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What are the most famous episodes from Krishna’s childhood in the Bhagavata Purana?
Child Krishna’s adventures in the Bhagavata Purana read like the world’s most enchanting fairy tale—only richer and infinitely more playful. A few standouts keep popping up in temple murals, dance dramas and lantern-lit Janmashtami celebrations:
• The Butter Thief’s Charms
Little Krishna earned the nickname “Makhan Chor” by churning every pot of yogurt in Gokul upside down. Stealing butter became a cheeky game of hide-and-seek with Yashoda. Those mischievous blue-cheeked grins and sticky little fingers still light up mural panels across India today.
• Putana and the Whirlwind Demon
Before mastering the cosmos, those pudgy arms dispatched Putana, the milk-maligning demoness, with a single suck—and sent Trinavarta, the whirlwind fiend, spinning off like a broken kite. It’s a vivid reminder that innocence and power can coexist like sunshine after rain.
• The Serpent-King Kaliya
When Kaliya poisoned the Yamuna’s waters, Krishna dove in headfirst, dancing across the serpent’s hoods. Each step forced the black coils to bow—an image as iconic now as the viral reels of kids in Vrindavan reenacting the whole scene every Nag Panchami.
• Lifting Govardhan Hill
Tired of Indra’s tantrums, Krishna hoisted Govardhan Hill on a little finger, sheltering cows and villagers from torrential storms. That moment transformed ecological stewardship into divine play—and ever since, Govardhan Puja has been a calendar highlight, with families creating miniature hills out of food.
• Slaying the Demons in Disguise
From Shakatasura the cart-demon to Bakasura the crane, each villain arrived in a fresh costume, only to be outmatched by Krishna’s boundless wit and strength. These tales still pepper children’s storybooks and weekend puppet shows.
• The Gopi-Clothes Caper
In an innocent game, Krishna snatched the gopis’ garments while they bathed, teasing them up the riverbank. It combined humor with devotion, hinting at a deeper message: true surrender strips away every mask.
These childhood episodes are anything but old hat. They continue to inspire everything from Bollywood song-and-dance numbers to eco-themed art installations, proving that Krishna’s youthful antics never go out of style.