BAKASURA IN SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM – SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS

Abstract

The Srimad Bhagavatam concisely and categorically presents spiritually rich topics of the Supreme Lord Krishna, about his various incarnations, his devotees, and Bhakti yoga (or the loving devotional service connected with him). This Purana tells us about the childhood plays of Lord Krishna during the Dwapara Yuga, about the killing of demons, about his interaction with his Yadava cowherd friends and with the gopikas. He embraced his friends and gopikas, and gave them a great sense of spiritual satisfaction, which they could not get anywhere else.

Bakasura or Vakasura was the crane asura killed by Lord Krishna. He was the companion of King Kamsa and the brother of Putana and Aghasura. He was sent by Kamsa in the form of a giant crane to kill Krishna so that the boy would not be able to kill the king as per the prophecy by an unknown voice, the Devi Yogamaya. Bakasura was then killed by Krishna when the boy pushed his beak until it snapped.

According  to  the  story, Balakrishna, with his elder brother Balarama and the cowherd boys (gopas) were having a good time with their cows near the banks of the Yamuna river. Bakasura, in the form of a crane with a sharp beak, swooped down from the sky and swallowed Krishna, but the demon felt intense heat in his throat, causing him to vomit the child out. Krishna then caught Bakasura by the beak and pushed it until it snapped, causing the asura to die and attain moksha (liberation), as it is believed that Krishna can liberate anyone’s atman if he kills him/ her. All the boys joyfully embraced the son of Nanda, one after another. Bakasura was the fourth demon killed by Lord Krishna.

Bakasura is described as a huge bird with a long beak and long, slender legs. From this information, we will try to find out what sort of a bird Bakasura is. There are two subjects in science that will help us in this regard: zoology and palaeontology. Zoology deals with the study of animals;  palaeontology  is the study of prehistoric life that involves the analysis of plant and animal remains called fossils, which are preserved in rocks.