Krishna while living in Nanda Gaon knew that the time had come to vacate the earth with another wicked dictator King, the Kansa. Frightened and surprised by the rumours of Krishna being the 7th son of Devaki and Vasudev, he invited Krishna and Balram for a wrestling match in Mathura. On reaching Mathura, the lord Vishnu avatar and Shesh Nag were wandering in the Mathura city and observing everything around them. Dau, the elder brother of Krishna was amazed at the sitar music, magnificent palace, and magnificent archway, pillars of gold and towers of ivory whereas Krishna was hearing something else and got intense. In this Blog we will share the story of Krishna and Kubja and How Krishna freed Kubja from her sins.
The Arrival of Krishna in Mathura
Krishna said, “I am seeing what nobody is experiencing”. I can hear the sobbing of a mother and father whose six sons have been killed” Dau, I can hear the sounds of six new born babies who were put to death. He further added, Dau, I see my parent behind bars who have only blood shots of their kids on the wall as a souvenir of their kids. Kansa’s ears on the other hand sensed the arrival of Krishna for whom he killed six kids of his sister, Devaki. Krishna was welcomed and revered as super hero since Krishna has lifted Govardhan Mountain and topped up over the snake Kalia.
Not just the dwellers of Mathura, but the chief named Akura sent by Kansa to invite Krishna and Balram sensed that the boys for whom he had come to invite were none other than Vishnu and his Sheshnag. While returning to Mathura, Akura took a holy dip in the sacred Yamuna River and saw a spectacular vision of Lord Vishnu and his Sheshnag, the diligent serpent of Vishnu. The face of Vishnu was identical to Krishna’s face and it didn’t take too long for Akura to know who is lord Krishna. He fell at the feet of the two brothers and was overwhelmed by getting the opportunity to spend some time with them.
When Krishna Met Kubja
Krishna and Balram finally were standing in front of the Kansa’s palace. Whole Mathura was gazing at Krishna’s peacock feather in the crown, his Pitambari, his flute, his eyes, etc, and wondering how this pastoral boy has so much strength, beauty and benevolence. Where every individual was viewing Krishna, he was eyeing an old lady with a hunchback. She was addressed by the people of Mathura as Kubja. She was hated for his de-shaped body especially her back which had a hunch on and she was bent forward totally due to it.
Kubja was a maid at the palace of Kansa whose job was to prepare sandalwood (Chandan ubtan) paste for Kansa. But, on that day, Kubja had brought the sandalwood paste for Krishna. She was in a state of mesmerisation with the glimpse of the face of Krishna. She was simultaneously frightened by her last night’s dream which involved a few unknown sounds of mourning. She saw blurry images of two men and a woman standing by a river, and it made her very sad. She couldn’t figure out those three individual in her dream. They were mourning, but all Kubja remembered was that they smiled at her.
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Kubja heard the voice of Krishna who addressed her beautifully. Krishna got close to Kubja and was magnetized by the sandalwood paste’s fragrance. Krishna said amongst all the people have got something fanatic, but the fragrance of your powder, beautiful lady hypnotised me the most. It is highly magnetic. Kubja was speechless and said don’t lie to me, Krishna. You called me beautiful, whereas the whole world hates me and finds me ugliest in the orb. The stones that have been thrown at me haven’t hurt so much as your lie Krishna has.
Krishna said, “I see what nobody does”. I won't lie. I see your soul which is pure and pious as it doesn’t have any spite even against those who disgrace you. Krishna compared her with a sandalwood stick, which doesn’t take anything in return for the fragrance it spreads all over. Krishna lifted his foot and Kubja got scared. Krishna said not everyone will disgrace and hurt you. She got still and stunned.
Transformation of Kubja: A Blessing from Krishna
Krishna lifted his feet and kept it gently on her toes. He further touched her chin and lifted her face. Kubja was frightened and perplexed as she didn’t know what was happening. Her bent spine gradually was unwinding and all deformities were getting in shape. Finally she was able to stand up straight. Everyone around said that Rama turned a rock into Ahiliya and here Krishna gave new life to Kubja by removing her hunch on the back.
Kubja found this change unbelievable and she kept asking Krishna, what have you done?? Krishna said, “I just brought the beauty of your soul outside”. You are now the same inside and outside. Tears were rolling out of the eyes of Kubja. Krishna took the bowl of sandalwood from her and asked her to apply it to his body. Kubja felt as if she had served Krishna before while applying sandalwood paste on him.
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The Connection of Past Lives and Liberation
Kubja said, ‘I have seen you before’ the same radiant face, enchanted aura and captivating persona. I was hunch backed then also. She asked kindly to unfold the mystery. Was it in this birth only? Or during my earlier birth too?
Krishna said, “We have met in our earlier birth Kubja”. The dream that Kubja saw last night hit her again in mind and she realized who the three were she dreamt of last night. She could now recall their faces and why they despite being sad, smiled at Kubja.
Kubja said the blurred pictures are now clear and so is the story. It was in Ayodhya and on the bank of river Sarayu were Shri Ram, Sita and Laxman. They were going for 14 years of exile and were blessing Manthra.
Kubja fell at the feet of Krishna and touched them many times. Kubja said, now I know why I was born hunchbacked. My sins of last birth were too heavy to carry for my back. Kubja said “Thanks to Lord Krishna for removing the hunchback of my back and freeing me from my sins.”
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