Hi there!!! Today's story is about Krishna and how he suffered the curse of watching the Moon on Ganesha Chaturthi. He was accused of stealing the most valuable gem in existence, the Syamantaka Mani, from King Satrajit, a Yadava King. Let's go…
Long, long ago, during the time of the great epic Mahabharata, there lived a Yadava king called Satrajit. He ruled a province in Dwaraka, the capital of the Yadava Empire. He was a very prosperous king. But, Satrajit was only prosperous because of one reason. He had been given the Syamantaka Mani, the most valuable and amazing jewel in the cosmos.
Satrajit was an ardent devotee of Surya, the Sun God. One day, Satrajit had gone to the coast of Dwaraka to perform penance to Surya.
Upon hearing his prayers, Surya came down and told Satrajit to ask for a boon. Satrajit asked for the famed gem. It sat on Surya's neck in the form of a necklace, and when he took it off, his body stopped blazing and shining. He turned into a (sort-of) normal man!!! Surya allowed Satrajit to take the gem and asked Lord Vishnu to restore his powers.
When Satrajit walked back to his palace, he shone like the sun. He was gleaming and glistening. Many of Dwaraka's citizens thought that Satrajit was Surya himself!!!
Such was his dazzling glory, that Krishna pleaded him to give it to the supreme leader of the Yadavas, Ugrasena (Kamsa's father. He became the king again after Krishna killed Kamsa. You can check out my other story, The Slaying of Kamsa, to find out more about what happened). But, Satrajit didn't agree. He didn't comply to Krishna's earnest pleas. He wanted the gem all to himself (The greedy goose!!!!! How selfish!!!!)
Many months later, Satrajit decided to give the Syamantaka Mani to his younger brother, Prasena, who was also the ruler of another Yadava province. He wore the gem often, displaying it to all that came to him. Many envied him, but no one dared to steal the gem, for Prasena was a very-well trained warrior.
But, on one unfortunate day, Prasena had gone out to hunt with his men. He was roaming around the forest on his horse, when suddenly a lion attacked him!!!! He was killed by the ferocious lion, who swallowed the Syamantaka Mani!!!! Along with Prasena's corpse, the lion started to run back to its den, when suddenly, it was attacked!!!! A huge bear, with human-like features, pounced on the lion and killed it within seconds. It was none other than Jambavantha, the king of the bears. He helped Lord Rama build the Ram Sethu over to Lanka and he fought for him in the following battle. He remained alive for soooo long!!!!! He ripped the lion in two, as he roared with power.
As he dragged the two halves of the lion over to his den, he found the Syamantaka Mani lodged in its stomach!!!!! He picked it up and kept it in his hands. Running over to his house, Jambavantha kept the Syamantaka Mani safe in his hands. He knew that this gem could sustain his family for centuries, if not years!!!!
The next day was very eventful. It was Ganesha Chaturthi. Many had gathered together to sing hymns in praise of the God of Wisdom. They had prepared many delicious sweets too!!!!
That night, the moon was up high and shining like a diamond. Krishna, who was happily awaiting his dinner, roamed around the porch of his majestic palace in Dwaraka. He wasn't very happy, for Satrajit had not listened to his advice. He wanted to keep the Syamantaka Mani with Ugrasena, but Satrajit didn't permit him.
Soon, one of his attendants brought him some kheer to eat outside on the porch. He was really elated to see the kheer. It brought him a sense of calmness.
He sat down on the porch and lifted his hands to dip it in the kheer. As he went to dip his hand in the golden bowl of kheer, he saw the reflection of the Moon on the kheer!!! He smiled, beckoning whatever bad luck comes his way. No one else knew that Krishna saw the Moon that day. He was the only one to know about it.
The next day, Satrajit forgot of the festivities and went to search for his brother. he couldn't find him anywhere!!! Many went in search of Prasena, but to no avail. They couldn't find him anywhere!!!!
Satrajit thought that someone had killed Prasena when he had gone to hunt. He pondered over the matter for hours, then realised that Krishna could've killed Prasena!!!!! He marched over to Krishna's palace and accused him of stealing the Syamantaka Mani and killing his brother!! Krishna, oblivious to the fact that Prasena had been killed, exclaimed that he hadn't killed Prasena. But, Satrajit wouldn't take no for an answer (I know that doesn't fit the context, but it still makes sense, right?!?!?!?!). Krishna begged Satrajit to give him a chance to prove he was innocent, but Satrajit was adamant that Krishna had killed his brother!!!
Eventually, Satrajit gave in and told Krishna that he had one chance to prove he was innocent. Krishna immediately set off to clear his name.
As Krishna roamed the forest, he saw blood flowing. He ran to the source to see Prasena's corpse lying on the floor, with blood oozing from each and every part of his body. He had lion teeth digging into his armour, which pierced his skin too.
Krishna was shocked to see Prasena's corpse lying in this state. He followed more blood tracks that led to a cave. A deep cave. Krishna saw a small baby bear playing with the Syamantaka Mani. He asked the small bear kindly, but it wailed out in terror. That baby bear was none other than Jambavantha's son. Rushing out of the cave, Jambavantha saw Krishna and thought that he was attacking his child!!! He rammed into Krishna, who fought back valiantly.
28 days passed. The battle had continued to go on. Krishna had tried to reason with Jambavantha, but he would not listen.
Eventually, Krishna understood what Jambavantha needed to be convinced. He turned into Lord Rama and explained that he has come again to see his friend, Jambavantha. Realising his folly, Jambavantha bowed down to Krishna and handed over the Syamantaka Mani. He even gave his daughter, Jambavati, to Krishna for marriage!!!
Krishna travelled back to Dwaraka with the Syamantaka Mani and his new bride. He reached Satrajit and gave him the jewel. Realising what he had done, Satrajit apologised. He accepted the gem, but with shame and remorse. So, he gave the gem to Krishna and he gave his daughter, Satyabhama, to Krishna for marriage!!! But, Krishna didn't accept the jewel and gave it back to Satrajit.
After a few days, Krishna and Balarama went off to Hastinapur following rumours of the Pandavas burning to death in a fire (that's a story for next time!!!). Many Yadavas envied Satrajit, for he possessed the Syamantaka Mani. One such was Satadhanwa, who fancied Satyabhama as his wife. So, as an act of revenge, he killed Satrajit and gave the gem to Akrura, his friend. He ran off to Mithila, a faraway kingdom.
Krishna and Balarama got wind of Satrajit's death and ran to Mithila, where they killed Satadhanwa. But, they didn't kill him until he told them where the gem was. He told them that he had left it with Akrura.
Krishna and Balarama rushed to Dwaraka, where they met Akrura. He pleaded for his life with earnest pleas, but Krishna and Balarama didn't really think he was genuine. Still, they let him off, only if he swore that he would let the gem remain with Krishna in Dwaraka, and that he would never steal it again.
Thus, Krishna cured himself of his curse and he cleared his name.
Fun Fact Nº 1: It is said that if you hear this story after seeing the Moon on Ganesha Chaturthi, then all the bad luck and thief labelling will be abolished.
Thanks for reading Krishna and the Syamantaka Mani!!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the blue button to receive emails about my posts!! Happy Reading!!!!!!!
Long, long ago, during the time of the great epic Mahabharata, there lived a Yadava king called Satrajit. He ruled a province in Dwaraka, the capital of the Yadava Empire. He was a very prosperous king. But, Satrajit was only prosperous because of one reason. He had been given the Syamantaka Mani, the most valuable and amazing jewel in the cosmos.
Satrajit was an ardent devotee of Surya, the Sun God. One day, Satrajit had gone to the coast of Dwaraka to perform penance to Surya.
Upon hearing his prayers, Surya came down and told Satrajit to ask for a boon. Satrajit asked for the famed gem. It sat on Surya's neck in the form of a necklace, and when he took it off, his body stopped blazing and shining. He turned into a (sort-of) normal man!!! Surya allowed Satrajit to take the gem and asked Lord Vishnu to restore his powers.
When Satrajit walked back to his palace, he shone like the sun. He was gleaming and glistening. Many of Dwaraka's citizens thought that Satrajit was Surya himself!!!
Such was his dazzling glory, that Krishna pleaded him to give it to the supreme leader of the Yadavas, Ugrasena (Kamsa's father. He became the king again after Krishna killed Kamsa. You can check out my other story, The Slaying of Kamsa, to find out more about what happened). But, Satrajit didn't agree. He didn't comply to Krishna's earnest pleas. He wanted the gem all to himself (The greedy goose!!!!! How selfish!!!!)
Many months later, Satrajit decided to give the Syamantaka Mani to his younger brother, Prasena, who was also the ruler of another Yadava province. He wore the gem often, displaying it to all that came to him. Many envied him, but no one dared to steal the gem, for Prasena was a very-well trained warrior.
But, on one unfortunate day, Prasena had gone out to hunt with his men. He was roaming around the forest on his horse, when suddenly a lion attacked him!!!! He was killed by the ferocious lion, who swallowed the Syamantaka Mani!!!! Along with Prasena's corpse, the lion started to run back to its den, when suddenly, it was attacked!!!! A huge bear, with human-like features, pounced on the lion and killed it within seconds. It was none other than Jambavantha, the king of the bears. He helped Lord Rama build the Ram Sethu over to Lanka and he fought for him in the following battle. He remained alive for soooo long!!!!! He ripped the lion in two, as he roared with power.
As he dragged the two halves of the lion over to his den, he found the Syamantaka Mani lodged in its stomach!!!!! He picked it up and kept it in his hands. Running over to his house, Jambavantha kept the Syamantaka Mani safe in his hands. He knew that this gem could sustain his family for centuries, if not years!!!!
The next day was very eventful. It was Ganesha Chaturthi. Many had gathered together to sing hymns in praise of the God of Wisdom. They had prepared many delicious sweets too!!!!
That night, the moon was up high and shining like a diamond. Krishna, who was happily awaiting his dinner, roamed around the porch of his majestic palace in Dwaraka. He wasn't very happy, for Satrajit had not listened to his advice. He wanted to keep the Syamantaka Mani with Ugrasena, but Satrajit didn't permit him.
Soon, one of his attendants brought him some kheer to eat outside on the porch. He was really elated to see the kheer. It brought him a sense of calmness.
He sat down on the porch and lifted his hands to dip it in the kheer. As he went to dip his hand in the golden bowl of kheer, he saw the reflection of the Moon on the kheer!!! He smiled, beckoning whatever bad luck comes his way. No one else knew that Krishna saw the Moon that day. He was the only one to know about it.
The next day, Satrajit forgot of the festivities and went to search for his brother. he couldn't find him anywhere!!! Many went in search of Prasena, but to no avail. They couldn't find him anywhere!!!!
Satrajit thought that someone had killed Prasena when he had gone to hunt. He pondered over the matter for hours, then realised that Krishna could've killed Prasena!!!!! He marched over to Krishna's palace and accused him of stealing the Syamantaka Mani and killing his brother!! Krishna, oblivious to the fact that Prasena had been killed, exclaimed that he hadn't killed Prasena. But, Satrajit wouldn't take no for an answer (I know that doesn't fit the context, but it still makes sense, right?!?!?!?!). Krishna begged Satrajit to give him a chance to prove he was innocent, but Satrajit was adamant that Krishna had killed his brother!!!
Eventually, Satrajit gave in and told Krishna that he had one chance to prove he was innocent. Krishna immediately set off to clear his name.
As Krishna roamed the forest, he saw blood flowing. He ran to the source to see Prasena's corpse lying on the floor, with blood oozing from each and every part of his body. He had lion teeth digging into his armour, which pierced his skin too.
Krishna was shocked to see Prasena's corpse lying in this state. He followed more blood tracks that led to a cave. A deep cave. Krishna saw a small baby bear playing with the Syamantaka Mani. He asked the small bear kindly, but it wailed out in terror. That baby bear was none other than Jambavantha's son. Rushing out of the cave, Jambavantha saw Krishna and thought that he was attacking his child!!! He rammed into Krishna, who fought back valiantly.
28 days passed. The battle had continued to go on. Krishna had tried to reason with Jambavantha, but he would not listen.
Eventually, Krishna understood what Jambavantha needed to be convinced. He turned into Lord Rama and explained that he has come again to see his friend, Jambavantha. Realising his folly, Jambavantha bowed down to Krishna and handed over the Syamantaka Mani. He even gave his daughter, Jambavati, to Krishna for marriage!!!
Krishna travelled back to Dwaraka with the Syamantaka Mani and his new bride. He reached Satrajit and gave him the jewel. Realising what he had done, Satrajit apologised. He accepted the gem, but with shame and remorse. So, he gave the gem to Krishna and he gave his daughter, Satyabhama, to Krishna for marriage!!! But, Krishna didn't accept the jewel and gave it back to Satrajit.
After a few days, Krishna and Balarama went off to Hastinapur following rumours of the Pandavas burning to death in a fire (that's a story for next time!!!). Many Yadavas envied Satrajit, for he possessed the Syamantaka Mani. One such was Satadhanwa, who fancied Satyabhama as his wife. So, as an act of revenge, he killed Satrajit and gave the gem to Akrura, his friend. He ran off to Mithila, a faraway kingdom.
Krishna and Balarama got wind of Satrajit's death and ran to Mithila, where they killed Satadhanwa. But, they didn't kill him until he told them where the gem was. He told them that he had left it with Akrura.
Krishna and Balarama rushed to Dwaraka, where they met Akrura. He pleaded for his life with earnest pleas, but Krishna and Balarama didn't really think he was genuine. Still, they let him off, only if he swore that he would let the gem remain with Krishna in Dwaraka, and that he would never steal it again.
Thus, Krishna cured himself of his curse and he cleared his name.
Fun Fact Nº 1: It is said that if you hear this story after seeing the Moon on Ganesha Chaturthi, then all the bad luck and thief labelling will be abolished.
Thanks for reading Krishna and the Syamantaka Mani!!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the blue button to receive emails about my posts!! Happy Reading!!!!!!!
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