Hare krsna Hare krsna, Hare ram Hare ram
Radhe Krsna radhe Krsna,Krsna Krsna Hare hare……
“Aham sarvasya prabhavo, Mattah sarvam pravartate
Iti matva bhajante mam, Budha bhava samanvitah”
“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in my devotional service and worship me with all their hearts”
Krishna is the origin of everything in both the material and spiritual worlds. All Vedic Literatures agree that Krishna is the source of Brahma, Shiva and all other demigods. The son of Vasudeva-Devki, Krishna is the Supreme Personality, Narayana. The Vedic Upanisad says ‘In the beginning of the creation there was only the Supreme Personality Narayana. There was no Brahma, no Shiva, no fire, no moon, stars, sky or sun. From Narayan, Brahma is born and Maha Upanisad it is said that Lord Shiva was born from the forehead of the supreme Lord. Thus the Vedas say that is the Supreme Lord, the Creator of Brahma and Shiva, who is to be worshipped.
Narayanah paro devas, Tasmaj jatas caturmukhah
Tasmad rudro ‘bhavad devah, Sa ca sarva-jnatam gath
“Narayan is the Supreme Personality of godhead and from him Brahma was born, from whom Shiva was born”
Krishna has ever been the perfect ‘Avatar’ whose influence on human lives far exceeds that of any other God incarnate. Krishna is depicted as Govinda, who is the prime cause of all causes, the embodiment of wisdom and selfless action as well as a human liberal and practical philosopher with foresight. Three great works enumerate Krishna’s Teachings : Bhagwad Gita, Anugita and Udhavagita. Bhagwad Gita, like Bible or Koran, for Hindus, is the sacred Book depicting ‘Mahabharata’. The advice Krishna renders to disheartened Arjuna at Kurukshetra, immortalized the Bhagwad Gita, greatly influenced philosophers and continues to inspire millions of people worldwide. Srimad Bhagwad Gita is full of narrations about the relationship between the Supreme Lord and his devotees. In this narration, transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord and his devotees is fully described. Krishna had always been a defender of the oppressed. He killed Kansa to liberate his victims from cruelty. He befriended the poor, the character of Sudama is legendary whose berries he ate. He came to rescue of Draupadi. As a playmate to cowherds at Vrindavan, a loving and giving soul. Krishna defined dharma (religion) as anything that brought about the good of the individual and society. Krishna’s conversations with Arjun are on transmigration of soul, means of attaining liberation, descriptions of Karma and effects of austerity. Devotion, meditation and other spiritual disciplines reflect in Bhagwad Gita. Krishna also touches upon the psychic powers of yogic practices. The love of Gopis is divine which says of the greatness and divinity of Krishna. He is said to create an air of romanticism, enchanted gopis and impressed them with his flute playing. Krishna responded by dancing with Gopis in Ras Leela. The mystical passage of Krishna’s life with Gopis and love for Radha is the most marvelous expansion of love expressed in that beautiful play at Vrindavana, which no one can understand yet, become perfectly chaste and pure.
Radha’s love for Krishna personifies the aspiration of the living being to merge with God. Krishna’s flute is a call of the divine and Radha responds to his call as human soul. She expresses unconditional love and surrenders to the Divine. As believed, you take one step towards God, he takes ten steps towards you – Radha took a step towards Krishna and he reciprocated with his divine love. For Radha, Krishna is Ultimate. The Gopis are in love with him and unashamedly want him as their husband or lover without inhibitions or care for the consequences of such defiant social indiscretions. When Krishna plays the flute, the Gopis cease their activity, including caring of their husbands, children or family and run madly hypnotically to the flute sound of Krishna. He multiplies himself into many Krishnas to make each gopi feel that he is exclusively hers. In Dwarka, Krishna made each of his 16000 wives believe that he is her husband alone! Thus shows the real Krishna, the embodiment of love and compassion for whosoever relates with him. Radha’s love for Krishna is pure and divine. The relationship reflect the divine Vrindaban bliss. It is said Radha had descended in Braj a year earlier than Krishna. She appeared in her divine dignity in the palace of King Vrishbhanu in Barsana and Kirti was her mom. She lived in Barsana and Krishna had moved from Gokul to Nandgaon due to King Kans disturbances. Nandgaon and Barsana was four miles distance.Later Krishna went to Mathura and Dwarika and back to Gokul where Radha and other Brajbasi also went there. However, most of the Krishna Radha Leela took place near Barsana and Nandgaon. Radha and Krishna relationship is the embodiment of love, passion and devotion. Radha is recognized as the loveliest of all the cowgirls (gopis). She is the wife of Ayana and the daughter of the cowherd Vrishabhanu and his wife, Kamalavati. Their relationship develops on Krishna’s captivating charm and aura of passion as Radha falls into a state of desire for this God. Radha is the soul; Krishna is the God. Krishna is the shaktiman possessor of energy and Radha is his shakti. She is the female counterpart of the Godhead. She is the personification of the highest love of God, and by her mercy the soul is connected with the service and love of Krishna. Radha’s passion for Krishna symbolizes the soul’s intense longing and willingness for the ultimate unification with God. She was Krishna’s most refreshing energy and power. The example of the gopis is very instructive to persons who are trying to be absorbed in Krishna consciousness. One can very easily associate with Krishna simply by remembering his transcendental pastimes. Everyone has a tendency to love someone. That Krishna should be the object of love is the central point of Krishna consciousness. By constantly chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and remembering the transcendental pastimes of Krishna, one can be fully in Krishna consciousness and thus make his life sublime and fruitful. Radha was one of the greatest devotee of Krishna and unlike other Gopis, showered her love for him eternal making her the favourite of Krishna.
Bhagwad Gita says ‘Living entity is is superior prakrti (nature) Prakrti is always under control, whether inferior or superior. The seventh Chapter of Gita explains ‘The material nature is my inferior prakrti and beyond this another prakrti – jiva bhutam, the living entity’ Thus, Material nature has three qualities – the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance. Above these modes, there is eternal time and by a combination of these modes of nature and under the control and purview of eternal time, there are activities which are called karma. The fruits we suffer or enjoy is the result of karma. Radha became eternal with her perfect love & devotion for Krishna, she became a noble soul merged into him and above all to proclaim her selfless love, Radha is said before Krishna ‘Radhe Krishna’ meaning, the pure love transcending the devotee to love and merge into Krishna and not the material world. The entire world is deluded by the three attributes Satva (good), Rajas (passionate), Tamas (dark) and leave behind Maya, cannot recognize Krishna and those who worship Krishna are able to overcome it. Four kinds of people who worship god are those who desire earthly gains, those who are suffering, those who seek knowledge and those who possess wisdom. Radha is said to possess the wisdom and she became his soul.
Pure devotee is that who always thinks of Krishna without deviation and without considering the time or place. No impediment. “Wherever you are, O lord, there is Vrindavana’ and so did Radha, became an ardent devotee of Krishna as madhurya bhakta, engaged as a conjugal lover of the supreme Lord.
Gita recommends the form of devotion as Bhakti Yoga, the devotee in five different ways : a) santa bhakta, engaged in devotional service in neutrality b) dasya bhakta, engaged in devotional service as servant c) sakhya bhakta, engaged as friend d) vatsalya bhakta, engaged as a parent and 5- madhurya bhakta, engaged as conjugal lover of the supreme Lord. Radha had been constant transcendental loving service and so, she is said to have become his soul.
Krishna and Radha existed some 5000 years ago and is said that Krishna disappeared on 18th February 3602 (Research sources). Some say, he died under a Kalpavriksha tree in form of Samadhi (meditation) It is said that Krishna descends to this planet once in a day of Brahma, or every 8,600,000,000 years as per Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna spoke Bhagavad Gita to the sun god some hundreds of millions of years ago and Arjuna was his first disciple who understood the supreme personality of krishna. Krishna is absolute and there is no difference between krishna’s name, krishna’s form, his qualities or pastimes or his affairs with his queens, gopis or radha. This absolute position of Krishna is difficult to understand for any person who is not a devotee of Krishna in the system of parampara and without perfect knowledge of Krishna and Gita , try to banish or kill the krishna concept especially in this Kaliyug. Some mock at the Radha Krishna affair which is total ignorance of their beliefs and misinterpretation, making them see the materialistic world instead of a divine submission to the godhead. Meera is another name that followed later with the popular ‘mero toa giridhar gopal, dusro na koi’ – Though, she could never be a Radha yet, her devotion towards Krishna made her a memorable devotee.
“Sadhavo hrdayam mahyam, Sadhunam hrdayam tva aham
Mad-anyat te na jananti, Naham tebhyo manag api”
In Srimad Bhagavatam (9.4.68), the Lord says that devotees are always in my heart and I am always in the hearts of devotees. They need not know anything beyond me and I cannot forget them. There is very intimate relationship between me and them. Pure devotees in full knowledge are never out of spiritual touch and therefore they are very much dear to me”
The theme behind Krishna’s life is Karma Yoga, the art of striving for both personal perfection and social efficiency. There is Heaven here on earth and hell too here on earth. It’s in the hands of the humans to lead to the path they sort for. All one need to remember is the the Karma. The very essence of education is “Karma” – our action generates a force of energy that returns us in kind “What we sow, is what we reap” And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our Karma is achieved.
Like Bhagwad gita says:
“ buddhir jnanam asammohah, ksama satyam damah samah, sukham dukham bhavo bhavo, bhayam cabhayam eva cha. Ahimsa samta tusti, tapodanam yaso yasah, bhavanti bhava bhutanam, matta eva prthag vidhah”
(in short means, the qualities of human beings are all created by the lord Krishna.These qualities of intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of senses, mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy are all to be on guard.)
Ksama, tolerance and forgiveness, should be practiced; one should be tolerant and excuse the offenses of others. Then there is peace, then there is love and when there is love, Miracles Happen!
Krishna is the avatar of perfect love. The word ‘Krishna’ is derived from akarshana which means attraction. So the name itself signifies that Krishna is the Supreme Truth, the absolute, manifest in human form, to attract the whole world towards him.
(image courtesy: as appeared in my newspaper article – radhekrishna.org
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