Smashana Kurukshetra

The following article is a based on a play written by the poet Kuvempu in Kannada named “Smashana Kurukshetra(1931)”. The poet has narrated the events in the Smashana and Yugas metaphorically and it helps us to identify the leela of Maa Kali. I have translated a few portions of the play that are relevant in our study of Maa Kali as Sri Krishna.

18th day of the Kurukshetra war

The evening after Bheema and Dhuryodhana’s gadha yuddha that left the latter wounded in his thigh, the war ended. He was left to reflect on his actions and the consequences of his choices throughout the war. Later that night there was only death and darkness in the Yudha Bhoomi that lingered. Everyone who was alive, searched for their wounder or dead kith and kin in the war ground. Kunti was in search of her first born -Karna. Gandhari was searching for all her dead sons. There was no distinction between who belonged to the pandavas or the kauravas in the Rudra Bhoomi. All were perturbed by the aftermath in the greatest war waged for Dharma Raksha. That very night is when Dwapara yuga would end in the smashana kurukshetra and Kali yuga would begin.

Metaphorical conversation between the yugapurushas

The below conversation can be understood figuratively or as the epiphany that occurred in the mind of Dhuryodhana while he was bleeding to his death.

In great sadness the brave yet distraught yugapurush Dwapara stepped along the war zone and saw Kalipurush in the very blood ridden smashana.

Dwapara, “ Look at this, Kalideva we face each other in the Smashana. You will become the Yugapurusha and your pattabhisheka is to be done in this smashana filled with death.

Kali, “ Why are you so disappointed Dwapara Deva? This world will take a new form and emerge in a different time. In the death - new life is hidden and in the destruction the creation has already begun. Death is the adhara(foundation) for new life and Destruction is the uthsaha(zeal) for creation”.

Dwapara, “ So you mean to say among the Yugas, Kaliyuga is the Shreshta?(greatest)”

Kali, “ I will not address this subject on greatness now. Based on the previous yuga’s adhara, I will create the coming age(Bhavya madira of Kala). So don not be disappointed”.

After this Dwapara handed his crown To kali and wished him well to rule the coming yuga and left to see Dhuryodhana for the very last time.

Even in the transition of yugas, we can see how previous dharma and karma is inscribed in Kaliyuga’s foundation. This answers the very basic question of Sri Krishna being Maa Kali. Because, Maa Kali has created Kaliyuga from the dwaparayuga itself. To traverse one has to follow all that which she has carefully placed in messages as Sri Krishna.

Conversation between Krishna and Rudra Deva

The following is a conversation between Rudra Deva and Sri Krishna none other than Maa Kali where she has carved her essence of creation, sustenance and destruction in the blueprints of each Yugas as a part of divine Rasaleela.

Sri Krishna had approached Dhuryodhana and gave darshan of his virata swaroopa in order to reform his mind and let to let go of his anger. At that time, Dwapara Yugapurusha came to Dhuryodhana, bowed to him and told “ Because of you my rulership in this Yuga is satiated and you helped mark the end of this it aswell.” Dwapara payed respects to him and left.(could also mean that Dhuryodhana has made peace with all that has occurred and is about to leave his body)

During the midnight, Rudra Deva was seen to have smeared the ashes of both the kauravas and pandavas. He stood on the Bhasma Rashi of the dead in the Rudrabhoomi. Sri Krishna approached to speak with Rudra deva about the Yuga Parivartana.

Krishna - “You have arrived my Lord. The seeding of the new creation has to begin and you have to do it now” .

Rudra Deva - “Yes! Sutradhara, the Guru of Rasikas. The drishya kavya (play) you have orchestrated is paripoorna(complete) with navarasa and beyond explanation. Vasudeva what Mahakavya have you planned for the future?”

Krishna - “The Kaliyuga MahaKavya. Tomorrow is the beginning of the show(peetika drishya). The start of Kaliyuga.”

Rudra Deva - “Suthradhari, I do want to watch the divyadrishya, the Maha Lalita Kavaya of Kaliyuga. Will you please show it to me?”

Krishna - “Yes, I will show the important ones …Come look…Bharatha Varsha… Gauthama Buddha… MahaChakravarthy Ashoka… Asia Khand… Christ… Yavana Desh.. Roman Empire… Europe Khand… England… Skill of Yantra… Arabic land… Mohammad… Kerala… Shankaracharya… Mughal Empire… Maharashtra… Kannada… Poet Ranna… Vijayanagara Empire… Great Western wars… Russia… Revolution… Democracy… End of Monarchy… Upheaval in Religious preaching… China… Blood Flood… Firing… Roudhram… Poverty… Helplessness… SriRamaKrishna Paramahamsa… Vivekananda… Fight for Freedom… Ahimsa path… Satyagrahas… Atyachara… Destruction… “

Rudra Deva became very angry upon listening to this and lifts his Trishul to destroy the Kaliyuga even before it began.

Sri Krishna - “ Be patient Rudra Deva. Do not wipe out my MahaKavya so soon. In the very distant future within the Kala Garbha there is human samsara… family, husband-wife, kids… also Shringara kavya… is hidden within. Let us witness the play that is unfolding and savour the divya kavya of Kaliyuga.”

The play ends here with the message that Death is the Adhara for new beggings that echoes in the Smashana’s Garbha. The Smashana Kurukshetra has now become a purified place to birth the very beginning of a new Yuga.

In the Smashana, Kali awaits not only to devour but also to birth creation itself from her Garbha.

BhairavaKaalike Namosthuthe

Jai Maa AdyaMahaKali

Gurudeva🙏

Bhargavi