Nanjeeyar was the disciple of Parasara Bhattar. Once during a conversation, Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar why the Azhvars celebrated Krishna more than they did Rama. Parasara Bhattar replied that Rama was the son of a great King. He was also next in the line of succession. So there would not have been a dearth of people to praise Him. But Krishna had a humble background. He grew up in the midst of cowherds and had to tend the cattle Himself. Besides, Rama was well protected, being of a royal family. But Krishna was surrounded by danger all the time, elaborated P.T. Seshadri in a discourse.
Nothing could be taken for granted in the Krishna avatara, not even a blade of grass, for there was no telling where danger would suddenly sprout. In the Rama avatara, Rama faced danger only when He went to the forest, and by then He was an adult. But Krishna faced danger from the moment of his birth. Rama went to Lanka to fight Ravana, because He had to. But Krishna voluntarily courted danger, as when He went to fight with the venomous snake Kaliya. Rama let off His enemies. If He had killed Surpanaka and Mareecha, there would not have been so much anguish for Him. He allowed Surpanaka to live, and she was thus able to tell Ravana about Sita’s beauty. But Krishna was thorough in destroying His enemies. And yet Krishna was compassionate.
When Indra kept up a torrent of rain, He lifted the hill to shelter the people and cattle. But He did not destroy Indra. Indra had been deprived of the usual offerings and was therefore hungry. A hungry person must be excused for his anger, and so the Lord did not retaliate against Indra. No wonder Krishna was adored by the Azhvars!
