Krishna’s Lineage: The Harivamsha of Vyasa’s Mahabharata

Description

Forming the final part of the Sanskrit Mahabharata, the Harivamsha's main business is to supply narrative details about the great god Vishnu's avatar Krishna Vasudeva, who has been a comparatively minor character in the previous parts of the Mahabharata, despite having taken centre stage in the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna is born in Mathura (some 85 miles south of present-day Delhi). As an infant he is smuggled out of Mathura for his own safety. He and his brother Baladeva grow up among cowherds in the forest, where between them they perform many miraculous deeds and kill many dangerous demons, before returning to Mathura where they kill the evil King Kamsa and his cronies. Thereafter, Krishna is the hero and unofficial leader of his people the Yadava-Vrishnis. When Mathura is besieged by enemies, Krishna leads his people to abandon the town and migrate west, founding the dazzling new city of Dvaraka by the sea. Krishna then repeatedly travels away from that base repeatedly to perform heroic deeds benefitting those in need - including his own people, his more immediate family, and the gods. After narrating the stories of Krishna, the Harivamsha ends by finishing the story of Janamejaya with which the Mahabharata began. The Harivamsha is a powerhouse of Hindu mythology and a classic of world literature. It begins by contextualising Vishnu's appearance as Krishna in several ways, in the process presenting a variety of cosmogonical, cosmological, genealogical, mythological, theological, and karmalogical materials. It then narrates Krishna's birth and adventures in detail. Presenting a wide variety of exciting stories in a poetic register that makes extensive use of natural imagery, the Harivamsha is a neglected literary gem and an ideal starting-point for readers new to Indian literature. Table of contents:- Introduction Map The Book of Krishna’s Lineage Creation and Cosmology 1. The First Creation 2. Daksha’s Creation 3. The Creation of Beings 4. The Installation of the Sovereigns 5. The Birth of Prithu 6. The Milking of the Earth 7. The Eras of the Fourteen Manus The Solar Lineage 8. The Birth of the Gods 9. The Offspring of Vivasvat Āditya 10. The Offspring of Vivasvat Āditya Continued The Duties to the Ancestors 11. Bhīshma and Shantanu 12. The Origin of the Ancestors 13. The Seven Kinds of Ancestors 14. Yoga Lost and Regained 15. Bhīshma and Ugrāyudha 16. The Killing of the Guru’s Cow 17. The Cursing of the Birds 18. King Brahmadatta and the Brahmins 19. The Special Verse The Lunar Lineage 20. The Birth of Soma 21. Indra’s Expulsion and Restoration 22. The Story of Yayāti 23. The Offspring of the Five 24. The Triple Lineage of Vrishni 25. The Birth of the Dark One 26. The Offspring of Jyāmagha 27. The Lineage of the Kukuras 28. The False Suspicion against Krishna 29. The Displaying of the Syamantaka Jewel The Gods and the Demons 30. Janamejaya’s Question 31. Overview of Vishnu’s Manifestations 32. Vishnu’s Promise 33. The Army of the Demons 34. The Army of the Gods 35. The Origin of the Aurva Fire 36. Enter Kālanemi 37. The Power of Kālanemi 38. The Killing of Kālanemi The Divine Plan 39. Description of Brahmā’s Heaven 40. Vishnu Asleep and Awake 41. Brahmā Describes the Earth’s Burden 42. The Speech of the Earth 43. The Gods Descend into their Characters 44. Nārada Reports from Mathurā 45. Vishnu’s Descent The Book of Vishnu The Killing of Kamsa 46. Nārada Visits Kamsa 47. The Arrangement with the Goddess Sleep 48. The Birth of Lord Krishna 49. The Journey to the Cattle Station 50. The Killing of Pūtanā 51. The Wrecking of the Two Arjuna Trees 52. Wolves Appear 53. The Move to Vrindāvana 54. Description of the Monsoon 55. The Discovery of Kāliya’s Pool 56. The Curbing of Kāliya 57. The Killing of Dhenuka 58. The Killing of Pralamba 59. Description of Autumn 60. The Mountain Festival 61. The Lifting of Mount Govardhana 62. Govinda’s Consecration 63. Playing with the Cowgirls 64. The Killing of Arishta 65. Kamsa Sends Akrūra to Fetch Krishna 66. Andhaka’s Response 67. The Killing of Keshin 68. Akrūra’s Arrival 69. The Sorrow of Krishna’s Parents 70. What Akrūra Saw in the World of the Snakes 71. The Breaking of the Bow 72. Kamsa Briefs the Wrestlers 73. Kamsa’s Story 74. The Killing of Kuvalayāpīda 75. The Killing of Chānūra 76. The Killing of Kamsa 77. Kamsa’s Women Weep 78. Kamsa’s Funeral and Ugrasena’s Consecration The Move to Dvārakā 79. The Fetching of the Guru’s Son 80. Mathurā Besieged 81. Battle against Jarāsandha 82. Jarāsandha’s Escape 83. Rāma Drags the Yamunā 84. Departure for Dvārakā 85. The Killing of Kālayavana 86. The Building of Dvārakā Adventures in the South 87. Rukminī’s Abduction 88. Rukminī’s Wedding 89. The Killing of Rukmin 90. The Greatness of Baladeva The Naraka Episode 91. The Killing of Naraka 92. The Return of the Earrings 93. Description of Dvārakā 94. Arrival at Dvārakā 95. Entry into the Assembly Hall 96. Nārada Lists Krishna’s Deeds 97. Krishna’s Deeds Continued The Greatness of Krishna 98. Narration of the Vrishni Lineage 99. The Killing of Shambara 100. The Story of the Blessed One 101. The Theft of the Brahmin’s Sons 102. Arjuna’s Attempt to Save the Brahmin’s Son 103. The Retrieval of the Brahmin’s Sons 104. The Greatness of Krishna 105. Vaishampāyana Lists Krishna’s Deeds The Battle Against Bāna 106. Kumbhānda’s Deliberations 107. The Rape of Ushā 108. Aniruddha Imprisoned in Arrows 109. The Vrishnis Consult 110. Fights with Fires, Fiends, and Fever 111. Fever Departs 112. The Battle against Bāna 113. Return to Dvārakā The Book of the Future 114. Janamejaya’s Descendants 115. Janamejaya and Vyāsa 116. The End of the Kali Age 117. The End of the Kali Age Continued 118. The Removal of Shatakratu’s Stain Genealogical Appendix From the Seven Seers to Daksha’s Daughters (Hv 1–3) Dharma’s Wives (Hv 3) Kashyapa’s Wives (Hv 3) Solar Lineage (Hv 8–10) Lunar Lineages: Yayāti and Sons (Hv 20–23) Janamejaya’s Ancestry From Pūru to Ajamīdha (Hv 23) Janamejaya’s Lineage From Ajamīdha (Hv 23, 114) Brahmadatta’s Lineage (Hv 11–19) Krishna’s Paternal Ancestry (Hv 23–25) Krishna’s Maternal Ancestry (Hv 26–28) Krishna and Sons (Hv 88, 98) Index of Names Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Map The Book of Krishna’s Lineage Creation and Cosmology 1. The First Creation 2. Daksha’s Creation 3. The Creation of Beings 4. The Installation of the Sovereigns 5. The Birth of Prithu 6. The Milking of the Earth 7. The Eras of the Fourteen Manus The Solar Lineage 8. The Birth of the Gods 9. The Offspring of Vivasvat Āditya 10. The Offspring of Vivasvat Āditya Continued The Duties to the Ancestors 11. Bhīshma and Shantanu 12. The Origin of the Ancestors 13. The Seven Kinds of Ancestors 14. Yoga Lost and Regained 15. Bhīshma and Ugrāyudha 16. The Killing of the Guru’s Cow 17. The Cursing of the Birds 18. King Brahmadatta and the Brahmins 19. The Special Verse The Lunar Lineage 20. The Birth of Soma 21. Indra’s Expulsion and Restoration 22. The Story of Yayāti 23. The Offspring of the Five 24. The Triple Lineage of Vrishni 25. The Birth of the Dark One 26. The Offspring of Jyāmagha 27. The Lineage of the Kukuras 28. The False Suspicion against Krishna 29. The Displaying of the Syamantaka Jewel The Gods and the Demons 30. Janamejaya’s Question 31. Overview of Vishnu’s Manifestations 32. Vishnu’s Promise 33. The Army of the Demons 34. The Army of the Gods 35. The Origin of the Aurva Fire 36. Enter Kālanemi 37. The Power of Kālanemi 38. The Killing of Kālanemi The Divine Plan 39. Description of Brahmā’s Heaven 40. Vishnu Asleep and Awake 41. Brahmā Describes the Earth’s Burden 42. The Speech of the Earth 43. The Gods Descend into their Characters 44. Nārada Reports from Mathurā 45. Vishnu’s Descent The Book of Vishnu The Killing of Kamsa 46. Nārada Visits Kamsa 47. The Arrangement with the Goddess Sleep 48. The Birth of Lord Krishna 49. The Journey to the Cattle Station 50. The Killing of Pūtanā 51. The Wrecking of the Two Arjuna Trees 52. Wolves Appear 53. The Move to Vrindāvana 54. Description of the Monsoon 55. The Discovery of Kāliya’s Pool 56. The Curbing of Kāliya 57. The Killing of Dhenuka 58. The Killing of Pralamba 59. Description of Autumn 60. The Mountain Festival 61. The Lifting of Mount Govardhana 62. Govinda’s Consecration 63. Playing with the Cowgirls 64. The Killing of Arishta 65. Kamsa Sends Akrūra to Fetch Krishna 66. Andhaka’s Response 67. The Killing of Keshin 68. Akrūra’s Arrival 69. The Sorrow of Krishna’s Parents 70. What Akrūra Saw in the World of the Snakes 71. The Breaking of the Bow 72. Kamsa Briefs the Wrestlers 73. Kamsa’s Story 74. The Killing of Kuvalayāpīda 75. The Killing of Chānūra 76. The Killing of Kamsa 77. Kamsa’s Women Weep 78. Kamsa’s Funeral and Ugrasena’s Consecration The Move to Dvārakā 79. The Fetching of the Guru’s Son 80. Mathurā Besieged 81. Battle against Jarāsandha 82. Jarāsandha’s Escape 83. Rāma Drags the Yamunā 84. Departure for Dvārakā 85. The Killing of Kālayavana 86. The Building of Dvārakā Adventures in the South 87. Rukminī’s Abduction 88. Rukminī’s Wedding 89. The Killing of Rukmin 90. The Greatness of Baladeva The Naraka Episode 91. The Killing of Naraka 92. The Return of the Earrings 93. Description of Dvārakā 94. Arrival at Dvārakā 95. Entry into the Assembly Hall 96. Nārada Lists Krishna’s Deeds 97. Krishna’s Deeds Continued The Greatness of Krishna 98. Narration of the Vrishni Lineage 99. The Killing of Shambara 100. The Story of the Blessed One 101. The Theft of the Brahmin’s Sons 102. Arjuna’s Attempt to Save the Brahmin’s Son 103. The Retrieval of the Brahmin’s Sons 104. The Greatness of Krishna 105. Vaishampāyana Lists Krishna’s Deeds The Battle Against Bāna 106. Kumbhānda’s Deliberations 107. The Rape of Ushā 108. Aniruddha Imprisoned in Arrows 109. The Vrishnis Consult 110. Fights with Fires, Fiends, and Fever 111. Fever Departs 112. The Battle against Bāna 113. Return to Dvārakā The Book of the Future 114. Janamejaya’s Descendants 115. Janamejaya and Vyāsa 116. The End of the Kali Age 117. The End of the Kali Age Continued 118. The Removal of Shatakratu’s Stain Genealogical Appendix From the Seven Seers to Daksha’s Daughters (Hv 1–3) Dharma’s Wives (Hv 3) Kashyapa’s Wives (Hv 3) Solar Lineage (Hv 8–10) Lunar Lineages: Yayāti and Sons (Hv 20–23) Janamejaya’s Ancestry From Pūru to Ajamīdha (Hv 23) Janamejaya’s Lineage From Ajamīdha (Hv 23, 114) Brahmadatta’s Lineage (Hv 11–19) Krishna’s Paternal Ancestry (Hv 23–25) Krishna’s Maternal Ancestry (Hv 26–28) Krishna and Sons (Hv 88, 98) Index of Names