Shree krishna govind hare murari

One Mura demon fought with the Lord for a long time.  The Lord went into a cave to ‘recuperate’ and slept.  Mura came in and found the Lord sleeping and was about to ‘slay’ Him.  A female Shakti form emerged from the Lord’s body and battled with Mura.  She killed him.  The Lord woke up and granted benedictions to her who was given the name Ekadasi.  We fast from grains on her days.  Since she slew Mura, how did Krishna get the name Sri Murari?

More recently (5,000 years ago), another Mura demon was the commander-in-chief of a demon named Narakasura or Bhaumasura, the son of Mother Earth, Bhumi.  Lord Krishna defeated and killed that Mura demon.  Some say this is the reason why Krishna is called Murari.  But Krishna already had that name.  Murari does not just mean “The one who killed the Mura demon”. 

There is yet another Mura demon whose exploits are recorded in the Vamana Purana, and which occurred way back in ancient times.   This Mura, like other demons had perverted ambitions.  He performed severe austerities and Lord Brahma eventually appeared before him to ask what he wanted.  Mura asked for the benediction that whoever is touched by his hands will die.  Granted this boon, Mura turned his enmity towards the demigods, as is usual with asuras. Drunk with power Mura challenged various demigods to individual combat.  Knowing of the hand-killing death knell no one dared fight him.  Mura was able to take over King Indra’s position and invited his friends to come and rule with him.  Itching to fight, Mura challenged one earthly king named Raghu.  King Raghu advised Mura that if he was really brave, he should go and battle with Yamaraja.  Yamaraja meanwhile, went to Lord Vishnu to seek solutions.  Lord Vishnu suggested to Yamaraja that when Mura comes to him he should tell Mura to meet Lord Vishnu. By the time Yamaraja returned to his planet he found Mura already waiting for him.  Yamaraja suggested that Mura go to meet Lord Vishnu.  Excited at the prospect of a good fight, Mura went to Lord Vishnu to ask for combat.  Lord Vishnu replied that He could sense that Mura was trembling and his heart was beating fast out of fear.  Lord Vishnu told Mura that he does not fight with cowards.  In order to prove that he was not afraid, Mura laid his hand on his heart to prove there were normal heart beats.  Mura fell down and Lord Vishnu used His Chakra to kill him.

The holy name of Murari can also mean the Lord who drives out all dirty things from our hearts.  Mura indicates those unwanted things.  Some say that Murari is Krishna who plays on His flute.  Let Sri Krishna Murari fill the temple of our minds – mana mandir – and enable us to remember Him always.

Quotes

http://vaniquotes.org/w/index.php?title=SpecialSearch&search=mura

Shri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare Hey Natha Narayana Vasudeva(Approx. Translation)
Oh Beloved Krishna, Oh Govinda, Oh Hari, Hey Murari, Oh Lord Narayana, Ho Vasudeva [all names of Krishna]. I worship you with my heart and soul.

http://www.bhaktibreakfastclub.com/mantraglossary10
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Shree+Krishna+Govind+Hare+Murare
http://www.slideshare.net/search/slideshow?searchfrom=header&q=Shree+krishna+govind+hare+murari