Temple Description

Bala Krishna, also known as Bālakṛṣṇa or Bala Gopala, represents the childhood form of the Hindu deity Krishna. This form of Krishna was one of the earliest ways he was worshipped.

According to legend, Krishna was the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva, born to fulfill a prophecy to defeat his evil uncle, Kamsa, the ruler of Mathura. Shortly after his birth in prison, Krishna asked his father to transport him to Vraja, where he would grow up among the cowherds with his brother, Balarama. In Gokulam, he was cared for by his foster parents, Yashoda and Nanda.

As a child, Krishna is famous for his playful mischief, such as stealing butter from the cowherd families. Butter, symbolizing love in Krishna devotion, reflects its boundless and immeasurable nature. Krishna’s childhood antics included untethering cows, teasing others, and disregarding societal norms, all of which are seen as expressions of his divine play, or līlā, in interacting closely with the world.

Krishna’s early life is also marked by miraculous feats. His uncle Kamsa, fearful of Krishna’s destiny, sent various demons to kill him. For instance, Putana, a demoness who tried to poison Krishna, was killed when Krishna absorbed her life force through her poisoned milk. Similarly, Krishna defeated Bakasura, a demon in the guise of a crane, and Aghasura, a serpent demon, by growing in size to destroy him from within.

Additionally, Krishna played a role in liberating cursed beings. The Bhagavata Purana tells of Manigriva and Nalakuvara, sons of the wealth god Kubera, who were turned into trees as punishment for their arrogance. Krishna freed them by uprooting the trees while he was tied to a mortar by Yashoda, who had tried to restrain him to prevent his mischief.

One of Krishna’s well-known stories involves him showing the universe to Yashoda. When accused of eating mud, Krishna opened his mouth to reveal a vast cosmic vision that included the entire universe, leaving Yashoda amazed and awestruck.

In art, Bala Krishna is commonly depicted as a playful toddler, often seen crawling or dancing with butter. His childhood exploits became central to various devotional movements in medieval India, highlighting his divine nature and his role as Svayam Bhagavan, the supreme deity.