Akshaya Thrithi, Hindu Festival Stories- Krishna and Kusela

ELong time ago in the city of Mathura, there lived a cowherd named Krishna. Krishna was playful boy who had many friends. He played flute alluringly and his friends admired him for his unusual talents and evidence of power.

Krishna had a friend named Sudama. Sudama was also called Kusela. He was a poor Brahmin. He was downtrodden and lived hand to mouth.

Though Krishna was from a rich family, his status never came between his friendship with Sudama. They played together, stole butter, enjoyed the melody of flute together. Sudama often brought rice flakes with him which Krishna liked a lot. They had a happy childhood.

As years passed by, both of them deviated from each other towards fulfilment of larger family and social duties. Sudama engaged in higher studies of Vedas and other scriptures to attain proficiency, while Krishna geared towards marital art and engaged in various socio-political matters. After his maternal uncle, Kansa was killed, Krishna went to rule over the city of Dwarka. Thus, the childhood friends were separated by time.

Sudama who was a brahmin by practice was poverty stricken. He could make ends meet only after begging for entire day. One night, when he saw a beautiful peacock's feather in his child's hand, he remembered Krishna. He told his wife about the wonderful days he had spend with Krishna in his early childhood. Tears rolled down his eyes as he remembered Krishna.

Hearing Sudama's, his wife was moved. She asked Sudama to go and meet Krishna. However, Sudama was reluctant. He reasoned, 'Its been years since I have met Krishna. How would he remember me? He rules Dwarka and I am so poor! How will he remember me?'

Sudama sighed in despair. But his wife insisted, 'You should go and met Krishna. I am sure he will welcome you and help you. You should go to Dwarka'.

Convinced by his wife, Sudama went to Dwarka to met Krishna. It was the day of Akshaya Tritiya. Sudama carried some beaten rice in a knot of cloth, remembering that Krishna loved beaten rice.

When Sudama reached Krishna's palace, he was very warmly greeted and welcomed by Krishna. Krishna hugged his friend with his eyes filled with tears. He invited Sudama to his grand chambers and washed his feet. He gave Sudama the highest level of respect deserved in Aryan society by both brahmins and guests.

Sudama hid the knot of rice flakes he was carrying. He felt ashamed and unmatched to the grandeur in which Krishna lived.

But Krishna was witty. He asked Sudama, 'Friend, what are you hiding? You came from so far, haven't you got anything for me?'

Filled with hesitation and shame, Sudama extended the knotted rice flakes to Krishna. Krishna's eyes sparkled when he saw rice flakes. He was elated to know that his friend remembered what he liked. Krishna served Sudama with a grand meal and are the rice flakes himself.

Sudama intended to ask Krishna for monetary help but was too hesitant. He was served well by Krishna, but could not ask Krishna to help him. So he left the palace satisfied with Krishna's hospitality. But Krishna knew Sudama's heart. It is said that the moment Krishna ate the rice brought by Sudama his poverty was eradicated. Sudama went home unaware of this blessing. When he reached home, he found a grand palace in place of his hut. His family waited for him happily in the palace. Sudama was blessed by Krishna and his consort Rukhmini (incarnation of Laksmi) with wealth and prosperity on the day of Akshaya Thrithi.

Did you know who Sudama was ?
Lord Narada (popularly called Narada muni - muni meaning sage) admired Lord Vishnu's incarnation as Krishna. He took birth as Sudama to fulfill his desire to enjoy the transcendental plays of Krishna in his childhood and again his blessings later.