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His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad 108 Tridandi Swami Sri Srimat Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami Maharaj ki Jai!

By Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

 

Did you ever wonder at what transcendental age Krishna performed His various pastimes in Vrindavana? Srila Jiva Goswami answers this question in his Srimad Bhagavatam tika (10.45.3), which lists the pastimes and Sri Krishna’s age at that time. All pastimes are described in the Tenth Canto.
 
1. Putana killed (6th Chapter) Krishna was only 6 days old. It is from this leela that the popular saying “Chhatti ka doodh yaad dilana” originates.

2. The whirlwind demon Trinaavarta killed (7th Chapter) – after a full year passed.

3. Damodar leela (Chapters 9-10) – in the beginning of the third year during Kartik month (2 years and 2 months).

4. Move from Gokula to Vrindavana (Chapter 11) Krishna-Balarama and all the cowherds moved to Vrindavana. This happened a few days after Damodar leela (2 years and 2 months).

5. Vatsa Charana Lila (Chapter 11.37) Krishna began herding the calves 2-3 months after moving to Vrindavana (2 years and 4-5 months).

6. Vatsāsura, Bakāsura and Vyomāsura killed (10.11.41-54) during that time (2 years and 4-5 months) in the forests of Vrindavana.

7. Brahmā Vimohana leela- Brahmaji stole the cowherd boys and calves (Chapters 12-14) in the autumn after the 3rd year passed and the 4th year started, (little more than 3 years)

[Note: At this time Gopala actually entered pauganda age but it was manifested only after a year passed. (ref. 10.12.41] Pauganda age manifested (10.12.37) – in the beginning of the fifth year]

8. Go chaaran leela– Krishna started herding the cows (10.15.1) on shukla-ashtami of Kartik month [Gopastami] (4 years, 2 months and 2 weeks).

9. Kaliya-damana leela (Chapters 16-17) – in the summer of the 5th year  (4 years and appr. 10 months).

[Note: Due to ecstasy, Sri Suka Muni described this leela out of sequence by mentioning it after killing of Dhenukasura.]

In His 6th year Gopala was immersed in herding the cows. Govinda entered kaisora age in the beginning of the 7th year (little more than 6 years).

10. Dhenukasur killed (15th Chapter) during the time and season when the taala-fruits were ripe. On that evening also the gopis for the first time manifested their loving mood described in 10.15.43. (little more than 6 years).

11. Pralambasura killed (18th Chapter) – in the summer of the 7th year (6 years and appr. 10 months).

12. Venu-geet pastime (21st Chapter) – in the 8th year during Ashwin [Sept-Oct] month (7 years and 1 month).

13. Giriraj dharan leela- Sri Krishna lifted Govardhana (24th Chapter) in His 8th year on the first day of the waxing moon in Kartik month (7 years, 2 months and 7 days).

14. Indra Surabhi Govinda abhishek (27th Chapter) – in the beginning of Krishna’s 8th year, on shukla ekadashi of Kartik month (7 years, 2 months and 17 days).

15. Journey to Varuna’s abode (10.28.1-11) – on the following dwadashi (7 years, 2 months and 18 days).

16. Brahma-hrada leela- Sri Krishna’s Brijvasis bathed in Brahma-hrada kund (10.28.16) on Kartik purnima; (7 years, 2 months and 21 days).

17. Gopi vastra-haran leena (22nd Chapter) – in the early winter of Krishna’s 8th year (7 years and approx. 3 months).

18. Yajna Patni Anugraha lila (23rd) Krishna shows mercy to the wives of the karmakandi brahmanas (23rd Chapter) – in the summer of His 8th year (7 years and appr. 10 months).

[Note: In 10.24.1 tika, Sri Jiva Goswami says that these līlās are described out of chronological order because of Sukadeva Goswami’s lack of self-control due to his prema (prema-vaivaśyāt)].

19. Sri Radha Krishna Raas Leela (Chapters 29-33) – in the beginning of His 9th year, in the autumn season (8 years and 1.5 months).

20. Ambika van gaman leela —to observe the Shivaratri festival Nanda Baba and his clan travel to Ambika vana on chaturdasi (10.34.1-3) (8 years, 6 months and 6 days).
21. The demon Shankhachud killed (10.34.25-32) – on Phālguna purnima (appr. 8.5 years).

22. Arishtasura killed (10.36.1-15) – on the full moon of Chaitra month (April) and Radha-kunda appeared the same night (10 years, 7 months and 21 days).

23. Keshi demon killed (10.37.1-8) – on the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Phālguna the following year (11 years, 6 months and 4 days).

24. Krishna Mathura Gamana Lila- Uncle Akrura takes Krishna and Balarama to Mathura (39th Chapter “Viraha Gita”) on Phalguna Krishna trayodashi, (11 years, 6 months and 5 days).

25. Kamsa killed (44th Chapter) – on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Phālguna month [2 days later] (11 years, 6 months and 6 days).

(Adapted from Sri Advaita Dasji)

 

 

Vrindavan vihari lal ki Jai!!

aya Jaya Sri Radhe!