they recalled the wonderful

activities of Krsna. By relating the incident of Vidyadhara's

deliverance, they became more attached to Krsna. They had come to

worship Lord Siva and Ambika, but they became more and more attached

to Krsna. Similarly, the gopis also worshiped goddess Katyayani to

become more and more attached to Krsna. It is stated in the Bhagavad-

gita that persons who are attached to worshiping demigods like Lord

Brahma, Siva, Indra and Candra, for some personal benefit, are less

intelligent and have forgotten the real purpose of life. But the

cowherd men, inhabitants of Vrndavana, were no ordinary men. Whatever

they did, they did for Krsna. If one worships demigods like Lord Siva

and Lord Brahma to become more attached to Krsna, that is approved.

But if one goes to the demigods for some personal benefit, that is

condemned.

 

After this incident, on a very pleasant night, both Krsna and His

elder brother Balarama, who are inconceivably powerful, went into the

forest of Vrndavana. They were accompanied by the damsels of

Vrajabhumi, and They began to enjoy each other's company. The young

damsels of Vraja were very nicely dressed and anointed with pulp of

sandalwood and decorated with flowers. The moon was shining in the

sky, surrounded by glittering stars, and the breeze was blowing,

bearing the aroma of mallika flowers, and the bumblebees were mad

after the aroma. Taking advantage of the pleasing atmosphere, both

Krsna and Balarama began to sing very melodiously. The damsels became

so absorbed in Their rhythmical song that they almost forgot

themselves; their hair loosened, their dresses slackened, and their

garlands began to fall to the ground.

 

At that time, while they were so much absorbed, almost in madness, a

demon associate of Kuvera (the treasurer of the heavenly planets)

appeared on the scene. The demon's name was Sankhasura because on his

head there was a valuable jewel resembling a conchshell. Just as the

two sons of Kuvera were puffed up over their wealth and opulence and

did not care for Narada Muni's presence, this Sankhasura was also

puffed up over material opulence. He thought that Krsna and Balarama

were two ordinary cowherd boys enjoying the company of many beautiful

girls. Generally, in the material world, a person with riches thinks

that all beautiful women should be enjoyed by him. Sankhasura also

thought that, since he belonged to the rich community of Kuvera, he,

not Krsna and Balarama, should enjoy the company of so many beautiful

girls. He therefore decided to take charge of them. He appeared

before Krsna and Balarama and the damsels of Vraja and began to lead

the girls away to the north. He commanded them as if he were their

proprietor and husband, despite the presence of Krsna and Balarama.

Being forcibly taken away by Sankhasura, the damsels of Vraja began

to call the names of Krsna and Balarama for protection. The two

brothers immediately began to follow them, taking up big logs in

Their hands. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," They called to the

gopis. "We are coming at once to chastise this demon." Very quickly

They reached Sankhasura. Thinking the brothers too powerful,

Sankhasura left the company of the gopis and ran for fear of his

life. But Krsna would not let him go. He entrusted the gopis to the

care of Balarama and followed Sankhasura wherever he fled. Krsna

wanted to take the valuable jewel resembling a conchshell from the

head of the demon. After following him a very short distance, Krsna

caught him, struck his head with His fist and killed him. He then

took the valuable jewel and returned. In the presence of all the

damsels of Vraja, He presented the valuable jewel to His elder

brother Balarama.

 

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Thirty-fourth Chapter of

Krsna, "Vidyadhara Liberated and the Demon Sankhasura Killed."