SrI: SrImathE satakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama: SrI vAnAchala mahAmunayE nama:
On the banks of the yamunA river, in a pond, there lived a snake named kALiya/kAlinga along with its family. It was having an evil mind. By constantly spitting poison, it was stopping everyone from approaching the pond. Even if someone comes close, they will inhale the poisonous air and faint. Same state for the cattle as well. Even the trees, plants and creepers withered. Seeing this, krishNa decided to subdue kALiya.
One day, krishNa went to the banks of the pond where kALiya was there, without even informing balarAma. He climbed a kadamba tree and jumped on the head of kALiya who was in the ponds. He then danced on kALiya’s head and tormented it. kALiya became suffocated, had his eyes popping out and suffered greatly. Seeing that, kALiya’s wives came and sang in praise of krishNa, worshipped him and begged for forgiveness from krishNa. kALiya too realised its mistake and begged for forgiveness. krishNa ordered kALiya, telling “You should not remain here. You should go to the ocean”. kALiya obeyed his order.
Many AzhwArs have enjoyed this incident. periyAzhwAr in periyAzhwAr thirumozhi elaborately explains saying “kALiyan poygai kalangap pAyndhittu avan nILmudi aindhilum ninRu nadam seydhu mILa avanukku aruL seydha viththagan thOLvali vIramE pAdip paRa thUmaNi vaNNanaip pAdip paRa” (krishNa jumped into the pond where kALiya was living, to agitate that pond; he then danced on kALiya’s five hooded heads and subsequently showered his mercy on him; praise the glories of the valour of emperumAn’s strong shoulder; praise the glories of the one who has the complexion of a pure gem); ANdAL nAchchiyAr in her nAchchiyAr thirumozhi says “nIrkkarai ninRa kadambai ERik kALiyan uchchiyil nattam pAyndhu pOrkkaLamAga niruththam seydha poygaik karaikku ennai uyththidumin” (kaNNan had climbed up a kadamba (Indian oak) tree and jumped onto the head of the demon snake kALiya as if he were dancing and made the banks of yamunA as a battlefield); kulaSEkharAzhwAr in his perumAL thirumozhi says “kAlAl kALiyan thalai midhiththadhum” (Stepping on the head of kALiya, with his foot); thirumangai AzhwAr in his periya thirumozhi says “kALiyan than senni nadunga nadam payinRa” (Practiced dance to have kALiya’s head shiver).
Essence in this incident:
- While destroying enemies, emperumAn has the ability to do it on his own.
- Not only emperumAn punishes those who commit mistakes, when they realise the mistake, he will also forgive them.
Source – https://granthams.koyil.org/2023/09/19/krishna-leela-14-tamil/
adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan
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