Edit: The revised version can be found here
The legend of the demon lord Bana was known far and wide. He was a monstrous being with cruel intentions. Bana thrived off of terrorizing others and making the lives of humans unbearable. The humans from the surrounding areas had been driven off to the point where only the demon race was thriving under Bana's rule. He enjoyed many awful things. One of his favorite things was to fight in battle with those that considered themselves worthy opponents. Bana had grown to the point where he was overflowing with confidence. He had a very strong sense of entitlement and arrogance. He did not think there was one person that could even rival him in a battle. So, he did something that many would not. He begged the god Shiva to send a worthy opponent his way.
Shiva was very reluctant to do this because Bana had no idea what was about to come his way. He granted Bana's wish, but he gave him fair warning of what was about to come. Bana ignored this warning and went about his life. He was eagerly waiting for the challenger to approach his kingdom.
The young hero Krishna would be the one to challenge the demon Bana. Krishna's sole purpose on earth was to ride the world of demons. He had been prolific at this even at a very young age. Krishna did not care for the legend of the demon Bana. Krishna knew what he was capable of and did not falter when he heard of Bana's strength. The demon had 1,000 arms that he used to wield weapons of terror. This did not phase Krishna. He was the hero of the people. He had the life-blood of Lord Vishnu running through his veins. When the time came to battle Bana, Krishna was ready. He took his discus in his hand and slashed each arm from the body of Bana. The demon could do nothing as Krishna dismantled him limb by limb. The young hero Krishna then proceeded to free the slaves of the kingdom and restore peace to those living in the realm.
(A photo of a statue of Krishna at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago. Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Author's Note: The story that I told was a direct retelling from its source. Krishna was created from the body of Lord Vishnu. He contained the might and power of Lord Vishnu. Krishna's purpose on earth was to rid the world of the demon lord Kansa and his allies. Krishna comes across many demons during his travels and he easily defeats them. Krishna was even able to do this when he was just a toddler. This exemplifies his extraordinary strength and abilities. This specific story details Krishna and his battle with the demon lord Bana who had 1,000 arms. Bana was a very confident and boastful demon. He prayed to the god Shiva for a worthy challenger. Bana would get this wish and Krishna would come to face him. In the end, Krishna easily defeats Bana. The demon begs for forgiveness and he is spared from his foolish judgement and actions.
Bibliography: Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories, by C. A. Kincaid. Source: Blogger.
Hi Jake! I enjoyed reading your story, I hadn't read about Krishna's encounter with Bana! It's always interesting to me reading about the demons in this class because they're often described as beautiful, prayerful, etc. and that's definitely not the picture we have of demons in western society. Krishna is so powerful but he always acts so nonchalant about it and doesn't go around bragging, so I always think it's cool to read about his achievements. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHey Jake,
ReplyDeleteI really liked this story! Krishna is such a cool character and I am glad you retold one of his stories. One suggestion that I have is that the story seems to be a little short. It might be a cool challenge with yourself if you tried to expand the story and put more imagery and details in it.
Hi Jake, I enjoyed reading your story. I didn't read this option, so it was nice to read another Krishna story beyond what I chose to read the past two weeks. I like how Shiva doesn't necessarily want to grant Bana's request because he knows how strong Krishna is, but Bana's insists. That leads to Bana's arrogance ultimately causing his defeat, and Krishna who maintains his humility being victorious.
ReplyDeleteHey Jake! I enjoyed your story and I believe the best thing about it is how we as humans in today's society can learn a lesson from it. From your story we learn that we should not boast nor ask for something that we know we cannot handle, which are lessons we all can implement in our everyday lives. I liked how you kept Krishna as the humble hero in your retelling. Overall, great story!
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