Krishna is the most popular divine hero of India in human form. Krishna's story is full of exciting events all through his life. Wicked men, women and creatures are often up against him but he defeats them all, as a cowherd boy or as grown up hero loved by his peers and others. Krishna's parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, were kept in prison right after their marriage, by Devaki's cousin brother Kamsa. Their seven children born in prison were slain by Kamsa to falsify the prophecy of his death by one of them. Krishna was the eighth. Vasudeva carried newborn Krishna secretly to the cowherd community Gokula. Krishna grew up there as son of Nanda and Yashoda and brother of Balarama. Kamsa sent Putana, the poison-milk demoness to do away with Krishna. She herself met her end. Krishna the cowherd boy played pranks with the neighbours, played the flute, tamed bulls, killed a poisonous snake in the pool where cattle drank water, led the cowherds to worship the mountain that supported their cattle. Kamsa pursues Krishna all this while. Finally, he gets Krishna and Balarama to his capital Mathura for wrestling matches. Krishna succeeds in winning them. He puts Kamsa to death and brings Kamsa's father back to the throne.
Anant Pai popularly known as Uncle Pai, was an Indian educationalist and creator of Indian comics, in particular the Amar Chitra Katha series in 1967, along with the India Book House publishers, and which retold traditional Indian folk tales, mythological stories, and biographies of historical characters. In 1980, he launched Tinkle, a children's anthology, which was started under Rang Rekha Features, India's first comic and cartoon syndicate, that lasted till 1998, with him as the Managing Director.
Today, Amar Chitra Katha sells about three million comic books a year, in English and more than 20 Indian languages, and has sold about 100 million copies since it inception in 1967 by Anant Pai, and in 2007 was taken over by ACK Media.
I am a person who starts every day reading the words of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. There are hundreds of inspiring and entertaining stories associated with Krishna written in Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
This book will be an ideal gift to your kids to let them know more about Krishna.
Excellent introduction to the story of Krishna - beautiful art. Find the stories about Krishna very interesting; he often is almost a 'mirror' that reflects our potentiality. As such I think that the lessons that are presented through stories about his struggles challenge us to keep striving to reach our truest nature.
I first read Krishna (Amar Chitra Katha #11) in 1992, when my idea of gods was still shaped as much by school prayers as by the smell of hot jilipi-kochuri after Saturday temple visits.
Anant Pai’s storytelling, paired with Ram Waeerkar’s art, made Krishna less of a distant deity and more of a living, mischievous presence in my room.
The comic zipped from miraculous birth to butter-thieving childhood, from playful flute music to cosmic wisdom, without ever feeling rushed. I remember lingering on the panels of little Krishna with butter smeared on his cheeks, smiling at his sheer audacity. Waeerkar’s lines gave the story a kinetic energy—cows, demons, and villagers all seemed in motion, swept up in Krishna’s orbit.
What struck me most, even as a child, was the balance of play and power. One page, you’re laughing at him stealing clothes from bathing gopis; the next, you’re wide-eyed as he lifts Govardhan Hill to protect his people. The epic scope was somehow contained in those thin, glossy pages, in a format I could carry to school and read during recess.
Reading it in 1992, I didn’t think of mythology, theology, or cultural heritage. I just thought Krishna was the coolest person—divine or human—I’d ever read about. That feeling stuck.
Even now, the memory of those bright panels feels like the first time a god stepped down from the pedestal and walked, barefoot, into my imagination.
Amar Chitra Katha is simply the best. Stories from the Hindu Mythology and others are well written and illustrated. This Comic Book on LORD KRISHNA clearly illustrates the birth and childhood of LORD KRISHNA.
Concise and upto the points. Graphics are also good. Length of the comics could also be increased to explain events in more details. A lot of events bas been described in very small text (not that much in detail)
1. It's fascinating how certain motifs keep popping up in completely different mythologies. Krishna's birth is a highly visually dramatic scene, complete with prison break, a dark and stormy night, a multi headed giant cobra acting as an umbrella for a newborn baby (which, incidentally, is not depicted in this book BOO) and a straight up parting of the water a la Moses. Add that to Kamsas' horror at the baby turned goddess, and it's all very dramatic I approve.
2. So anyway, this book only covers Krishna's life from boyhood to the Kamsa episode, and should more aptly be titled Balakrishna but eh. It's still great to see a toddler fend off multiple assassination attempts while keeping everyone around him in the dark. Truly worthy of the title of Trickster God. I do however, know more childhood monster slaying stories than were mentioned here, so I'm just a bit disappointed.
3. That was a VERY INTERESTING panel there, where Yashodha got very mad at the implication of Devaki being Krishna's actual mom. It was not a perspective or story I read as a kid but it does seem too mature and sex heavy for a children's version so now I'm curious. Huh.
4. All the myths depict Archery, Chariotering and Wrestling as the most relevant manly pursuits, which is a fascinating departure from Western tradition. The last few pages are basically a prolonged wrestling contest and it's interesting to note how different Krishna is from most of the rigidly honor-bound heroes of Hindu epics. He staight up sneak-attacks Kamsa with no warning. Good for him.
A children's Indian mythology comic book revolving around the life of Lord Krishna reveired God of Hindus. This book is in the series of books produced by the Amar Chita Katha Publication. Short and simple writing style very engrossing and comfortable table to read. The quality of pages could have been better. Overall a good read.
What a wonderful pictorial depiction. Stories are read and movies are watched....only Amar Chitra Kathas can do both and more (let's us imagine as well).. As usual one more such beautiful story of Krishna...seriously addictive content these short stories from ACK (Amar Chitra Kathas)
"Krishna" by Anant Pai is one of numerous Amar Chitra Katha comics. I have never read any one of such comics before. This one was an awesome start to enter the world of Amar Chitra Katha comics. This comic exposes us to the basic knowledge of one of our Hindu mythological stories.
Good book and quite informative. Loved reading this to my daughter who's 6 years old. Would recommend parents to read it to kids so that they learn history.
Short and precise. Perfect for kids to know the basics of Lord Krishna's story. Although would have been more fun if it could have some extra detailing of the events.
I was a huge fan of ACK during my childhood days. Felt like reading these again. This is my first Kindle book and I feel I couldn't have started with a better one.
I've always loved ACK's short pictorial stories on Hindu deities, Hats off to the editors for including just the right amount of content in the comic book and the wonderful illustrations.
Also I enjoyed this brief read on Lord's Krishna's backstory from birth.