Lord Krishna's birth heralded a season of continuous celebrations. The term, Krishna, implies one who has the power to attract. Lord Krishna's childhood is replete with incidents that endear Him to us and easily evokes the subtle experience of devotion as much as admiration for the way in which He, a mere child, dealt with the enemies who were intent on taking away His life, Sri Srivatsa Jayarama Sarma said in a lecture.
It was a period of great risk for the child as Kamsa was prompt in sending emissaries to kill Him. All of them were easily overpowered and were fortunate to get liberated by Him. Putana came with the intention of feeding with the child with poison, but the Lord gave her salvation instead when He took away her life. Similarly Shakatasura, who came in the form of a cart wheel, was destroyed by the Lord. Eyewitnesses stated that the baby, crying for milk, had overturned the cart while kicking its legs. The cart was broken into pieces. Another ally of Kamsa, Trinavarta, came disguised as a whirlwind and lifted the child high only to find that the child's weight was increasing and becoming unbearable. He tried in vain to extricate himself from the child and then fell down from the skies. The anxious mother and others found the child safe on the chest of the demon's body. They decided to pray to God to protect this child from evil effects, not aware that He is Himself God incarnate. He is the one who removes the evil effects of all Jivatmas.
Yashodha was blessed to see the cosmic vision inside his mouth, and while on the point of recognising His Supreme Nature was brought back to the normal plane through the Lord's Maya. She could tie Him to the grinding stone in an attempt to control His pranks because He allowed her to do so. The Supreme Brahman growing up as a child in Ayarpadi, playing and mingling with the simple folk and indulging in childhood pranks, is itself an occasion that provides tremendous opportunities for God experience. Azhwars have delved deep into Lord Krishna's childhood and taught us to savour the closeness to God in the roles of a Yasodha, Nandagopa, the Gopis or the cowherds.
