The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures

Description

The first book to cover Krishna’s entire life, from his childhood pranks to his final powerful acts in the Mahabharata war •Draws from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and India’s sacred oral tradition •Shows how the stories of Krishna’s life are expressed with such simplicity and humor that they enable anyone--man, woman, or child--to see the wisdom of his teachings •Provides a valuable meditative tool that allows the lessons of these stories to illuminate from within Krishna, one of the most beloved characters of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many lights: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero, an exemplary ruler, and the Supreme Being. In The Complete Life of Krishna, Vanamali, a leading Krishna expert from a long line of prominent Krishna devotees, provides the first book in English or Sanskrit to cover the complete range of the avatar’s life. Table of Contents: Introduction: Krishna the Supreme Incarnation Part 1: Bala-Lila—The Play of the Child Chapter 1: The Advent Chapter 2: The Birth of the Unborn Chapter 3: The Divine Infant Chapter 4: The Butter Thief Chapter 5: Bondage of the Boundless Chapter 6: Brahma Bemused Chapter 7: The Enchanting Flute Chapter 8: Krishna Lifts the Mountain Chapter 9: The Divine Lover Chapter 10: The Lord of Vraja Part 2: Raja-Lila—The Royal Game Chapter 11: The Prophecy Fulfilled Chapter 12: Uddhava at Gokula Chapter 13: Lord of Dwaraka Chapter 14: Abduction of Rukmini Chapter 15: The Cursed Gem Chapter 16: The Pandavas Chapter 17: The Divine Husband Chapter 18: The Sons of Krishna Chapter 19: The Divine Ruler Chapter 20: The Rajasuya Sacrifice Part 3: Uttama-Lila—The Game Supreme Chapter 21: The Gambling Match Chapter 22: The Exile Chapter 23: The Lord as Ambassador Chapter 24: Declaration of War Chapter 25: Srimad Bhagavad Gita Chapter 26: The Mahabharata War Chapter 27: The End of the War Chapter 28: The Advice of Bhishma Chapter 29: The Story of Sudama Chapter 30: Dharma Rules Supreme Chapter 31: The Curse of the Sages Chapter 32: Advice to Uddhava Chapter 33: The Death of the Deathless Epilogue: Lila—The Cosmic Play Appendix One: Alphabetical List of Mantras Appendix Two: List of Characters Glossary of Sanskrit Terms Books of Related Interest