The ladies continued to talk loudly among themselves, “If the pot of curd hung to the ceiling is beyond his reach, Krishna uses a plank, a stool, a mortar or a friend’s shoulder as support and climbing on it he reaches the pot. In this way, he devices unique techniques to reach the pot of curd.”

Although Krishna was a tiny boy, He would playfully drag huge stone mortars when needed. Although this was an unbelievable feat, his playmates who were accustomed to witnessing such miraculous deeds, never assigned much importance to it. Where planks or mortars were not within reach, He would create human pyramid. He would then climb up the pyramid to reach the pot of curd.

Even to this date, in many cities, team sports such as dahi-hānḍi are celebrated wherein a pot of curd is hung at a great height. Hundreds of boys gather to form a huge human pyramid, with one set of boys standing on the shoulders of another set. One boy, uses this pyramid as a ladder and reaches the top and then, using a huge rod he breaks the pot of curd spilling all the contents upon the participants. This festive celebration is in memory of Krishna’s childhood activities. At times, milk, coins, butter or water are filled into the pot in lieu of curd.

It is happy that at least in the name of sports, the Lord’s name and his activities are being remembered. Perhaps, the boys who participate in such sports, were some Mahatmas in their previous births. How else can one explain their inclination towards this sport?

When Krishna asked his friends to form a human pyramid, He was insistent that he alone should climb the human ladder and reach the pot. Being the youngest of all, He was adamant. If at all any boy dissented, He would show his anger by breaking the pots of milk and curd that were in the vicinity.

“Krishna is adept in identifying the contents of the pot hung to the ceiling. He is also adept in devising newer techniques to reach them. While ensuring that the pot hung to the ceiling remains steady without any movement, he steals the butter contained in it”.

This action of Krishna has a profound spiritual significance which I shall narrate later. The term ‘ensuing the pot remains steady’ is of deep Vedic significance.

“He even steals milk from the pots hung to the ceiling while ensuring the pot remains steady.”

The boys took great precaution to ensure that the inmates of the house were unaware of their entry. Silently they would complete the activities of stealing milk, butter or curd. It was a very well-organized team effort. They would breathe very silently lest anyone would sense their presence. The spiritual significance contained in His action of stealing milk from a pot without tilting is different from that of stealing curd from a pot without tilting it.

“He makes holes to the pot hung in the ceiling and drinks milk from it”.

In those instances where the pot was far beyond his reach, Krishna would make a small hole in that pot and would drink the milk that flowed through the hole. After drinking to his heart’s content, He would ensure that the other boys got their due share. In this entire exercise, the pot wouldn’t break nor would it move even slightly. Nevertheless, all its contents would have been emptied.

Why was the Lord overly fond of milk, curd and butter? Why was he stealing only these items from the homes of the cowherds? Within this too there is a deep hidden significance. Barring these three items, no other object caught His fascination in any home.

“On some days, he enters dark rooms and using his glowing jewels as the lamp he lights up the place”.

Due to the brightness caused by the glowing jewels, He was able to locate the pots. In order to dispel the darkness within us, the illumining jewel called ‘the Supreme Lord’ has to emerge within us. The supreme jewel called Paramatma should emerge in our mind. It is divine illumination. This illumination is Krishna. When we remember Lord Krishna, all our sins will be destroyed. All the varied form of troubles that torment us will be eliminated and the form of the Supreme Lord Krishna will emerge within.

For this reason, whenever the mind is agitated or whenever the body is totally diseased, focus upon the Supreme Lord. Thinking of Him itself is illumination. When this illumination emerges in the heart, the darkness within, which exists in the form of diseases, laziness etc. will automatically be destroyed. This important symbolism is explained through this story.

Without the knowledge of the person, He enters the mind and steals their sins. This is stealing butter. How did the sins disappear? Since you were thinking exclusively of Him, He stealthily entered and stole away the sins.

Why is it said that He stole the milk and milk products while ensuring that the pot remains steady? Here the pot represents the human body. Without the knowledge of the body and without causing any movement to the body he steals the sins.

Normally if butter is stuck to a pot, then while removing the butter the pot has to move, here however he removed the butter without causing the pot to move. Many fruitive actions (karma) and sins attach to the pot called human body. This karma seeks shelter under all the senses. He deftly plucked away the karma, which was attached to the senses, without causing the gross body to move. Here it is explained as stealing butter without shaking the pot even slightly.

When there is excessive fluid retention in the body, it is drained out using pipes. Likewise, some sins which are attached to the body are being drained out by the Lord. This is symbolized by Krishna making small holes in the pot and drinking that milk.

Here the room was illumined by the jewels that were glowing on His body. These jewels illumined the objects that were stored in the room.

Vamanaya namah