World wide a large number of people are influenced with Shri Krishna. He is known as Yogeshwar Shri Krishn. But unfortunately Krishna has also been used as a tool by a group of people to cover-up their unethical acts and wishes. Shri Krishna has been projected by people as a carrier of all the unsocial activities and behavior, whether it is prostitution or misbehaving with ladies or it is theft etc. Because of this Shir Krishna has been targeted by people from outside as well within India by different sects.
Maharshee Dayanand considered Shri Krishna as a noble man. Shri Krishna was one of the character whom he considered as noble personality. He was very upset with those kind of people who were indulged in the process of maligning the image of the great person of the era(Dwapar).
He is the character whose name was referred as noble by Maharshee Dayanand Saraswati to the people of India. Maharshee Dayanand writes in Light of Truth that :
“The life-sketch of Krishna given in the Mahabharat is very good. His nature, attributes, character, and life-history are all like that of an apta (altruistic teacher). Nothing is written therein that would go to show that he committed any sinful act during his whole life, but the author of the Bhagvat has attributed to him as many vices and sinful practices as he could. He has charged him falsely with the theft of milk, curd, and butter, etc., adultery with the female servant called Kubja, flirtation with other people’s wives in the Rasmandal, and many other vices like these. After reading this account of Krishna’s life, the followers of other religions speak ill of him. Had there been no Bhagvat, great men like Krishna would not have been wrongly lowered in the estimation of the world.
There are lots of literature available about Shri Krishna. Mainly literature that speaks about Krishna is Mahabharat, Harivansh and few of the Puranas. There is too much of differences that is found in the different stories about Shri Krishna in the different books. This fact is accepted and supported by different authors who have researched and wrote about most prominent personality of Dwapar Yuga. Most Authentic story which has less adulterated verses is found in the Mahabharata.
Now , we will discuss various objections of Dr. Ambedkar one by one.
Dr. Ambedkar first of all has proclaimed that Ugrasen’s wife had an illicit connection with Drumila the Danava king of Saubbha. From this illicit connection was born Kansa who was in a sense the cousin of Devaki. Whatever Dr. Ambedkar has written in this regard is totally baseless. Nothing is mentioned in this regard in the Mahabharata or Bhagwat (mostly known books about story of Shri Krishna). It seems imagination of his mind that is baseless and should be condemned as without and base writing such derogatory statement does not suits the image of person he was.
First Dr. Ambedkar has cited birth of Balram as miraculous mentioning that the seventh child, Balram, was miraculously transferred from Devaki’s womb to that of Rohine, another wife of Vasudev and has also discussed about the birth of Shri Krishna. Dr. Ambedkar has written about the most common story heard around of a voice of heaven that Devaki’s eight child would kill the Kansa and hence Kans imprisoned both Devaki and her husband Vasudev.
Story about miraculous birth that Dr. Ambedkar has cited from Purans don’t find any place in Mahabharata. Bakim Chandra Chatopadhyay wirtes that in Bhagwat and Mahabharat Krishn declares that Kans was uprooted his father from the post of the King and controlled the kingdom and he was so cruel that people started to leave Mathura in search of safe heaven. He writes there about the possibility that by considering the environment of the terror, Vasudev and Devaki might have placed Krishna and Balram in the supervision of Nand. Further Pandit Chaumupati Ji have mentioned in the “Yogeshwar Shri Krishn” that in Maharabharat while elaborating the criminal acts of the Kansa, Krishn neither has discussed that Vasudev was imprisoned for ten or twenty years nor he has said about the personal torture of Kansa on his parents. Hence all the facts confirms that there was nothing miraculous in the birth of Krishna and Balaram.
Dr. Ambedkar has written that the killing of Asuras and number of other heroic deeds, impossible for an ordinary human child. But these are the chief staple of the Pauranic account of Krishna’s early life. He says that first of these is the killing of Putana. Pandit Chamupati has discussed this aspect as under:
Let’s have an ideas what Puran says about the Putana.
वसतातोकुळेतेषाम पूतना बाल घातिनी।
सुप्तंकृष्णमुपादायरात्रौ सा प्रददौस्तनम
यस्मैयस्मैस्तनंरात्रौ पूतना संप्रयच्छति
तस्यतस्यक्षणेनान्गमबालकस्योपहन्यते।
अंश ५, अ. ५ श्लोक ७,८,
In Vishnu Puran , Putana is resident of Gokul. In Hariwansh she is called care taker of Kans and In Brahmvart she is called sister or Kans. There are different stories about the Putana in various puranas in this regard and their stand on Putana are not tuned in.
Bankim Chandra Chatopaddhyay says that this story is also available in Mahabharat, in Shishupal murder chapter. Shishupal has called her “Shakuni”.
Eagle, and other meat eater birds are called “Shakuni”. Shishupal says in Mahabharat:
यद्यनेनहतोबाल्येशकुनिश्चित्रमत्रकिम। सभा. ४१/७
If a child has killed an eagle so what exception he has done? So when even Sishupal doesn’t see it as exceptional even why does Dr. Ambedkar has declared it in that manner.
Pandit Chamupati analyzes it further and claims that in Shushrut “Putana” is also called as child disease. Chakrapanidatt has called it “Matriaka” by which child is suffered in 2nd or 3rd Month. There is possibility that this disease might have been spread out in that area and few children might have got dead because of this and Krishna might have not got affected because of this. So it may be hearsay among the people that Krishna has overcome the Putana or in absurd way that Krishna has killed Putana.
If it is clear that there is difference between the puranas about the Putana. And being accepting it as fact by Ambedkar propagating as miraculous act of Shri Krishna seems baseless.
Again Dr. Ambedkar mention another tale from Puranas and mentions that Krishna performed another of these feats when he was only three months old. It was the breaking of a Sakata, a cart which was used as a cupboard and had several jars and pans, full of milk and curd, ranged on it.
When Krishna was in his young age he performed major tasks. In such cases people do remember activities of such person performed in his childhood and this might have been one of the activity but this is not in the manner Dr. Ambedkar has presented.
Pandit Chamupati ji writes that this story is also present in Mahabharat in which Shishupal says that :
यद्यनेनकाष्ठमयद्यनेननिपातितम
पादेनशकटं भीष्म तत्रकिंकृतमअद्भुतम्। . सभा ४१/८
If Krishna kicked the cart and it had fell down what exceptional he has done?
If we look at it, it is not seen as an exceptional activity at that time. And there is no mention of story in Mahabharat that any Asura was sent by Kans to kill Krishna and he entered in the cart. Hence here is nothing miraculous as presented.
Dr. Ambedkar discuss another myth. That is Kansa sent another emissaries anasura named Trivarta to attempt to the same task. He came in form of a bird and carried aloft the divine child, then only a year boy dropped down dead with the child safe and holding his throat tightly.
This story is also available in Mahabharat but not in the form as mentioned by Dr. Amedkar. There Shishupal says that if he has killed a bird in his early days this is something not to be seen as an achievement. This is not something that should be counted upon. Its normal for any kid. Ved Vyas mention it as under:
यद्यनेन हटो बाल्येशकुनिश्चित्रमत्रकिम। . सभा ४१/८
Hence here also there is not something to be seen exceptional as has been presented.
In the similar manner story of breaking two Arjuna trees and killing of different other Asuras. These can be easily refuted by looking into Mahabharata. However mentioned each will increase the size of article unnecessary. We can summerise that all these stories as explained above either do not exist in Mahabharata or if they exist they don’t exist in the form they are presented.
Next objection of Dr. Ambedkar is regarding lifting of the Govardhan Hills. This fact is also mentioned in Mahabharata. Pandit Chamupatiji explains it as that there was heavy rain in Vrindawan. It was situation of flood. It became difficult if live in Vrindawan due to mounting water level. Hence Krishna came forward with suggestion to take shelter at Govardhan hill. Hence all the people along with their cattle’s assembled at the hill and stayed there for a period of seven days. It was raining for seven days. Krishna managed all the affair. And this was “lifting of Govardhan hill” and people used it like a proverb. It was also mentioned in Mahabharat and Shishupal makes a mockery of it as mentioned below:
वाल्मीक मात्र : सप्ताहंयद्यनेनधृतो चल:
तथा गोवर्धनो भीष्म न तच्चित्रंमतमम। सभा ४१/९
Hence nothing seems unusual in this even also as has been shown.
Next allegation put forward by Dr. Ambedkar is worst and false one commonly used in nature by all the opponent of Aryan philosophy. It’s about the character of the Krishna.
Dr. Ambedkar cites that Krishna carried away the clothes of the Gopis those were taking bath in the pond. He seized the clothes and forced them to come out of the water and beg for the clothes.
Another allegation that Dr. Ambedkar has mentioned is about the illicit intimacy with the women of the Vrindawan. He has mentioned about the Rasleela.
Beauty of the fact is there is no mention of this Rasleela in Mahabharat. If there has been any of such incident as has been quoted by Puran writers and by Dr. Ambedkar, it would have been declared by Shishupal who alleged Krishna for his various act. Bankim Chandra writes that writer of story of Shishupal murder would have written it. Bakim Chandra Chatopadhyay says that its sure that these story of Rasleela is not true and was created later on. There is no mention of “Gopis” in Mahabharat.
Dr. Ambedkar writes on Krishna’s indecencies that his illicit life with one Gopi called Radha. Krishna who abandons his lawfully wedded wife Rukmani and seduces Radha wife of another man and lives with her in sin without remorse.
Its another baseless allegation. IF Dr. Ambedkar might have gone in details before writing all this, he might have got the true story about this.
Bankim Chandra Chatopadhyay writes that there is no mention of Radha in any of the following books available about Krishna:
- Mahabharat
- BhagwatPuran
- Vishnu Puran
- HarivanshPuran
Mention of Radha is in BrahmvaivartPuran. Bankim Chandra Chatopadhyaya quotes Mr. Wilson that this Puran is not that old as the writing of this Puran matches with the style of current writers. Hence allegations put forward doen’t have any base. As these stories don’t find any place even above mentioned Puran’s.
Dr. Ambedkar has mentioned about the Rukmani that Krishna had carried her off. But if we look at the commentary of Sh. Bankim Chandara Chatropadhyaya on this topic it’s completely different. Bankim mention few verses of Mahabharat :
मत्पूर्वामरुक्मणि कृष्ण सन्सत्सुपरिकीर्तयन
विशेषतः पार्थिवेषुवीड़ाम न कुरुषेकथं
मन्यमानो ही कह सत्सुपुरुषःपरिकीर्तियेत
अन्यपूर्वाम स्त्रियां जातुत्व्दन्यो मधुसूदन..
सभा ४५/१८-१९
Shishupal says: “Krishna you should feel ashamed while talking about your marriage proposal when u know that I have decided to marry Rukmani.”
Bankim Chandra Chatopadhyay writes that Rukmani was not carried away by Krishan but she was duly married by Krishn with due consensus of Bheeshma. He says in his support that Shishupal didn’t allege Krishna for carrying away Rukmani. However he does so in case of Bhishma for carrying away daughters of Kashi King. Hence it is clear that Rukmani was not carried away but was married with Krishna.
Dr. Ambedkar writes that Krishna was not faithful to Rukmani and was co- wives till nos roses to 16108.
While analyzing these allegation of co–wives Bankim Chandra chatopadhyay has quoted from different Puraans and from various chapters thereof. He has mentioned Vishnu Puran, HarivanshPuran and Mahabharat and has presented an analysis of verses those are not in tune with each other and contradict with each other about the nos and name of the wives of Shi Krishna. It is to prove that all these stories about the different wives are contradictory and laughable. And as such the story of 8 main wives is concern, there is not similarity about names in different Purans. Bankim has mentioned that story of 16108 wives, those were freed from Narakasur is also a myth. As per Vishnupuran(Ansh- 4, Adhyay- 15, Shlok – 16) there were 1,80,000 sons. Age of Krishna as per this Puran is 125 years. Bankim has calculated that as per this logic Krishna fathered 1440 sons in a year and daily 4 sons. He has cited it a myth. Bankim concludes that as per Mahabharat there is no wife of Shri Krishna other than Rukmani, there is no evidence of having any other queen of Krishna.
We can conclude that all the allegation those were put forward by Dr. Ambedkar are based on the stories of Purans. Purans are in contradiction with each other and are filled with a lot of mythologies. Hence on the basis of that putting allegation on Character of Yogiraj Shri Krishna is not a sign of civilized character. We refute all these baseless allegations.