Immortal Among Mortals: Krishna’s myth
Book Review for Krishna by Ramesh Menon
This book integrates Bhagavad Gita and the story of Krishna (from Bhagavata Purana). The story goes back and forth between Purusa (Bhagavad Gita part) and Prakriti (Stories taken from Bhagavata Puruna). I also believe that some stories in Prakriti part is from Harivamsa, as no book on Krishna can be completed without inclusion from that book. I didn’t find a strong reason between why the author switch between Bhagavad Gita (which is primarily philosophical and almost without a plot) to Krishna’s stories.
The book narrates the stories since the birth of Krishna and ends with his death. The basic idea behind Krishana’s life is the fire he carries within or at least that’s the reason put forward by the author for his lust for butter, sex, and wars. Whether it satisfies one or not, the reason put forward by the author is unique. The author also goes in his psyche after his deeds and like a human, he does feel empty and depressed, despite the fact that he has everything. By the end of his life, he feels alone as Balrama has also left him and no amount of liquor or sex could bring him peace. As the author suggested, it’s not easy for an immortal to live a life of mortal person, amid mortals.
There are so many new stories here which I haven’t know before.
Rape of Ugrasena’s wife by Dharmila, a ghandarva elf, and origin of Kamsa
Some of Krishna’s childhood stories for example Sakatasura (Cart Demon), Dhenuka (Donkey Demon), Trinavarta (Storm Demon), Bakasura (Putana’s brother and Golden Crane Demon)
Kubja, the hunchback woman of mathura, who is cured by Krishna and Krishna visited him several time to quench his lust
Myth of Kalayavana, the Black Greek, Myth of Dantavakra (Crooked-teeth) of Kalinga, and Myth of Dvivida, the Highway Rapist, Myth of Imposter Krishna (Paundraka), Myth of Salva, one of deadliest villain Krishna ever faced
How Krishna’s marriage to Jambavati and Satyabhama was linked to famous Syamantaka Jewel story
Krishna’s aerial sex with Satyabhama on the back of Garuda
Samba’s joke and destruction of yadava clan
and what i have learned new with this book:
King Kamsa, maternal uncle of Krishna, was a master of potions, like a great, or let’s say twisted pharmacologist. He used to make this potions which confers inhuman virility, excites lust in chaste women, inflicts pain, and bestows superhuman strength, to name a few. He also murder countless babies once he came to know “by a sound” that the one who is destined to kill him has survived. So, much he believed in destiny.
Krishna was raised by gopas, who are sudras.
Radha, the focus of his desire, had a husband named Ayyan.
Reason for King Jarasandha’s enmity with Krishna: Krishna killed Kamsa, who married Jarasandha’s daughters.
Overall, the author has done a great job in collectively narrating Krishna stories. Whether you like him as a mythological character, a mortal yadava, a military strategist, or a God, you are in for a different interpretation of Krishna. However, to check the veracity of his lust for sex and wars, I should read Harivamsa.