Legend has it that once demon Virochana visited Vaikunta,
the abode of Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu. While returning back, he took with him the
crown of Bhagvan Vishnu without his permission. Demon Virochana wanted to adorn
the crown on the murti that he worshipped in his palace.
Garuda, the Vahana or Vehicle of Vishnu, was the first one
to notice that the crown was missing. He soon came to the conclusion that demon
Virochana had stolen the divine crown.
Garuda immediately flew to the netherworld. Demon Virochana
was not ready to part with he crown. Garuda then overpowered the demon and
retrieved the crown.
While returning with the crown, He saw a child playing
flute. The divine child was Bhagwan Sri Krishna. Garuda knew that Sri Krishna
was an avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu.
So he placed the divine crown on the small head of child Krishna . The crown was huge for the little head. But then
a miracle happened, the crown shrunk to fit the head of little Krishna .
The belief is that the crown is still on earth and is found
on the murti of Cheluvanarayana worshipped in the Melkote temple in Mandya
District in Karnataka.