Two Demons

Rukmini prayed to Krishna to have a son who would grow as a great human being.  Krishna said that for this to come true I must propitiate Lord Shiva. I must leave for Kailasa and do my bit of penance there. At home he had a sworn enemy in Paundrika. He did all arrangements to protect his kingdom from the enemy in his absence.  Major responsibility for safety was given to Balarama, Uddhava and Satyaki. Krishna rode on Garuda and reached Badrinath.  All Rishis and Munis greeted Lord Krishna with great pleasure.  Krishna settled in Rayanashrama on the north banks of Alaknanda to meditate on Shiva.  All of a sudden there was a big commotion.  Someone was hunting animals. So animals were running all around. Meditation of Krishna was interrupted.  At the same time, to Krishna’s surprise, someone was praising Krishna in loud voice.  How can there be hunting in this holy place! Krishna wondered. All animals gathered around Krishna to save their life.  Hunting dogs arrived.  There arrived also the demons and cruel ghosts chasing the animals. A pair of demons came forward from the crowd.  More to Krishna’s astonishment, the demons were singing in praise of Krishna and also dancing around him. They were also remorseful.  They started interacting with Krishna—‘We are bad people, sinful and lowly creatures.  May we pray for your blessings, Dear Lord!’ Krishna enquired, “Who are you?  Where are you from? What do you want?? “I am Ghantakarna.  I am a well-known demon. This is my brother—a deadly creature. I am a devotee of Shiva. He directed me to worship you for attaining liberation” –said the demon Ghantakarna. Krishna did not say anything. The demons sat in meditation of Krishna at dead of night. Subsequently he entered into the state of Samadhi. Lord Krishna appeared before the demon and he started dancing in excitement.   Krishna blessed the demons and granted them salvation.