Sudama was a young boy who grew up with Krishna. Although he hailed from a poor family, Krishna and he became close friends at their gurukul. However, in adulthood, destiny took them down divergent paths— Krishna became the king of Dwaraka, while Sudama struggled to make ends meet. After a particularly difficult period, his wife urged him to seek help from his old friend. But Sudama had nothing to offer in return. So, he took along a bagful of poha, Krishna’s favourite snack.
At the opulent gates of the city, the guards were hesitant to grant him entry. Who was this weak man in tattered clothes? Why was he claiming to know the great king?
Soon, the news of Sudama’s arrival reached Krishna, and He rushed to the gates to welcome him. He gently washed his feet, fed him the choicest delicacies and regaled him with his royal adventures. Sudama was taken aback by his friend’s humility and the grandeur of his surroundings and sought to hide the ordinary poha offering.
But Krishna, being Krishna, noticed his friend’s discomfiture. He playfully snatched the gift away and began to feast on his favourite snack. They spent the day reminiscing about the good old days spent at the ashram of Guru Sandipani. All the while, Sudama tried but could not bring up his predicament. So, he headed home without a solution in sight. After many hours, he reached his village, but where was his old home? There was a stunning mansion standing in the place of his hut. He saw his wife dressed in beautiful clothes and his children enjoying themselves in the lush garden. Overcome with emotions, he understood what had transpired, and his eyes welled up. There had been no need to share his troubles with Krishna—because he had heard his unspoken prayers. And quietly blessed him with all he needed.
The following lessons are nestled in this evocative tale:
- Krishna never discriminated on the basis of wealth or social status; on the contrary, he lavished affection and honour on his simple friend.
- He cherished the bhakti of Sudama, although Sudama approached Him as a friend (sakhya bhaav). He accepted the ordinary gift of poha with joy— because it was offered with love.
- He did not wait for Sudama to ask for help; instead, He blessed him before he could ask.
This was a beautiful bhakti tale of compassion towards a childhood friend. But how about a tale of compassion towards a demon?
The Legend of Goddess Lakshmi and Demon Kolhasur
The ancient Puranas narrate the tale of Kolhasur, who was a shrewd demon king who reigned over Karvir (in modern-day Maharashtra). To please Goddess Lakshmi, he undertook extreme penance, and when she appeared, he asked for a boon—that she withdraw from Karvir for a century, so that he could humble the male gods who had defeated his sons.
She agreed, but her departure caused the power of divinity to desert the lands. With no opponent, Kolhasur became uncontrollable and unleashed destruction on the kingdom, destroying temples, looting subjects and terrorizing the vulnerable. This went on for a hundred years, at which time she returned in the Mahalakshmi avatar. Determined to save the innocents, she assumed a warrior persona, with a lion as her vahana and all her 18 arms holding weapons. With a swift jump, she landed on him, and as soon as her divine feet touched the demon, he realized his true nature. After all, he was the son of Lord Brahma and harboured the potential for goodness.
Remorse consumed him, and though defeat was imminent, he requested three boons:
- His place of death would become a pilgrimage site.
- Devi would come back and dwell in her abode, and the town would be named after him.
- A fruit named kohala would be ceremonially cut in his honour. The Devi agreed, forgave him and offered him salvation.
Since then, the city has been known as Kolhapur and is a key pilgrimage site where a demon is honoured along with a goddess.
This tale illustrates that divine generosity and compassion extend universally, even to demons, when they seek to overcome the darkness within.
