Stories from the Srimad Bhagavatam

Recently, I read a book on Kindle which was Stories from the Bhagavatham for Children. The writer has done a great job of presenting all the stories in a concise manner and in a language simple enough for children to understand.

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What is the Srimad Bhagavatam?
It is the narration of the stories By Shuka Maharshi about Lord Maha Vishnu and his various avatars. It was narrated to King Parikshit during his last days. it helped him to understand the glories of God and attain moksha.

King Parikshit was awaiting the curse of the serpent bite and even though he was protected by his army, fort, and others, the serpent entered his room in the form of a worm inside a fruit and took its original form and bit the king but because he had listened to the Bhagavatam during his last days, he attained moksha which meant he never had to go through the cycle of birth and death.

Did you know that King Parikshit was the grandson of Arjuna?

Many temples in India, even today hold the Bhagavatha Saptaha Yajna every year. A scholar narrates the text and interprets the meaning and devotees listen to these stories. On the day on which the story of Krishna and Rukmini getting married is narrated, great festivities are held and people are given sweets and food.

Among the Hindu Gods, the story of Lord Krishna is so endearing that people can hear it without ever feeling that they are repeated. The birth of Lord Krishna, the childhood antics, the attack by demons, the killing of the demons, the marriage to Rukmini, the protection of the Pandavas, the Mahabharata war, and the Viswaroopa Darshan and Bhagavad Gita - one can never have enough of it because, for a devotee, the love for God is endless, limitless and priceless.

if you are a Hindu, please make sure to buy the book for the children or read it out to them to keep alive the culture and the religion. The modern technology and the distractions are many and some may feel that devotion to god is not 'cool' but it took a pandemic and other natural disasters for many to realize that the almighty by whatever name you call him is worth worship.

My request to all who read this blog is that if you do not believe in Hinduism, please refrain from commenting or making remarks about it. Live and let live.

I will now write down a small story of Lord Krishna.
Krishna had given the 'Akshaya Patra or the bowl that produces food to his cousin Draupadi - the wife f the Pandavas. This was to keep them fed during their exile in the forest for 14 years. The bowl was used to bring forth any food that was requested until Draupadi herself ate. So, one day, she had eaten and kept the bowl. Then came the sage, Durvasa, and his disciples to their hut. He requested food and replied that he would go bathe in the river and return. Draupadi was scared. The utensil that Lord Krishna had given would no longer produce any food for the day and there was a whole group of people who would soon return, expecting a feast.

Draupadi remembered Lord Krishna and there he was. Krishna understood the situation and asked for the Akshaya Patra and then he found a spinach leaf inside it. He took it and ate it. The sage and his disciples fell full as if they had eaten a feast and looked at each other. They then thought about the food that was about to be served to them and could not even imagine eating another grain of rice. Bhima was told to go and fetch the sage but when he went looking for them, they bade goodbye and went because they did not want to disappoint the Pandavas.

Krishna had indeed saved the Pandavas from the fury of the sage.

When we offer food to the Lord and then partake in it as Prasad, no bad will occur.

Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare