The Stories of Balkrishna in Vrindavan

When Balkrishna was five years old, he desired to go to Vrindavan. Vrinda means Bhakti. Balkrishna alongwith Gopis & Gopals went to play near Yamuna River in Virndavan.
 
Stories of Balkrishna during the age of five to eleven years & their Spiritual Significances:
 

1. Vatsasura – the Calf Demon - Once, when Balkrishna and Balarama were playing on the bank of the Yamuna, a demon of the name Vatsasura assumed the shape of a calf and came there intending to kill the brothers. By taking the shape of a calf, the demon could mingle with the other calves. Balkrishna caught him by the two hind legs and tail, whipped him around very forcibly and threw him up into a tree. The demon lost his life and fell down from the top of the tree to the ground.

 

1. Bakasura – the Stork Demon - One day, on the bank of the Yamuna, Gopals saw a huge animal as big as a hill. Its top was as strong as a thunderbolt. Bakasura attacked Krishna with his pointed, sharp beak and quickly swallowed him. But when the Bakasura was swallowing up Krishna, he felt a burning sensation in his throat due to radiance of Krishna. The demon quickly threw Krishna up and tried to kill him by pinching his beaks. Balkrishna caught hold of him splits.

 

1. Aghasura – the Snake Demon - Kansa sent Aghasura. When Gops and Gopis were playing, Aghasura came there. Aghasura was younger brother of Bakasur and Putna. Aghasura came in form of Python. Python sat on the way of Gopals and Gopis with open mouth. His mouth was so big that Gopals & Gopis thought it a cave in a big mountain. They entered inside his mouth along with Balkrishna. However, they were not able to come out. While the demon was trying to smash Krishna and His companions, Krishna immediately began to expand Himself within the throat of the demon which killed Aghasura. Balkrishna took them out.

 

1. Aristasura – the Bull Demon - Once a demon named Aristasura, a big bull, frightened the inhabitants of Vrindavan. Balkrishna challenged the demon and caught his horns and tossed him away. He again attacked Balkrishna with great force and anger. Balkrishna again caught his horns and immediately threw him to the ground, breaking his horns and began to kick his body. Aristasura rolled over and died.

 

1. Kesi – the Horse Demon – Once, the horse demon was terrifying all the residents of Vrindavan. Balkrishna. Balkrishna challenged him. The horse then ran toward Balkrishna to crush him. Balkrishna caught hold of his legs and began to whirl the horse around. Then, he threw him away. After he gained consciousness, he ran towards Balkrishna with great anger and force with his mouth open. As soon as Kesi reached Him, Balkrishna pushed his left arm within the horse’s mouth. Balkrishna’s arm within the mouth of the horse at once began to inflate, and Kesi’s throat choked up & he died.

 

1. Removal of Brahma’s ego - Gopals and Gopis desired to take food after coming out from stomach of Aghasura. Balkrishna asked them to sit in a row near Yamuna and said the calves would graze the green grass. One of the Gopals was Madhumangal. Madhumangal was son of Shandilay rishi. Shandilay rishi was very holy and was fasting on full moon. Since nothing was available except sour butter milk at home, Madhumangal brought butter milk vegie (कढ़ी). Other children brought sweet dishes. Everybody shared their food except Madhumangal. Madhumangal was hesitant to share sour butter milk vegie and was drinking it himself. When Balkrishna saw buttermilk vegie, he grabbed it from Madhumangal and drank entirely. When Balkrishna saw the butter milk on the face of Madhumangal, he started licking it.

 
At that time, Brahma ji came there and saw this. Brahma ji was surprised to see this. He doubted Balkrishna being almighty. Brahma ji decided to test Balkrishna whether he is almighty. Brahma ji took all the calves to Brahmaloka (his realm). When children saw no calves there, they told Balkrishna. Balkrishna said to them to continue taking food and went to search calves but could not find. When Balkrishna came back, he could not find children also. Balkrishna understood that this is handiwork of Brahma ji. Balkrishna formed another calves and children.
 
Brahma ji again came to find the status but he saw everything normal. Children and calves were there. He went back to Brahma loka. There also children and calves were playing. Brahma ji pondered over it and could not decide which children and calves are real. Meanwhile, Balkrishna decided to play one more trick. He took the form of Brahma ji and asked the servants to beat fake Brahma who is roaming around here. When Brahma ji reached Brahmaloka, the servants started beating him saying real Brahma is sitting on the throne. Brahma ji meditated upon to find the truth. He found Balkrishna sitting on the throne and children & calves also there. Balkrishna removed Brahma’s ego.
 

1. Dhenukasura – the Ass Demon - Once Gopals complained Balkrishna & Balrama that Dhenukasura in Taalvan is stopping them from taking fruits. Dhenukasura means one who accumulates excessively. Both went there. The demon appeared before Balarama and kicked His chest with his hind legs. Balarama caught hold of the legs of the ass with one hand and, wheeling him around, threw him into the treetops. The demon lost his life.
2. Pralambasura – the fiery Demon - Once Pralambasura demon entered in the group of Gopals, desiring to kidnap both Balarama and Krishna. Balkrishna decided to play in two groups. The defeated members in duel fighting had to carry the victorious members on their backs, as a horse carries its master. The group of Balarama, accompanied by Sridama and Vrishabha, came out victorious, and Krishna’s party had to carry them on their backs. Balkrishna, being defeated, had to carry Sridama on His back, and Bhadrasena carried Vrishabha. Imitating their play, Pralambasura, carried Balarama on his back. He began to feel the burden, and thus he turned into demon. Balrama struck the head of the demon with his strong fist. The demon fell down dead.

 

1. Kalia – the Venomous Snake - Once, Balkrishna was playing ball game with his friends near water reservoir. In the water reservoir, Kalianag was living. During the play, ball fell in the water reservoir. Balkrishna’s friends informed him that nobody drinks its water as nag lives there. Balkrishna jumped in the water reservoir. Kalianag tried to sting Balkrishna. Balkrihna caught hood of Kalianag in one hand and tail in other hand. Then he ascended on the hood of Kalianag. Balkrishna started dancing on the hood. Kalianag was distraught. Wives of Kalianag came in shelter of Balkrishna and prayed to leave him. Balkrishna said to Kalianag to go away as the water has turned poisonous due to him. Kalianag said, he is willing to go but is afraid of Grauda. Balkrishna said, due his foot prints on the hood, Garuda would not torture him.

 

1. Forest Fire - Once, Balkrishna and his friends were staying at night near Yamuna. Forest fire spread near them. Balkrishna asked all his friends to close their eyes. Balkrishna took huge size and drank entire fire to save them.

 

1. Story of Cheerharan (Theft of garments) - Once, Braj maidens were taking bath in naked form in Yamuna. These maidens were of the age of five to six years rishiroopa Gopis. Then Balkrishna picked their clothes and jumped on Kadamb tree. He asked maidens to come and take their clothes. Balkrishna said, by taking bath naked, they have done crime to the water deity. Hence, they should come with folded hands and take the clothes. They did so. The episode was explained properly by Dongra ji Maharaj. Maidens were having feeling that they are women which reflected their arrogance. The episode was to destroy their arrogance. Shri Krishna taught them to surrender him completely after shedding the ego. Body is hidden by clothes and Jivatma is hidden by desires and passions. Only after shedding desires, almighty appears.

 
Spiritual Significance:
Dongra ji Maharaj has explained the spiritual significance of various episodes of Balkrishna lucidly as under:

1. Killing of Vatsasur, Bakasur and Aghasur signify abolition of ignorance, hypocrisy and sins respectively.
2. Dhenukasur is symbol of attachment to body (देहध्यास). Such person has proud about his body form, education, wealth etc. and start torturing others.
3. Killing of Pralambasur and suppression of Kalia nag signify quieting of sensual pleasures. Hence, sense organs were purified.
4. Kalianag is one which pleases sense organs and manas (इंद्रियाध्यास). Hence, it should be controlled by intellect, Satsang. It would purify them.
5. Cheerharan (theft of garments) episode signified shedding of desires and ego. 

Source:
Shri Bhagavad Purana