My father was a great story teller and we learned about Ramayanam and Mahabharatham from him. He was so zealous about us knowing Hindu culture that we were even made to learn and recite passages from Bhagavath Geetha. So, anxious to continue the tradition I tell stories of Krishna and other Hindu Gods to my son and also buy up Amar Chitra Kathas on each vacation to India. So when my son wanted to know whom Krishna had married, I was pleased that he was paying attention. Any way, I told him that Krishna had married nearly 10,000 women. Then I waited for his reaction, because the first time I had heard about this, I had been angry at this very apparent polygamy. Even my father’s explanation, that ultimately all souls join the supreme soul which is represented by Vishnu and marrying 10,000 women by Krishna was basically the same as he is but an avatar of Vishnu, did not pacify me.
My son was wiser, he said, All those women are so lucky.”
“Why?”
“Because they are all married to a God and gods would never be angry, they would not shout when their wife makes a mistake. He will understand and correct her without being angry. Gods would be kind and full of love.”
I must say I was impressed by his perspective on this. Sometimes when we lose our way amidst hate and bigotry, it is good to ask for a child’s perspective on the issue.
