Buckle up, folks, because we’re diving into the wild tale of Poundrik Vasudev, the guy who dared to cosplay as the Sri Krishna in the Dvapara Yuga. Long before “alternative facts” became a buzzword, this audacious king of Pundra (think ancient Bengal-Bihar vibes) was out here living his best impostor life. Move over, Instagram influencers—Poundrik was pulling stunts without a single hashtag!
The Man, The Myth, The Knockoff Chakra
Poundrik, as chronicled in the Bhagavata Purana (not B.R. Chopra’s TV epic, sorry!), ruled Pundravardhana and decided he was the real Vasudev Krishna. No kidding—this guy went all-in, brandishing a fake Sudarshana Chakra (Krishna’s iconic spinning disc) and a bootleg Kaumodaki mace. Commitment level? 100. He even roped his brother into playing Balarama and had a sidekick dressed as Hanuman, creating a full-on divine entourage. Talk about a squad that screams, “We’re legit, trust us!”
This wasn’t just a solo act. Poundrik rolled with the bad boys of the era—Jarasandh, the Magadha king with a major Krishna grudge, and Shakuni, the sly uncle from Mahabharata fame. Together, they were like the anti-Krishna fan club. Poundrik’s charm was so slick he even convinced the king of Kashi (hello, ancient Varanasi!) that he was the true blue deity. No WhatsApp, no X posts, just pure hustle and a whole lot of chutzpah.
The Divine Cosplay That Crashed
Poundrik had the audacity to parade his “alternate” divine gear in front of the actual Krishna. Picture this: our boy strutting into Dwarka, fake chakra gleaming, probably winking at the crowd like he’s the main event. Krishna, being the cosmic cool cat, let him have his moment—until he didn’t. The Bhagavata Purana spills the tea: when push came to shove, Poundrik’s knockoff arsenal was no match for Krishna’s OG Sudarshana Chakra. Spoiler alert: the showdown didn’t end well for our wannabe deity. One swift chakra spin, and Poundrik’s “alternate” dreams were toast. Some say Krishna, in his infinite mercy, granted him moksha anyway—because even epic fails can get a divine plot twist.
Poundrik 2.0: The Godman Hustle
Back in the Dvapara Yuga, Poundrik Vasudev had the audacity to cosplay as Sri Krishna, complete with a knockoff Sudarshana Chakra and a faux Balarama sidekick. Fast-forward to Kaliyuga, and we’ve got Godmen pulling the same stunt—no chakra required, just a microphone, a YouTube channel, and a knack for selling dreams. They promise everything from health to wealth to enlightenment, wrapping it all in a shiny spiritual package. Devotees eat it up, just like the king of Kashi fell for Poundrik’s act. Why? Because these modern Poundriks know how to tap into our deepest desires, serving hope on a platter with a side of charisma.
But here’s the kicker: it’s not just the followers who get hooked. These Godmen are often drunk on their own hype, believing they’re the real deal. That’s where Rahu sneaks in, the shadowy planet of illusion in Vedic astrology, whispering sweet nothings about their “divine mission.” Rahu’s like that friend who eggs you on to bet your life savings on a “sure thing” at the racecourse. It feels like you’re winning—until you’re not.
Rahu’s Ego Trap: The House of Cards
Rahu’s game is simple but deadly. He dangles your wildest dreams in front of you—fame, power, spiritual stardom—and makes you think it’s all your hard work paying off. The Godman builds ashrams, amasses followers, and maybe even gets a Netflix documentary (infamy is fame, right?). The ego swells like a monsoon cloud, convincing them they’re untouchable. But Rahu’s a trickster, not a team player. Just when they’re about to grab that ultimate “divine” crown, the illusion crumbles. A scandal drops, the law catches up, or the devotees wake up. Cue the house of cards collapsing, leaving nothing but headlines and broken dreams.
Poundrik learned this the hard way. His fake chakra and cosplay crew got him clout, but when he faced Krishna, reality hit like a cosmic slap. The Bhagavata Purana doesn’t pull punches: his ego-fueled charade ended with a one-way ticket to oblivion (or moksha, depending on Krishna’s mood). Today’s Godmen follow the same script, riding Rahu’s wave until it crashes. From billion-rupee empires to courtrooms, the fall is as predictable as a Bollywood plot twist.
Is Rahul all Bad?
Take Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, for instance. Rahu took him to spiritual heights beyond the reach of mortals. He travelled the world and established ISKON. And yes, ISKON has had its share of controversies. This is again Rahu’s nature expressing himself, blessing wholeheartedly, yet adding a tinge of a dark shade to it.
Escaping Rahu’s influence isn’t a walk in the park, and understanding him or what he fears most is the key. That takes us back to the story of origin, which I’ve explored in detail before (read the article here.) Indian tales are like onion layers; you peel them back multiple times, approaching them differently each time, and they reveal more.
In the story of Swarbhanu lies the secret that terrifies Rahu-Ketu, often overlooked as mundane.
In the Gita, Krishna tells Bharat (aka Arjun) that Truth alone is eternal. This Truth is what Swarbhanu feared. When the Sun and Moon exposed Swarbhanu’s truth, Vishnu put an end to him, but Rahu and Ketu were born. They’re described as shadows trying to overshadow the Sun and Moon, hiding the truth, even if only for a while.
Truth breaks the Rahu Ketu illusion and can be attained through knowledge. In astrology, Jupiter (knowledge) can counter Rahu, but even Jupiter can be corrupted by Rahu in Kaliyug.
We must be mindful of the knowledge we receive and use our free will. In a world filled with self-proclaimed divine beings, only truth can guide us. Poundrik craved attention and a larger-than-life image, which the King of Kashi, King Jarasandh, and others exploited for their selfish motives. They marketed Poundrik as the true Vishnu Avatar, but it all ended with his humiliating downfall.
We often reject knowledge for illusion, expecting Rahu to deliver like Jupiter, which isn’t possible. Just as many worshipped Poundrik during the Iron Age, ignoring the truth, today, we do the same. We’re drawn to fakes, seeking the easy way out, unwilling to let go of Rahu, trapped in our desires. Ironically, we turn to modern-day imposters to free ourselves from Rahu, perpetuating the cycle of illusion.
Hence, Namo Poundrikye!
