Lord Krishna And Kaliya The Serpent - Kaliya Narthanam

 

 This poem is based on the episode when Lord Krishna dances over Kaliya the serpent in the Yamuna River.


Kaliya exhaled poisonous fumes,
Deadly,dangerous proportions it assumed.
In the waters of river Yamuna it spread,
Creating fear, panic and dread.
Trees, plants shrivelled in size,
"This does not augur well!" said the wise.

Childish prattle rang out clear,
Lord Krishna and his cowherds drew near.
With his chubby legs, the' Kadamba tree' he climbed,
Made it to the top in no time!

Dancing eyes, mischief sparkling,
Radiating innocence, laughter tinkling.
'Pitambara vastra' shining like gold,
A beauteous sight for one to behold!

Before startled eyes he did leap,
Dived into the Yamuna deep.
Kaliya hissed and raised his hood,
Bared his fangs as much as he could.

This was a child, a mere mite,
He would consume him in one single bite!
Around Lord Krishna, he curled his tail,
The cowherds in panic began to wail!

The whole of 'Vrindavan' gathered soon,
Hearts filled with a sense of doom!
Balarama smiled a knowing smile,
Krishna he knew was biding his time...

Releasing himself from Kaliya's grasp,
Lord Krishna stood on his head, his tail he clasped.
Delicately with a thumb he held,
His foot hovered, its force withheld.

His hoods Kaliya reared, a hundred of them,
Flashing and glistening with precious gems.
This way and that, to and fro,
Venom he spewed more and more.

Lord Krishna stepped on the heads with grace,
Nimble, rhythmic on the vicious base.
He jumped, he turned, he flew all around,
Accompanied by divine, celestial sounds.

Kaliya felt his strength receding,
Shorn of his power, faltering, weakening.
He tried in vain to wriggle free,
Helpless, vulnerable he seemed to be.

This was no ordinary child,
It was the very lord by his side!
He meekly surrendered unto him,
The supreme lord of everything!

The 'Nagapatnis' prayed fervently,
Realisation dawned on them inwardly,
Touched by Lord Krishna, it was a blessing true,
Kaliya was one of the chosen few.

Life on the bank came to a standstill,
Eyes drank in the scene to their fill.
Every body, spirit and heart,
Of all desires was emptied out.

'Krishna' 'Krishna' and 'Krishna' only,
Filled their senses, their beings fully.
'Krishna consciousness' pervaded their minds,
Till no other thought a space could find.
They were with Lord Krishna in divine communion,
Revelling, blissful in ecstatic union!


Footnotes
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Narthanam - Dance.
Pitambara vastra - yellow garments.
Kadamba tree - An evergreen, tropical tree with orange or yellow flowers.
Balarama - Name of Lord Krishna's brother.
Nagapatnis - Wives of serpent Kaliya.
Vrindavan - A town in Uttar Pradesh , India where Lord Krishna spent his childhood days.

Shiva- The Divine Mother (Thayumanavar)

This poem is based on an ancient legend where  Lord Shiva takes the form of a mother and midwife to assist his devotee.
'Thayumanavar' translates as 'One who became mother'.

River Cauvery swelling its girth,
Bubbled, overflowed with joyful mirth.
The tide soon began to rise,
Waves crashed, gigantic size.
Streaks of lightning, a trail of stains,
The cloud burst open in torrents of rain.

Ratnavati waited for her mother in vain,
Stiffening as she felt spasms of pain.
Her baby from the womb could come any time,
She well recognised the imminent signs.

Her mother lived across the river,
'Would she come in time..?' The thought made her shiver.
It would be long before the flood abated,
Utterly helpless she felt  as she waited.

Ratnavati closed her eyes and prayed,
Called to Lord Shiva to come to her aid.
"I am your child, pay heed to me,
May my child in the womb in safety be.
I surrender to you, my compassionate lord,
In you I place my life, my all."

Seized by pain she could hardly bear,
"Lord help me!" she pleaded.. her cries rent the air.
Beside her stood her mother's frail form,
She cradled her head and rubbed her hands warm.
In hushed whispers, she assuaged her fears,
With her saree 'pallav', she dried her tears.

The pain subsided, the writhings ceased,
Her mother tenderly assisted the baby to feed...

Dawn peeped through the darkened sky,
Seemed to smile when she heard the baby's cry.
Ratnavati's mother hurried in,
Worry writ large on her wrinkled skin.
"Thank the Lord you are safe and the baby too!
It was impossible to cross the river and reach you!"

"Who then was beside me,
Tending to my every need?
Lord Shiva it was you, I did not see...
You soothed my womb, you held my palm,
You eased my pain, you brought me calm.
Nurtured me with loving care,
I revelled, totally unaware!
How blessed am I, protected by none other
Than Shiva, my divine mother, my 'thayumanavar'."


Footnotes
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Pallav - The loose end of a saree.