Category:Krsna and Monkeys
Theme Analysis
The childhood pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana are filled with interactions with His forest friends, particularly the monkeys. Srila Prabhupada describes how Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, would steal butter from the gopis not only for Himself but to feed the monkeys until they were satisfied. This analysis explores the playful nature of the Lord, who would break pots and distribute their contents in charity to the animals. It also highlights how Kṛṣṇa and Balarama would imitate the activities of Lord Rama and Hanuman, constructing make-believe bridges. Beyond the play, there is a deep spiritual lesson: Kṛṣṇa delivers every living entity that serves Him, and His devotees avoid "monkey renunciation"—a superficial show of detachment—in favor of real renunciation, which means using everything for Kṛṣṇa's service.
- The Butter Thief's Charity: Kṛṣṇa is famous for stealing butter, but His mischief had a charitable purpose; He would feed the monkeys yogurt and butter, breaking the pots when they were full.
- Imitating Past Incarnations: Kṛṣṇa and Balarama often played by imitating the pastimes of Lord Rama, jumping like monkeys and building bridges, showing the continuity of the Lord's identity.
- Deliverance of Animals: Any animal, including a monkey, that saw or served Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana was delivered; this includes great souls like Jambavan who served Lord Rama.
- Monkey Renunciation: Srila Prabhupada contrasts true devotion with "monkey renouncement"—nakedness and living in the forest without internal purity—advocating instead for practical service to the Lord.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Butter Thief and His Friends – Kṛṣṇa and Monkeys.
Pages in category "Krsna and Monkeys"
The following 20 pages are in this category, out of 20 total.
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- Krsna and Balarama passed Their childhood age in Vrajabhumi by engaging in activities of childish play, such as playing hide-and-seek, constructing a make-believe bridge on the ocean, and jumping here and there like monkeys - SB 10.11.59
- Krsna once addressed Jarati thus: "My dear good woman, the skin of your face is now slackened, and so your face exactly resembles a monkey's. As such, the King of the monkeys, Balimukha, has selected you as his worthy wife"
- Krsna was sitting on an upside-down wooden mortar for grinding spices and was distributing milk preparations such as yogurt and butter to the monkeys as He liked - SB 10.9.8
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- Mother Yasoda saw this (Krsna breaking the butter pots and distributing the content with His friends and the monkeys of Vrindavana), and out of her pure love she wanted to make a show of punishment for her transcendental child
- Mother Yasoda wanted to impress upon Krsna that since He was afraid merely to see her stick, He should not perform such disturbing activities as breaking the container of yogurt and butter and distributing its contents to the monkeys
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- She (Jarati) had already taken shelter of Krsna, the killer of many powerful demons, and therefore she had already decided to marry Krsna instead of the King of the monkeys
- Sometimes, in their presence, He would begin eating the curd and butter. There was no need for Krsna to eat butter, since His belly was always full, but He would try to eat it, or else He would break the pots and distribute the contents to the monkeys
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- The great reservoir of pleasure, Lord Sri Krsna, thus thought to Himself, "Mother Yasoda first of all left without feeding Me sufficient milk, and therefore I broke the pot of yogurt and distributed the stock butter in charity to the monkeys"
- The Lord, in His naturally childish playful activities, used to spoil the stocked butter of mother Yasoda by breaking the pots and distributing the contents to His friends and playmates, including the celebrated monkeys of Vrndavana
- There was no need for Krsna to eat butter, since His belly was always full, but He would try to eat it, or else He would break the pots and distribute the contents to the monkeys. In this way, Krsna was always engaged in mischief-making
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- We don't want monkey renouncement; we want real renouncement. We don't use anything for my personal comfort; everything for Krsna. That is called renouncement
- When the Lord was present as Lord Rama, Jambavan, the great king of the monkeys, rendered very faithful service to Him. When the Lord again appeared as Krsna, He married Jambavan's daughter and paid him all the respect that is usually given to superiors
- When the monkeys assemble, He (Krsna) divides it (the stolen palatable curd, butter and milk) with them, and when the monkeys have their bellies so full that they won't take more, He breaks the pots - SB 10.8.29
- When Yasoda & Rohini were unable to protect the babies (Krsna & Rama) from calamities threatened by monkeys, dogs & cats, & by thorns, swords & other weapons on the ground, they were always in anxiety, & their household engagements were disturbed - SB 10
- While Krsna was teasing Jarati in this way, she replied that she was certainly aware of the fact that the King of the monkeys was trying to marry her