On the trivialization of Krsna's childhood pastimes.

[Jagannāth Miśra Dās]

HareKrsna to one and all. On a recent visit to a temple, I overheard someone declare, “I look forward to reading Krsna’s pastimes to my grand children.” Although Krsna’s bālya-līlā, as revealed in tenth skanda, was never obviously intended for children, it seems that now in ISKCON these pastimes are considered to be meant only for children. We must surely lament that the most lofty esoteric metaphysical and theological passages of the Bhagavat Purana have been trivialized by puerile cartoons; and insensibly converted into bed time stories for children, whom were never its intended audience (since when have the prayers of Brahma, the praises of Vasudeva and Devaki or the hymns of the naga-patnis been meant for a child?) Yet the pernicious affect of this Dysney-like simple presentation catering solely to the taste of children, is that most members of the hare-krsna movement (to varying degrees) sadly consider Krsna’s majestic childhood exploits to be primarily aimed at toddlers; and as such have neglected to familiarize themselves with these sublime passages. Cute little cartoon Krsna has a lovely yummy picnic with his happy-clappy smiling friends in the beautiful flowery forest, and then kills the big bad naughty monster. Goodnight. If there has ever been an example of why unqualified people should not hear the bhagavatam, surely this is it; the utter and total shameless trivialization of Govinda’s balya-lila; or if there has ever been an example of why one needs to constantly hear these pastimes in the company of Sadhus, surely this is it. Any thoughts?