Gopal Bhakthi School Trivandrum

STORY OF AANDAL

Aandal was the only woman saint among the 12 Azhwars.Azhwar literally means "devotees immersed" - in the love of the Godhead. The twelve Azhwars were responsible for reviving the "Bhakthi" movement in Southern India. They established the truth that attaining the abode of the Supreme Lord can be achieved only through pure devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this process, they contributed richly to Tamil literature and the language.
This is the story of Andal without whom we cannot imagine the Tamil month of 'Margazhi' ( December to Mid of January). Azhwars were believed to have appeared between 4th and 2nd century BC .
In the southern part of India, in a place called Srivilliputhur, there lived a devotee of Lord Narayana by name Vishnuchitthar(popularly known as Periyalwar). He lived a simple life and was always immersed in the service of the Lord Narayana. He took pleasure in collecting flowers from the garden and weaving them into a garland for the Lord. He took this job upon him and did it with great devotion and zeal. Every day, the Lord Narayana, known as Vatapatrasayee Perumal in the temple at Srivilliputhur wore the garland woven by Vishnuchittar.
Once when the king Vallabha Deva Pandya who was ruling Madurai was seeking answers to his spiritual doubts, the Lord appeared in the dream of Vishnuchittar and told him to go to the king and clear his doubts. Though a simpleton, who considered himself incompetent to talk on such deep subjects, Vishnuchittar could not disobey the Lord and went to the court of the King. There to his utter surprise, words flowed out of his mouth like a spring and he answered all the spiritual doubts of Vallabha Deva Pandya, much to his joy.The king rewarded him well and sent him home with honour. Vishnuchittar spent the money to renovate the temple of the Lord.
One day, when, early in the morning Vishnuchittar was plucking flowers in the "nandavanam" or garden, for making the garland, he found a beautiful girl baby under a tulasi plant. As he had no family of his own, he considered the baby to be a blessing from the Lord, named her Kodhai or Aandaal and raised her as his own child.She grew up hearing the stories of Lord Krishna and wanted to marry Him.
One day, as was usual, her father Vishnuchittar had made the garland for the Lord and had gone out leaving the garland. When the four year old, Kothai (Aandaal) glanced at the garland, a strange desire to wear the garland arose in her. She picked up the garland and wore it around her neck, with the long garland reaching the ground. She admired herself in the mirror there and kept it back as soon as she heard her father come.
"Kothai, I am off to the temple" said Vishnuchittar leaving with the garland,
blissfully unaware that the garland had been 'used' by his own daughter.The garland then adorned the Lord.Everyday, Aandaal used to wear the garland made for Perumal and check the mirror to see if she was a suitable match for Him.
One day the Lord decided to show the devotion of Kothai to the world.
That particular day, when the garland was handed over by Vishnuchittar to the priest for decorating the Lord, there was a strand of human hair sticking to the flowers. On seeing this, the priest got furious and told Vishnuchittar."What a grave offence this is!" he said. "How come there is a hair in the garland? Do you not know that only the purest of things are offered to the Lord? Take this back!"Saying thus, he flung the garland back into the hands of Vishnuchittar who was trembling with shame and embarrassment. He could not figure out how a hair could have got into the garland when he was taking so much care to weave the garland.
With a heavy heart, he walked back to house.
Next day Vishnuchittar as usual made a new garland for the Lord and was getting ready to go the temple.At that time, Vishnuchittar peeped through the window and saw Aandal trying the Lord's garland in front of the mirror. He was shocked that his daughter wore the garland before it was offered to the Lord, but Aandaal said that the Lord was fond of the garlands she wore first and also said that she didn't think she had made any mistake. Upset with her behavior, Periyaazhvaar made a new garland. But the Lord did not seem happy. That night the Lord told Periyaazhvaar in his dream that He loved to wear the garlands worn first by Aandaal. The overjoyed Periyaazhvaar realising that he had a divine child, offered the garlands first to Aandaal everyday.
When the time came for her marriage, Aandaal clearly told her father Periyaazhvaar that she will marry only Lord Ranganatha! Though Periyaazhvaar was happy to hear of her devotion,he was worried that he should be able to make her dreams come true. She composed Thiruppaavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi expressing her loving devotion towards the Lord. Soon after this Lord Ranganatha appeared in Periyaazhvaar's dream and asked him to bring Aandaal (Kodhai) to Srirangam so they can marry there. He sent a beautiful palanquin, chamara, umbrella and His kainkaryaparars (those who serve The Lord) to bring Aandaal. Aazhvaar and Aandaal left to Srirangam in the palanquin in a grand procession with music. Soon after reaching the temple in Srirangam, Aandaal entered the garbhagriha and touched the lotus feet of Lord Ranganatha (Periya Perumal). She immediately disappeared from there and reached Paramapadam.(Vaikuntha). Everyone present there was surprised and praised Vishnuchittar(Periyaazhvaar). The Lord Himself called Periyaazhvaar His father in law and gave him special honors!

Aandaal is the incarnation of Bhoomi devi herself.

Once , in His home Srivaikuntam, Sriman Narayana was in deep thoughts. So grave were His thoughts, that He could not enjoy the company of the Nithyasooris and the Mukthas. He was concerned about the Jivatmas lost in the samsara (material pleasures), unable to reach Him.

Sriman Narayanana appeared as Rama and Krishna, to eliminate the ignorance of the Jivatmas. But people were not able to learn. So He pondered over this. Sri. Mahalakshmi thaayaar, mother of the universe, owing to Her krupa (compassion), gave a suggestion.
Sri Mahalakshmi thaayaar, mother of the universe, owing to Her krupa (compassion), gave a suggestion.

She told Sriman Narayana, "If someone wanted to catch an elephant, they would use another elephant to do the job and not try it on their own. Similarly correcting the people of the world should be done by those living there." He agreed with Her, and graced some people of the world with His blessings, so they had excellent gnana and bhakti towards Sriman Narayana.

They are called Azhvaars.

Azhvaars, the hand-picked Jivatmas, bestowed with blemishless knowledge by Sriman Narayana, had certain qualities of the Nithyasooris and are sometimes called the amsam or incarnations of Nithyasooris. They are 12 in number.
Nithyasooris are Jivatmas who are always in the service of Sriman Narayana in Srivaikuntam like Adisesha, Vishvaksena, divine weapons like Gada,Shankhu,Sword etc.

THE ADVENT OF BHAGAVAD GITA

We start our story with Bhisma. Bhisma was the eighth son of King 👑Santanu and his wife, the goddess Ganga🌊. Bhisma's seven older brothers died. So Bhisma would become the next king.

But Bhisma never became king. His mother, goddess Ganga🌊, left Earth,🌍 returning to the heavenly planets. His father, Santanu, later fell love with Satyavati, who was the daughter of a fisher- man🐠. The fisherman didn't want his daughter to marry King👑 Santanu because Bhisma would be king. The fisherman wanted his daughter's son to be king.👑

So Bhisma, out of love for his father, took a vow never to be king. The fisherman was not satisfied, however. He thought that one of Bhisma's sons would become king and fight with his daughter's sons. So Bhisma also vowed never to have children👶. Thus Bhisma never became king but became famous as a brahmacari, or celibate. Satyavati then married King Santanu.

King Santanu and his new queen, Satyavati. had two sons. The eldest son died. When King Santanu died, Vicitravirya, who was the younger son, became king. Bhişma arranged for Vicitravirya to marry the two daughters of the King 👑of Käsi. But Vicitravirya soon died, before he had children. There was now no king of Hastinapura and no emperor of the world!

Then Satyavati revealed that she had a son before she married King Säntanu. That son, Vyasadeva, could give children to Vicitravirya's wives. The oldest son was Dhṛtarăştra, who was born blind. The younger was Pandu.

A blind man couldn't become king. How would he lead soldiers on the battlefield?So Satyavati and Bhisma installed Pandu as the king 👑. But Dhrtarastra always felt that because he was older, he should have been king instead of Pandu.

Pandu married Kunti and Madri. Kunti had three sons-Yudhisthira, Bhima, and Arjuna. Madri had twin sons-Nakula and Sahadeva. Dhṛtarastra married Gândhäri who gave birth to a lump of flesh. This became one hundred sons, the oldest of which was Duryodhana. Pandu's son Yudhisthira was born before Duryodhana. And Yudhisthira was the son of King Pandu, whereas Duryodhana was the son of Prince Dhṛtarăştra. But Dhṛtarăştra felt that because he should have been king, his son should be the next king.

Yudhisthira was not only the eldest in the family and the son of the king, but very qualified and virtuous. All the citizens wanted him to be king. Then Pandu died because of a curse. His five young sons, called the Pandavas, were now under the care of Dhṛtaraṣṭra and Bhişma. Who would rule until Yudhisthira was old enough? Because Bhisma would not, blind Dhṛtarăṣṭra sat on the throne.👑

Dhṛtaraṣṭra's eldest son, Duryodhana, wanted to kill🗡️ the Pandavas so that he could become the next king👑. Even as a child, Duryodhana tried to poison 🍯 Bhima. Although Dhṛtarästra tried to make Duryodhana the next king, Yudhisthira was so saintly and Duryodhana so evil that the people and ministers insisted that Yudhisthira be next for the throne 👑.

Duryodhana convinced his father to send the Pandavas into exile in Varaṇāvata. There Duryodhana had a palace 🏰 made of shellac for the Pandavas. He wanted to burn 🔥the Pandavas in this palace🏰! The Pandavas were warned, however, and escaped. They then lived disguise as brahmanas in a city called Ekacakra. In Ekacakra, Bhimakilled a raksasa, or demon,👿 that had been terrorizing the citizens. Then the Pandavas went to Pancala and married💍 the princess Draupadi.

With Draupadi, the Pandavas went back to the capital, Hastinapura. There they asked Dhrtarăştra for their kingdom. Dhrtaráştra divided the kingdom-Hastinapura for his son Duryodhana, and the Khandava forest for the Pandavas.

Dhrtarastra and Duryodhana were surprised when the Pandavas turned this forest into a beautiful kingdom called Indraprastha, so named be- cause it looked as beautiful as the heaven of Indra. Yudhisthira gradually made this Indraprastha the capital of the world, as all other kings came under his control. To establish himself as world emperor. King Yudhisthira performed a gorgeous Rājasuya sacrifice. Duryodhana was furious. He had tried to kill the Pandavas, exile them, and give them worthless land to rule. But now Yudhisthira was world🌍 emperor👑, and his father Dhṛtarastra a subordinate king!

Duryodhana decided to cheat the Pandavas out of their rule. He invited them to gamble with dice ♟️🎲in Hastinapura. With the help of his uncle Sakuni, Duryodhana cheated at dice. Yudhisthira lost his kingdom, Indraprastha, his himself, and his wife! Duryodhana and his brothers then tried to take Draupadi's clothes off in the royal court, saying that he had won her at dice.🎲
Draupadi prayed 🙏to Lord Krishna,who covered her with an endless sari.Because their wife was insulted in this way,Pandavas decided to kill Duryodhana and his evil brothers
But, because they lost at dice, the Pandavas agreed to go into exile for thirteen years. The last year they had to live in disguise. After these thirteen years, the Pandavas asked Dhrtarästra for their kingdom, Duryodhana would not give them even a grain of land, although the Pandavas tried again and again to settle everything peacefully. Finally, the sons of Dhṛtarastra and the sons of Pandu prepared for war💥💣. All the kings👑 of the world 🌍fought on one side or the other, meeting on the battlefield💥 of Kurukşetra. The Bhagavad-gita 📖was spoken here, right before the first battle. Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke the Gita to Arjuna, the youngest of Kunti's sons.

Kṛṣṇa as the son of Kunti's brother, Vasudeva. Therefore, He is a cousin of the Pandavas. But actually Krsna is the Supreme Lord, the father of everyone. Yet when He incarnates, He appears in a particular family of His devotees.

During the great war💥 at Kurukṣetra, Kṛṣṇa's army fought on Duryodhana's side. Kṛṣṇa vowed not to fight. He drove Arjuna's chariot. As the war💥 is about to begin, Arjuna🏹 and Lord Kṛṣṇa start their famous conversation, THE BHAGAVAD GITA.

VRINDA DEVI KATHA

Once Indradev and Guru Brihaspati, were on their way to Kailasa to offer their salutations to Mahadev. Mahadeva decided to test Indra's devotion. He disguised himself and met them enroute. Angered at being blocked on their path, Indra asked him to move away. When Lord Shiva refused to move, Indra took up his weapon, Vajrayudha and tried to hurl it at Shiva. Mahadev was extremely angry at Indra's behaviour and was about to punish him when Brihaspati pleaded on Indra's behalf and sought forgiveness. The fire-of-anger that emanated from Lord Shiva fell into the ocean and out of it emerged a small boy. Brahma, the creator appeared and asked Lord Varuna to look after the child who would ultimately become a rakshasa because of the anger element from which he had manifested. He was named Jalandhara (born or arose from water). Since he was an aspect of Lord Shiva, his death was also destined at the hands of Lord Shiva. Trained by the Rakshasa-Guru, Shukracharya, Jalandhara grew up to become very powerful and mighty

Gandaki was an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Hari. Pleased with her faith and devotion, loyalty and commitment, Lord Vishnu granted her darshan and asked her what she wanted as a boon. Gandaki told the Lord she had only one wish that she should always have the privilege of his associa tion and he should never leave her. The Lord agreed and told her to take the form of a river - River Gandaki. He added that sometime in the future, he would be cursed to become a "stone". And as a "saligrama stone" he would reside in her waters.

On the other side, Jalandhara married Vrinda, the daughter of Dhaityaraj Kalanemi. She was also a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. She ardently longed for the eternal companionship of the Lord. She was cursed to take birth in the mortal world and become the wife of a rakshasa. She was extremely faithful and loyal to her husband. The power of her purity and chastity was an armour and protection for Jalandhara. Knowing well that he was invincible because of his wife's chaste conduct, Jalandhara waged war on the devatas and declared his superiority and lordship over them as well. Unable to withstand Jalandhara's atrocities, all the devatas approached Lord Vishnu. However Lord Vishnu could not annihilate Jalandhara because he was protected by his own devotee, Vrinda. Next the devatas sought help from Lord Shiva. A fierce battle ensued between the Shankara and Jalandhara. Even Lord Shiva could not kill him because of Vrinda's in tense tapas. Again the devatas appealed to Lord Vishnu to help them otherwise Jalandhara would conquer them

To protect the devotees, Lord Vishnu approached Vrinda in the guise of Jalandhara. Thinking that it was her own husband who had come back from the battle, Vrinda broke her penance and came to serve her husband. Vrinda's mind had been diverted and that was the moment Lord Shiva was waiting for. That very moment, Mahadev annihilated the rakshasa. Vrinda who was aware that Jalandhara was invincible by the power of her tapas, realised that it was Lord Vishnu who had come in the guise of Jalandhara. Overwhelmed by anger she cursed Lord Vishnu to become a "stone". After the curse was pronounced, Vrinda repented. She prostrated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and sought his forgiveness. Lord Vishnu smiled and consoled his devotee. The Lord told Vrinda that in the future she would manifest as a plant - the most auspicious TULASI PLANT. She would be revered and worshipped by one and all.
As she is extremely dear to Lord Vishnu all offerings ,would be considered complete only when Tulasi is offered to the Lord
Further the Lord added that he would appear in the waters of River Gandaki or Narayani in the form of a black stone – Saligrama.

After Vrinda dissolved her mortal body, she manifested as the Tulasi plant. And as Tulasi she became the eternal consort of Lord Sri Hari in the form of Saligrama and is therefore known as Vishnupriye. Lord Shiva narrates the glories of Tulasi devi to Sage Narada in the Padma Purana. Every year, Tulasi Vivaha with the Lord (Saligrama) is celebrated on shukla dwadashi day (also known as Uttana Dwadashi) in the month of Kartika. Where the Saligrama is not available, a branch of the Amla which represents Lord Vishnu is used. Tulasi represents Goddess Lakshmi and Amla represents Lord Vishnu. Hence puja offered to Tulasi and Amla signifies the invoking of Lakshmi and Narayana during the month of Kartika.

The Story of Dhruva Maharaj

King Uttanapada, the son of Svayambhuva Manu, had two queens, Suniti and Suruchi. Suruchi was much dearer to the King. Suniti, who had a son named Dhruva, was not his favorite. Once, King Uttanapada was patting the son of Suruchi, Uttama, placing him on his lap. While the Dhruva Maharaja was also trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruchi, his stepmother, became very envious of the child, and with great pride abused him. Dhruva Maharaja, having been struck by the strong words of his stepmother, immediately left the palace and went to his mother. Upon the instruction of his mother, Suniti, to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Maharaja left his father's house. The great sagë Narada overheard this news, and he approached Dhruva, and urged him go back home. But when the boy Dhruva asked for valuable instruction, refusing to give up his determination, the great personality Narada Muni, became very compassionate towards him, and gave him expert advice to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead along with the chanting of the mantra om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. This is the twelve-syllable mantra for worshiping Lord Krishna. Dhruva Maharaja, engaged himself fin worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as advised by Narada Muni. For the first month Dhruva Maharaja ate only fruits and berries on every third day. In the second month Dhruva Maharaja ate only every six days, and for his eatables he took dry grass and leaves. In the third month he drank water only every nine days. In the fourth month Dhruva Maharaja inhaled air only every twelfth day. When Dhruva Maharaja thus captured the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the three worlds began to tremble. When Dhruva Maharaja became practically one in heaviness with Lord Vishnu, the total consciousness, the total universal breathing became choked up, and all the great demigods in all the planetary systems felt suffocated and thus took shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When the demigods were reassured by the Personality of Godhead, they were freed from all fears, and after offering their obeisances, returned to their heavenly planets. Then the Lord got on the back of Garuda to see His servant Dhruva.

Dhruva Maharaja was fully absorbed in meditation and all of a sudden the form of the Lord in his heart disappeared. Thus Dhruva was perturbed, and his meditation broke. But as soon as he opened his eyes he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally present, just as he had been seeing the Lord in his heart. Dhruva Maharaja was greatly agitated and immediately offered Him obeisances and respect. Out of His causeless mercy the Lord touched His conch shell to the forehead of Dhruva Maharaja, who stood before Him with folded hands. At that time Dhruva Maharaja became perfectly aware of the Vedic conclusion and thus offered his deliberate and conclusive prayers. The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees and servants, awarded Dhruva Maharaja the glowing planet known as the polestar, which will continue to exist even after the dissolution at the end of the millennium. The Lord gave him the benediction that he will rule the entire world for thirty-six thousand years without ever becoming old. After being worshiped and honored by the boy, and after offering His abode, Lord Vishnu, on the back of Garuda, returned to His abode, as Dhruva Maharaja looked on. Despite having achieved the desired result, Dhruva Maharaja was not very pleased. When the Suprem Personality of Godhead appeared before him, he was simply ashamed of the material demands he ha in his mind. Thinking thus he returned to his home. Reunion with Dhruva Maharaja fulfilled King Uttanapada's long-cherished desire. When King Uttanapada saw that Dhruva Maharaja was suitably mature to take charge of the kingdom, he enthroned Dhruva as emperor of this planet. After considering his advanced age and deliberating on the welfare of his spiritual self, King Uttanapada detached himself from worldly affairs and entered the forest. Dhruva Maharaj ,thus ,ruled the Earth for 36,000 years and attained the planet of the Lord at the end of his life.

Unscramble the words

1.--------------was the father of Dhruva Maharaja (ADAUTPNATA)

2.--------------gave Dhruva Maharaj expert advice to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
( ADARNA UIMIN)

3.-------------was the mother of Uttama (CURHIUS)

4.-----------At the time of death, remembered the Supreme Lord and thus attained the planet of the Lord. (AVRHDU HAJMARA)

5.___________was the mother of Dhruva Maharaj. (USITIN)

B.Answer the following

1. How can the abode of the Lord be attained?

Ans:

2. How can one diminish the threefold miserable conditions of material life?

Ans:

KURMA AVATAR

Kurma was Krishna's incarnation as a tortoise. He chose this form to assist the demigods & demons in the churning of the ocean.The powerful sage Durvasa Muni once cursed the demigods to lose their power. The curse took effect immediately and the demigods became weak. They got worried & went to Lord Vishnu for help.
The Lord gave them advice that they should make friends with the demons & ask their
help in churning the Milk Ocean.When they churn they will get nectar out & whoever drinks that will become immortal. The Lord instructed them to throw all plants,creepers and herbs into the ocean.
Mandara Mountain ⛰ will become the churning rod & Vasuki🐍 – the king of serpents will be their churning rope. The Lord also warned them that a deadly poison will also arise from the churning but they need not be afraid.Agreeing to the plans for churning, the demons and demigods together went to the Mandara Mountain⛰, uprooted it & brought it to the ocean🌊. Vasuki also agreed to be the rope if he also get a share of the nectar🏺. Finally they began churning the ocean.Because the churning rod, Mandara Mountain, was very heavy and was not held by any support in the water, it sank to the bottom of the ocean. Everyone felt helpless and didn’t know what to do. The Supreme Lord then appeared in the form of a tortoise🐢 and swam under the mountain⛰ and raised the mountain up on His back.The Asuras and devas then began churning again. When the mountain moved back & forth over Kurma’s back, it felt as if it was scratching His back.
As the Lord said, a large amount of poison was produced which was so deadly that it can destroy the whole world. The demons and devas begged 🙇‍♂ Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva took the ocean of poison in his hand and drank it. As the poison spread down his throat, his neck became bluish🔵 and hence his name ‘Neelakanta’. As some of the poison got spilled, there are poisonous snakes🐍, scorpions🦂 and poisonous plants 🌱 in the world.
In the churning of the milk ocean🌊 many wonderful treasures were brought up from the depths: Chandra,🌜 the moon,
Parijata,🌼 a beautiful and fragrant tree🎄 which Indra took for his loka,the four-tusked Elephant Airavata🐘 Indra’s mount, 🐄Kamadhenu, the cow of plenty,
Madira or Varuni, the wife of Varuna,
Kalpavriksha,🌳 the wish-fulfilling tree, the apsaras (celestial dancers)🧚‍♂️,the celestial horse🎠 Uccaihshravas, Lakshmi Devi💰, whom MahaVishnu took to Vaikunta,
Panchajanya, Vishnu’s conch, Vishnu’s mace kaumodhaki and magic bow Sharanga🏹, various gems, and Dhanvantari, the physician of the devas, who rose up out of the waters carrying in his hands the supreme treasure,the amritha.
As soon as the bowl of amrita, the nectar of immortality was out, the asuras grabbed it. Then the Lord,took the form of an Apsara,Mohini, a beautiful maiden, and seduced the asuras into letting her distribute the nectar and also to abide by her order of distribution. As soon as the devatas were served the maiden disappeared thus totally deceiving the asuras and making them totally weak.

Matsya Avatar

This is the story of how the Lord once incarnated as a fish🐟. This happened because once Lord Brahma lost the Vedas, which were stolen by an asura called Hayagriva, who lived at the bottom of the ocean🌊 Since a fish🐟 is the best animal for living in the water Krishna took the form of a fish to get back the Vedas.
One day, King Satyavrata who was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, was doing his daily worship. A tiny fish seemed to get caught in his water pot The King didn't want to hurt the fish, so he took it gently out of the pot and put it in the river. Surprisingly the fish started talking and requested the King not to leave it in the river as there are many creatures that will swallow it.So the King🤴🏻 took the fish🐟 back to the palace🏰🏤 in his pot. But to his surprise😯 he saw the fish had outgrown the pot🐋, the next morning🌅. He then put the fish in a larger pot which also it outgrew🐋. Every time the King used bigger pots, the fish grew larger than those pots. Finally the King put the fish in the lake🛶.But, again, the fish filled up the lake & so the King took it to the ocean 🌊& place it there. The fish wasn’t happy there as if feared other ocean animals would kill it.By now the King🤴🏻 understood that the fish was none other than the Lord Himself🙏. He offered obeisances🙇‍♂ to the fish and requested the Lord for the reason of his appearance as fish. The Lord replied that the world will be plunged into great flood🌧💦🌊 of devastation.A large boat⛵ will come and the King has to collect and take all the herbs🎍🌱, plants🌲🎋, seeds🌰, trees🌴🌳 and animals🐆🦓🐄🐅🐪🦝 along with the seven rishis in the boat. When the storms🌪🌊 rock the boat, he can tie it up with the serpent Vasuki🐍 to the Lord’s (who has come as fish)horn.In seven days, flood started🌧🌊. There were terrific storms🌪 and the clouds poured water🌧 down on the earth🌎. The earth was no longer seen. As promised by the Lord the boat came⛵& the King🤴🏻 did as he was told. Thus they were saved😇.
Once the flood was over, the Lord killed the demon Hayagriva🏹⚔ & returned the Vedas📖 to Brahma🙏🥰

TODAY IS VARAHA DWADASHI.THE APPEARANCE DAY OF LORD VARAHA

Many millions of years ago, the earth🌍 was plunged deep into the Garbodhaka Ocean.🌊 Lord Brahma sat and thought what could be done to save the earth .Suddenly, a small boar,🐗 no bigger than the size of a thumb, sprang out of his right nostril. It immediately started growing until it had reached a gigantic form. He roared loudly but the demigods were not afraid. They knew that it was the Supreme Lord, assuming this form for the good of the world. Varahadev, dived deep into the ocean.🌊He had a very good sense of smell and was able to locate the Earth🌍 under the water. As He lifted the Earth🌍 up, He was attacked by a very vicious demon named Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha was the twin brother of Hiranyakashipu and was every bit as terrible. Varahadev was furious and He quickly placed the Earth 🌍back up in the sky ❄and went to fight the demon. Hiranyaksha fought eagerly but he was no match for Lord Varahadev. The Lord killed the fierce demon easily.

DAMODHARA LILA

Once, seeing👀 that her maidservant was engaged in different household work, mother Yashoda personally churned butter🧈. While she churned butter, she sang 🎶the wonderful childhood pastimes of her son👶🏻 Krishna and relished thinking of Him🥰. At that time Krishna appeared there and was hungry😋. He wanted her to stop✋🏻 churning the butter and feed Him first😋.
Mother Yashoda took her son 👶🏻on her lap and started feeding Him🤱🏻. While Krishna was sucking the milk, mother Yashoda smiled and enjoyed the beauty of Her child Krishna😍. Suddenly, the milk 🥛which was on the stove🔥 began to boil over. Just to stop the milk 🥛from spilling, mother Yashoda at once put Krishna aside and went to the stove🔥. Left in that state by His mother, Krishna became very angry😠, and His lips and eyes became red in rage😡. He pressed His teeth 😁and lips😑, and taking up a piece of stone, He immediately broke the butter pot🧉. He took butter🧈 out of it, and with false tears😢 in His eyes, He began to eat the butter in a secluded place😋.
In the meantime, mother Yashoda 🧕returned to the churning place after setting the overflowing milk pan in order. She saw the broken pot, 🧉💥in which the churned yogurt had been kept. Since she could not find her boy👶🏻, she concluded that the broken pot was His work🤨. She smiled as she thought☺️, “The child is very clever. After breaking the pot He has left this place, fearing punishment.” After she sought all over, she found👀 her son👶🏻 sitting on a big wooden grinding mortar, which was kept upside down. He was taking butter from a pot which was hanging from the ceiling on a swing, and He was feeding it to the monkeys🐒🙊.
She 🧕saw Krishna looking this way👀 and that way in fear of her🥺 because He was conscious of His naughty behavior🥰. After seeing her son👶🏻 so engaged, she very silently🤫 approached Him from behind. Krishna, however, saw her coming toward Him with a stick🥢 in her hand, and He immediately got down from the grinding mortar and began to flee in fear😰🏃🏻‍♂️. Mother Yashoda🧕 chased Him to all corners, trying to capture the Supreme Personality of Godhead😇, who is never approached even by the meditations of great yogis🧘🏻‍♂️. In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, who is never caught by the yogis🧘🏻‍♂️ and speculators🤓, was playing just like a little child👶🏻 for such a great devotee as mother Yashoda🧕🙏. Mother Yashoda, however, could not easily catch the fast-running child🏃🏻‍♂️ because of her thin waist and heavy body. Still she tried to follow Him as fast as possible. Her hair loosened, and the flowers🌸🌼 in her hair fell to the ground⛳. Although she was tired😰, she somehow reached her naughty child👶🏻 and captured Him. When He was caught, Krishna was almost on the point of crying🥺. He smeared His hands🤲🏻 over His eyes🤦🏻‍♂️, which were anointed with black eye cosmetics👁️. The child👶🏻 saw His mother’s face while she stood over Him, and His eyes became restless from fear👀😰.
Mother Yashoda🧕 could understand that Krishna was unnecessarily afraid, and for His benefit she wanted to allay His fears. Being the topmost well-wisher of her child, mother Yashoda thought, “If the child is too fearful of me, I don’t know what will happen to Him.” Mother Yashoda then threw away her stick🥢. In order to punish Him, she thought 🤔of binding His hands with some ropes🧣. She did not know it, but it was actually impossible for her to bind the Supreme Personality of Godhead😇. Mother Yashoda 🧕was thinking that Krishna was her tiny child👶🏻; she did not know that the child had no limitation. There is no inside or outside of Him, nor beginning or end. He is unlimited and all-pervading. Indeed, He is Himself the whole cosmic manifestation. Still, mother Yashoda was thinking🤔 of Krishna as her child🤱🏻. Although He is beyond the reach of all senses, she endeavored to bind Him to a wooden grinding mortar. But when she tried to bind Him, she found that the rope she was using was short by two inches. She gathered more ropes 🧣from the house 🏛️🏠and added to it, but still she found the same shortage. In this way, she connected all the ropes available at home, but when the final knot 🧣was added, she saw that the rope was still two inches short. Mother Yashoda was smiling, but she was astonished😱. How was it happening?
In attempting to bind her son👶🏻, she became tired😓. She was perspiring, and the garland 🌼🌸🌼🌸on her head fell down. Then Lord Krishna appreciated👏🏻 the hard labor of His mother🤱🏻, and being compassionate upon her🥰, He agreed🤗 to be bound up by the ropes. Krishna, playing as a human child 👶🏻in the house🏠🏛️ of mother Yashoda, was performing His own selected pastimes. Of course, no one can control the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The pure devotee surrenders himself 🙏🙇🏻‍♂️unto the lotus feet👣🌷 of the Lord, who may either protect or vanquish the devotee. But for his part, the devotee never forgets his own position of surrender🙏. Similarly, the Lord also feels transcendental pleasure🥰 by submitting Himself to the protection of the devotee. This was exemplified by Krishna’s surrender unto His mother, Yashoda🧕.
Krishna is the supreme bestower of all kinds of liberation to His devotees, but the benediction which was bestowed upon mother Yashoda🧕 was never experienced even by Lord Brahma or Lord Shiva or the goddess of fortune.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son 👶🏻of Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja🤴🏻, is never so completely known to the yogis🧘🏻‍♂️ and speculators🤓. But He is easily available to His devotees🙇🏻‍♂️.
After binding her son👶🏻, mother Yashoda engaged herself in household affairs. At that time, bound up to the wooden mortar, Krishna could see a pair of trees🌳🌳 before Him which were known as arjuna trees. The great reservoir of pleasure, Lord Sri Krishna, thus thought to Himself, “Mother Yashoda first of all left without feeding Me sufficient milk🤱🏻, and therefore I broke the pot of yogurt 🧉and distributed the stock butter 🧈in charity to the monkeys🙊🐒. Now she has bound Me up to a wooden mortar. So I shall do something more mischievous than before🤔.” And thus He thought of pulling down the two very tall arjuna trees🌳🌳.
There is a history behind the pair of arjuna trees🌳🌳. In their previous lives, the trees were born as the human sons 👯‍♂️of Kuvera, and their names were Nalakuvara and Manigriva. Fortunately, they came within the vision of the Lord. In their previous lives they were cursed by the great sage Narada🪕 in order to receive the highest benediction of seeing Lord Krishna😍. This benediction-curse was bestowed upon them because of their forgetfulness due to intoxication.