Mantralaya-1083
(Rationale behind Krishna's marriage to 16,108 princesses )
Date : March 27, 2024
Background
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
Background
The
designation of Supreme Lord Krishna as an "Aadi Brahmachari," alongside
the rationale behind his marriage to 16,108 princesses is explained in
Mantralaya(1083).
Meaning
Many loose tongues gossip about Krishna's interactions with numerous women, often questioning why he married 16,108 princesses.
Sages and Acharyas have clarified that Krishna is Anadi (eternally) brahmachari (unaltered with desires)
In this episode, let's delve into the true reason behind Krishna's marriage to 16,108 princesses.
Jarasandha,
a powerful king from Magadha, had a big dream. He wanted to rule over
the whole land of Bharata. To make this happen, he came up with a
wicked plan. He started by kidnapping the sons of kings from all
corners of Bharata, from the southern tip to the northern Himalayas.
He
kept these princes locked up in his fortress in Magadha, which is in
present-day Bihar. Jarasandha had two reasons for doing this. First, by
controlling these royal heirs, he hoped to control their kingdoms and
expand his influence across Bharata. Second, he aimed to manipulate the
process of royal succession by putting his own allies in power when
kings passed away.
This cruel scheme created fear and chaos
among the ruling families of Bharata. Jarasandha's actions posed a
serious threat to the stability and freedom
Jarasandha, known
for his ruthless tactics, had a strict rule of not kidnapping the
daughters of kings. However, his wicked friend Narakasura persuaded him
to reconsider this policy. Narakasura argued that by kidnapping the
daughters, they could control the future heirs to the throne, as a king
could appoint his grandson born from his daughter as the successor.
Despite
initially refusing, Jarasandha eventually relented, allowing Narakasura
to carry out his sinister plan. Narakasura proceeded to abduct 16,100
daughters from the royal families across the world, imprisoning them in
his jail. This act further fueled the fear and unrest among the
kingdoms, setting the stage for the unfolding events of the Mahabharata.
Jarasandha
made sure to imprison all the sons of kings, while Narakasura did the
same for their daughters. Their plan was to eliminate any potential
successors to the throne, allowing them to install their own officials
as rulers of these kingdoms upon the death of the current kings. This
devious scheme aimed to consolidate their power and control over the
entire land.
Jarasandha feared the strength of both the
Kuruvamsha and Yaduvamsha dynasties. The Kuruvamsha was led by Bhishma,
while the Yaduvamsha was ruled by Ugrasena and later by Kamsa.
Jarasandha devised a cunning tactic to curry favor with both the
Kuruvamsha and Yaduvamsha dynasties.
Jarasandha pressured Kamsa
to overthrow his father, Ugra Sena, and seize the throne. Manipulated
by Jarasandha's influence, Kamsa imprisoned his own father. To mitigate
the fallout, Jarasandha arranged for his daughter to marry Kamsa,
attempting to ease tensions and secure his position.
After
resolving the conflict with the Yaduvamsha, Jarasandha approached the
Kuruvamsha and reached an agreement with Bhishma. They pledged not to
engage in any conflict, ensuring that both kingdoms would peacefully
coexist within their respective boundaries.
Supreme God Krishna was aware that all the sons and daughters of the kings were held captive by Jarasandha and Narakasura.
Krishna,
determined to punish Jarasandha, faced a challenge as many of his
relatives were allied with Jarasandha. Kamsa, Krishna's uncle, was
particularly close to Jarasandha as he was married to his daughter. To
sever this connection and weaken Jarasandha's influence over
Yaduvamsha, Krishna, at the tender age of 10, took decisive action and
killed Kamsa. This unexpected turn of events left Jarasandha fearful of
the repercussions. Subsequently, Krishna appointed Ugra Sena, Kamsa's
father, as the new king in place of Kamsa.
In the Mahabharata,
there were 18 Akshohini armies, but Jarasandha bolstered his forces to
23 Akshohini armies to confront Krishna. Jarasandha launched 18 attacks
on Mathura and Dwaraka, prompting Krishna to relocate to Dwaraka to
evade the relentless assaults by Jarasandha's forces in Mathura.
Despite Jarasandha's repeated attempts, he failed to even lay a finger
on Krishna.
After slaying Kamsa, Krishna resolved to rescue all
the princesses who were under the oppressive grip of Narakasura's dark
shadow. Recognizing the urgency of the situation and considering the
age of the princesses, Krishna prioritized their liberation. He wished
to ensure their freedom swiftly, especially since they were approaching
the age of marriage.
Krishna confronted Narakasura directly,
demanding the release of all the princesses. When Narakasura refused,
Krishna engaged in a fierce battle with the evil tyrant and emerged
victorious, ultimately slaying Narakasura. Following his victory,
Krishna appointed Narakasura's son as his successor. It's worth noting
that Krishna never harbored any desire for kingship or dominion.
After
defeating Narakasura, Supreme God Krishna freed all the princesses and
encouraged them to return to their kingdoms. However, the princesses,
with tearful eyes and trembling voices, expressed their fear of
societal judgment and rejection. "Our families and society will cast us
aside, questioning our purity at every turn," they lamented. "No one
will accept us for marriage." Overwhelmed by despair, they pleaded with
Krishna to allow them to remain in the confines of the jail, resigned
to a fate of darkness and despair.
Feeling the weight of their pain
and desperation, Krishna's heart swelled with compassion. Unable to
bear seeing them suffer, he resolved to change their destiny. With a
tender smile, he assured the princesses that they deserved a bright
future filled with love and happiness. "You are not alone," he
whispered softly. "I will stand by your side and ensure that you find
the happiness you deserve."
In a divine gesture of love and
compassion, Krishna chose to marry all of the princesses, offering them
a new beginning and a ray of hope amidst their despair. Through this
act, he exemplified the importance of caring for and protecting women,
showing that every individual deserves dignity, respect, and a chance
at happiness. Thus, the real reason behind Sri Krishna's marriage to
16,100 women was not mere tradition or duty, but a profound commitment
to justice, equality, and the empowerment of women everywhere.
After
ten to twenty years of freeing the princesses, Krishna felt it was time
to liberate the princes who had been imprisoned by Jarasandha. At the
age of 55, Krishna, accompanied by Bhima, decided to confront
Jarasandha. By this time, Dharmaraj, also known as Yudhishthira, was 57
years old, and the Pandavas had established their kingdom in
Indraprasta.
As preparations for the Raja Suya Yaga were underway,
the Pandavas extended an invitation to Krishna. Krishna and Bhima
journeyed to Jarasandha's kingdom. In a fierce battle, they confronted
Jarasandha and emerged victorious, ultimately freeing all the
imprisoned princes from their long captivity.
Before
liberating the princes, Lord Krishna, in his infinite compassion, first
liberated all the princesses from their plight. These noble women, upon
becoming the wives of Krishna, surrendered their entire beings to him,
their devotion unwavering. Their hearts and minds were eternally
absorbed in meditation upon the divine Supreme Sri Krishna
Throughout the Krishna Avatar, the Supreme Lord set an example by demonstrating how to respect women.
kṛishnaya vasudevaya haraye paramatmane
praṇataḥ klesanasaya govindaya namo namaḥ
"Salutations to Krishna, son of Vasudeva, Hari, the Supreme Soul. I bow to Govinda, the destroyer of suffering."
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||