Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : While Lord Krishna is often celebrated as the divine lover, the wise philosopher of the Bhagavad Gita, and the playful butter thief of Vrindavan, another essential aspect of his identity is that of a formidable warrior and a protector of righteousness. From his infancy, Krishna was targeted by a host of deadly demons, or asuras, sent by his tyrannical uncle, Kansa.
These stories, primarily from the Bhagavata Purana, are more than just epic battles; they are powerful allegories illustrating the triumph of divine goodness over arrogance, cruelty, and evil. Here are the tales of nine notable demons vanquished by Lord Krishna.
1. Putana (The Poisonous Nursemaid): The first attempt on Krishna's life came from the demoness Putana, who disguised herself as a beautiful woman and offered to nurse the infant Krishna. Having smeared poison on her breast, her intent was to kill him. However, the divine child, aware of her deception, drank not only her milk but her very life force, exposing her monstrous true form as she fell.
2. Shakatasura (The Cart Demon): An invisible demon possessed a simple cart under which the infant Krishna was sleeping. With the intent of crushing him, the demon brought the cart crashing down. With a simple kick of his tiny foot, Krishna not only shattered the cart but obliterated the spirit within it.
3. Trinavarta (The Whirlwind Demon): Sent by Kansa, this demon took the form of a massive whirlwind, sweeping Krishna high into the sky and plunging the village of Gokul into darkness. But Krishna made himself impossibly heavy, choking the demon, and brought him crashing down to the ground.
4. Vatsasura (The Calf Demon): To blend in with Krishna’s friends, this demon disguised himself as a calf. Krishna, seeing through the ruse, grabbed the demon by his hind legs, whirled him around, and threw him against a tree, ending his threat.
5. Bakasura (The Crane Demon): This massive demon appeared as a giant crane and promptly swallowed Krishna whole. Inside the demon’s gullet, the divine boy expanded to a fiery heat, forcing Bakasura to regurgitate him. Krishna then tore the demon’s beak apart as if it were a blade of grass.
6. Aghasura (The Serpent Demon): The brother of Putana, this demon took the form of an enormous serpent, opening his mouth so wide it resembled a mountain cave. He tricked Krishna’s friends into walking inside. Krishna followed, then grew in size until the demon suffocated and burst.
7. Arishtasura (The Bull Demon): A ferocious demon attacked the village of Vrindavan in the form of a giant bull with menacing horns. Krishna fearlessly confronted the beast, broke off one of its horns, and used it to beat the demon to death.
8. Keshi (The Horse Demon): This powerful demon charged at Krishna in the form of a wild, massive horse. As it tried to bite him, Krishna thrust his arm down its throat, expanding his limb until the demon choked and its body split apart.
9. Kansa (The Ultimate Tyrant): The final confrontation of Krishna’s youth was with the very source of his troubles: his uncle, King Kansa. After luring Krishna and his brother Balarama to Mathura, Kansa unleashed a series of challenges. When all failed, Krishna leaped onto the royal platform, dragged the tyrant down by his hair, and killed him, liberating the people and fulfilling the prophecy of his birth.
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