Ananda Vrindavan Champu

Pastimes in Summer and other Seasons

The arrival of the summer season brought a suitable time for Krsna to relish refreshing pastimes with Sri Radha. But when Krsna played with Balarama and the cowherd boys at this time, He felt the scorching heat of summer manifesting within Himself as the burning pain of separation from Radhika. Before telling the next pastime, I will describe the summer season in Vrndavana.

During the summer, the pathways become hard and dry from the blis­tering heat of the sun. A person's fingernails become brittle and crack. But inside the caves of Govardhana, where Krsna secretly enjoys with His beloveds, there is always .a soothing and cooling atmosphere due to its natural springs and small ponds of water. The waves of the Yamuna me­ander lazily by her blistering banks of sand. People also move slowly due to the heat. Profuse perspiration brings relief from the sizzling sunrays. Everyone forgets the discomfort of perspiring by smelling the pleasing fragrance of sirisa flowers. The tops of the trees hang down to form natu­ral canopies, which shade the footpaths and kindly protect the Vrajavasis from the pinching rays of the sun.

In Vrndavana's cool shady groves the vanadevis (forest maidens) are busy making delightful arrangements for Radha-Krsna's confidential pas­times. Scattered here and there are various kunjas (natural cottages) made of groups of lush bushes, trees, and vines that have entrance doors on one side. The vanadevis keep a variety of pleasurable substances such as pan, candana, and pots of cool sandal-scented water inside the kunjas.. There are also containers of refreshing drinks like madhu and mango nectar waiting to satisfy the Divine Couple and relieve Their fatigue.

The Killing of Pralambasura

One summer day the brilliantly powerful brothers Krsna and Balarama, surrounded by Their associates and displaying wonderful grace and beauty, rame to Bhandiravana forest to enjoy pastimes. The moment the Lord desired to enjoy a particular pastime, all the necessary paraphernalia au­tomatically appeared. Nourished by eating the fresh green grass and sat­isfied by drinking the crystal clear water from the valleys of Giri-Govardhana, the cows relaxed peacefully in the dense shade of the banyan trees. The gopas wore garlands of freshly blossomed mallika flowers and natural earrings made from sirisa flowers. They tied garlands of kurci flowers in their hair. Adorned with these attractive fragrant flowers, the two brothers, Balarama and Damodara played happily with Their friends.

One boy sang in a very sweet voice. Some boys played musical instru­ments while others danced. Sometimes Krsna vibrated His flute while Balarama danced. At other times, Krsna danced to the singing of Balarama and His friends. In a melodious tone Krsna called the gopas, "Ho! Ho! My brothers! Now stop your dancing because we are going to play a new game."

While running to meet their friend, the gopas replied, "0 Damodara! What sort of game do You want to play?"

Krsna said, "Listen! Let us divide ourselves into two parties. One party will go with the powerful Balarama and the other party will side with Me." Thus Krsna divided His friends into two parties in order to hold a contest of strength. The boys in Balarama's party followed Him like loyal soldiers and the other boys accompanied Krsna. The losing party had to carry the victors on their backs. Krsna's party lost, and even though Krsna carries the whole universe in His belly, He had to carry Sridama on His shoulders.

Under the influence of time, Pralambasura, the deceitful one, disguised himself as a cowherd boy and secretly mixed with Krsna's friends. Being defeated in the contest, Pralambasura had to cany the victorious Baladeva, who looked extremely enchanting and effulgent with sandalwood paste daubed on His golden white body. Taking Balarama on his shoulders, the demon carried Him to the edge of the Bhandiravana forest.

Pralambasura thrilled with the thought; "I have accomplished my mis­sion. Like a thief I have broken all the rules of the game and stolen a valuable jewel."

At first Balarama was amazed at the extraordinary power of His carrier, but then He instantly understood the situation. Smiling mildly, Balarama called out to His playful younger brother, "0 Damodara! Hey Manorama! Just as insanity robs one's intelligence, this demon is trying kidnap Me. 0 You of infallible will power! What should I do now? Hey relisher of mel­lows! Without hesitating any longer, please give Me proper instructions."

Krsna felt somewhat amused to see and hear all of this. Then in a thun­dering voice He assured Baladeva, "Give up all Your fears. Why are You submitting to illusion? Just remember Your own divine power and slay the demon."

Using His unrivaled strength, which far exceeded the power of the thur -derbolts Indra uses to cut the wings of mountains, Balarama, the elder brother of Madhusudana, smashed the demon's head into little pieces with His fist. With tremendous power the Lord drove the demon to the kingdom of Yama. Before departing, the demon assumed a huge grotesque form. The Vrajavasis thought that Balarama, whose complexion is whiter than fresh camphor, looked like the full moon sitting on top of the dome­like covering of the universe as He sat upon the demon's shoulders.

The demon's body had a dark smoky color. But due to profuse bleeding his hideous body now looked like a cluster of clouds in the reddish sky at sunset. Covered completely in blood, Pralambasura slowly fell to the ground. While falling he appeared like the sun setting behind the Vindhya Mountain, which is covered with red asoka flowers. The splendid demi­gods, who are expert in glorifying others, showered flowers on the head of Balarama to celebrate His victory over the demon.

The notorious demon named Pralamba had displayed great tantric magic. But eventually he perished under the fierce blows of Baladeva whose chariot bears the symbol of a palm tree. In front of everyone, Balarama humbly accepted the name Pralambaghna (one who removes all sins from the heart) honorably bestowed upon Him by Lord Indra. Thereafter Balarama met with His brother Damodara, who always gives joy to others and is dear to all the gopas.

Proud of His recent accomplishment, Balarama felt unlimitedly blissful within His mind. But He became confused upon seeing the bewildered faces of the cowherd boys when He rejoined Krsna who was resting in the shade of a beautiful banyan tree named Bhandiravat.