KRISHNA OVERTURNS A HANDCART
Artist: Jadurani Devi Dasi
After three months when baby Krishna was trying to rise up and turn over on His back, a Vedic ceremony was performed called
utthana. When a child tries to turn over, this ceremony is celebrated, and the child
is taken out of the house for the first time. Yashoda invited the other ladies of the neighborhood and joyfully called for
the learned brahmanas to chant Vedic hymns. She gave in charity on this occasion and greeted guests. When she saw Krishna
had fallen asleep, she laid Him in a crib and set the crib under a handcart. Krishna later woke up and wanted His mother’s
breast milk. In anger he kicked the wheel of the cart. There was a demon hiding in the cart, who had been sent by Kamsa to
Gokula to kill small children. When the small infant kicked the cart, the demon was killed and the cart was overturned, making
a loud sound. Yashoda rushed to see what happened and picked up baby Krishna. She allowed Krishna to drink her breast milk.
The children nearby told Yashoda that Krishna had kicked the cart, causing it to overturn. Yashoda did not believe that it
was possible. This pastime is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10th canto, 7th
chapter.
