Krishnavatara

K. M. Munshi is credited as the founder of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. But his literary work, "Krishnavatara", a seven book series on the life of Krishna, was brought to my notice by a colleague of mine. Most of the books on Krishna or the Mahabharata, portrays him as a super-human immortal who can work miracles and ensure the safety of the right by destroying the evil. However, Krishnavatara is a little different. It portrays Krishna as a clever and self-realized individual rather than as God. This work downplays his super-human aura, but still highlights his great personality. K. M. Munshi has tried to give a rational explanation for most of his miracles. By doing so, he has definitely instilled confidence and has made it easy for people to emulate Krishna's way of living.

Unfortunately, the author did not survive to complete the entire work. The 8th volume is incomplete. I have read the first book of the series called "The Magic Flute". This book covers the wedding of Devaki and Vasudeva, the birth of Krishna and his youth at Gokul and Vrindavan. The book ends with the killing of Kamsa. On the web, I found some interesting excerpts from different books of this series. The best was the excerpt on Dharma and how Krishna himself is confused about it. The link for the Dharma excerpt is given below.

What is Dharma?
" Dharma is not merely a hope. Nor speculation. Nor rituals. Nothing which is inspired by anger, greed or fear.... It is the will to shape oneself, men and situations, by rising above weaknesses. No, that was not enough; Dharma for each one is, to weld the vision, the will and the deed - they are not three but one - so that he may strive, each in his own way, to live in All - VAASUDEVA - so that All may live in him."

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