Udhav

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radash

@radash

Inactive

Posted: 14 years ago

Surprise to see not udhav yet, as far as all the book written about KISAN maharaj udhav was right hand ever since going to mathura, udhav ( was the one of the person involved in rukumini haran) so, just littel disappointed not see udhav

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 13 years ago

Well, finally, they introduced Udhav. But I have a whole bunch of questions regarding him, since I don't know squat about him, other than what they showed today. Hence, here the questions:

Was he Krishna's cousin?
Was he Brihaspati's pupil? If so, why did he go to Krishna's Gurukul?
What was the major book of his that he wrote?
What was his role in Dwarka? Didn't he always live there - today, they showed him like he was visiting while on some world tour.
Was he married? Who was his wife (as shown today?)
Did Sudama know him?

One thing I found irritating - them showing Sudama fumbling in the flashback scene, and Udhav answering correctly. And at the end, the way Sudama just rushed in and snatched Krishna seemed totally uncharacteristic of Sudama, who was very mindful of proper behavior. They showed Uddhav as irritated, but do the character sketches of either Sudama or Uddhav match what the texts say about them?

Also, how would Uddhav's entry be a 'track', since he was a permanent citizen of Dwarka not noted for any particular event, but there for the long haul.

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Gosia

@vedantka

Beginner

Posted: 13 years ago

Qoute:

Also, how would Uddhav's entry be a 'track', since he was a permanent citizen of Dwarka not noted for any particular event, but there for the long haul.

.

From devotional point of view Uddhav's part is very important as Uddhav believes that ultimately or originally God is formless and the ultimate liberation is mukti or moksha when one is forever liberated from all sufferings and merges into formless God (the ultimate God as per his gyani understanding).

I'm following Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj who explains that mukti is worse than bukti as through mukti one looses forever a chance to experience the bliss of Divine love of Bhagvaan Krishn. And mukti means actually merging into a formless ASPECT of God who eternally and simultaneously exists in both His Divine ORIGINAL FORM(sagun sakar) and in His formless aspect (nirgun nirakar) BUT the formless aspect of God is dependent upon the Divine Personality of God ( His Divine Form). In formless God all His virtue are dormant and it is not aware of its own peaceful blissfulness which is experienced by the personal God and gyani saints only.

Moksha/mukti means that after death of the present body, a liberated soul looses its identity forever(so the subtle mind and senses of the soul are cancelled permanently ) and such a soul eternally resides(still as individual spark of life) in the formless aspect of God, it means that such a soul goes into eternal COMA (🥱deep sleep with nothing happening🥱), so it is not aware of its own peaceful bliss and it will never experience the sweetness of Divine love.

Uddvav was such a liberated soul( gyani saint), still alive so still he got a chance to change and that's why Krishn sends him to gopis( gopis are rasik saints) who will be his guru( as you can get God realized only through the grace of a saint), Shree Krishn does not grant God realization directly, He only grants liberation to those whom He kills personally.

Once, by the grace of gopis, Uddhav will experience the absolute blissfulness and sweetness of ❤️Radha Krishn's love❤️ , he will forget forever his gyani's achievements and engross himself in the infinite bliss of the Divine Love and as such becoming a rasik saint himself.

Radhey Radhey!

Edited by vedantka - 13 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

Vrish,

Uddhava was the son of Vasudev's brother, Devabhaga. Devbhaga's wife was Kamsaa, daughter of Ugrasen . That made Krishna, Uddhava's cousin.Uddhava had two elder brothers, Brihadbala and one more- I forget his name

There are only scattered reference to him in either SB or Hari Vamsa.In the 46 chapter of the 10 skanda, there is a mention of him being a direct disciple of Brihaspati.

Uddhava comes into prominence in two incidents- one where Krishna sends him to the gopis with his message, and the other in the 11 skanda when Krishna gives him gyan just before departing from this world. Going by SB and Harivamsa, Uddhava's character should be what the Creatives have made Sudama into - a staunch Bhakt of Krishna .

Nowhere is Sudama shown to be such a great devotee of Krishna as they are depicting in this serial - feet touching and all that. Sudama was a friend, an equal. It was Krishna who washed hid feet, Sudama being his senior in the social heirarchy. Sudama is mentioned only in one incident - he did not tag along with Krishna everywhere.

Uddhav, transformed, after his meeting with the gopis became a staunch devotee of Krishna himself- one of the very few to worship Krishna in his lifetime. Of course, Uddhava being younger, his touching Krishna's feet would have been proper and in place.

The dialogue b/w Krishna and Uddhava in the 11 skanda is as good as Bhagavat Gita and incidentally, known as Uddhava Gita.

Edited by varaali - 13 years ago

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 13 years ago

So the gopi incident that they showed b4 the Mahabharata track - the one where Krishna gets their feet dust for his head - the messenger there was actually Uddhav, rather than Akrura?

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Debipriya

@Debipriya

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

@Vrish, I guess (if I am wrong, members please correct me 😊), that story of 'Krishna getting cured by Gopi feet dust' is not there in SB, may be it is there in some other source.

Uddhava is there in Chapters 46 and 47 of Canto 10 in SB, Wonderful Lesson experienced by him during his vraj visit: ⭐️

https://bhagavata.org/canto10/chapter46.html

https://bhagavata.org/canto10/chapter47.html

And also, (just adding the details along with repeating Varaali and Vedantka 😊), in Chapters 6 to 29 of Canto 11, which is known as 'Uddhava Gita'. Really Detailed and Lucid in its approach! ⭐️ Content is the same as 'Bhagwad Geeta'!! ⭐️

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

True to their nature, Sagar Pictures have distorted the character of Uddhava also.

Let us see what Srimad Bhagavatham has to say about Uddhava...

We first encounter Uddhava in the 3rd Skanda, when Vidura meets Uddhava, on the banks of Yamuna. This is after the Yadava annihilation, of which Vidura is not aware. Vidura courteously inquires about all the prinicpal Yadavas.

At first, Uddhava is unable to speak, because the very thought of Krishna has transported him to a devotional trance. While informing Vidura about the Yadava fratricide, Uddhava recounts the exploits of the Lord which forms the basis of the next two chapters.

In the next few of slokas we come to know that

1)Uddhava was Krishna's companion even at the age of five and

2) his devotion to Krishna only increased with age.

In the course of their dialogue, Vidura observes that Uddhava had reached the pinnacle of devotion.

Uddhava's nature comes out even better in the 4th Chapter of the 3rd Skanda where the Lord Himself certifies his character

Uddhava was one of the few to witness Krishna during his last few moments on Earth and he describes the scene (to Vidura) in a choking voice. Krishna had already warned Uddhava about the impending disaster and advised him to go to Badarikarshram, but Uddhava could not even think of leaving Lord's presence. As the Lord took his final abode under a tree, He observed Uddhava standing nearby and asked him to sit near Him. (See, this was Uddhava... he won't even sit in front of Krishna unless specifically asked to do so...Such was his reverence)

The Lord reveals that Uddhava had attained the present birth after a lot of tapas and this would be his last birth. The very fact that Uddhava alone ventured to visit Krishna in His final moments on Earth, spoke volumes of his devotion and was enough to assure him of a place in Vaikunth.

Uddhava, knowing that separation from his beloved Lord was inevitable (albeit temporarily) requests him to impart the Supreme knowledge which the Lord Himself had narrated to Brahma. (This discussion is narrated in greater detail in the 11th Skanda.)

Parikshit then questions Sage Sukhdev, when all the Yadavas disappeared, why did uddhava alone remain behind?

Sukhdev then answers, that in His final moments, The Lord deemed only Uddhava fit to propagate the divine knowledge which He had imparted to Uddhava. Sukhdeva says that "the Lord did not consider Uddhava any different from Himself, since Uddhava is also above the three gunas i.e Saatva, rajas and tamas"

Edited by varaali - 13 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

We bump into Uddhava next in the 46th chapter of the 10th Skanda, wherein we are told, by way of introduction that Uddhava was one of the wisest counselors amongst the Vrishnis. He was also a close friend of Krishna (Uddhava- mind you- not Sudama) and a direct disciple of Brihaspati.

Krishna sends him off to Vrindavan with a message to the gopis and his parents (Nanda and Yashoda). Uddhava "takes his master's message respectfully and sets off to Vrindavan..."

Uddhava arrives at Nand's house in the evening and the night is spent in talking about Krishna. In the morning, the gopis realize that a messenger form Krishna has arrived, the set aside all their work and rush to meet him.

What follows is a beautiful piece of poetry... the gopis experience a flood of emotions...joy on meeting someone close to Krishna, anger at Krishna for not coming personally, jealousy towards Krishna's wives who are able to be in his presence constantly... All their emotions come out in the form of "Bhramar geet"- Song of the Bee.

A gopi sees a bee hovering nearby and imagining it to be Krishna's messenger, taunts, chides, derides Krishna, for having forgotten them - pretending that it makes no difference to them and it is Krishna who is missing something by not coming to meet them.

Finally their facade breaks down and they plaintively ask Uddhava- will Krishna ever come to meet them ? Does he at all recollect his days in Vrindavan?

Uddhava, moved by the gopis' devotion gives them Krishna's message and sings their praise in five slokas, concluding, by offering his respects to the feet of the women of Nanda Maharaj's cowherd village.

Edited by varaali - 13 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

So, this is Uddhava as depicted in Srimad Bhagavatham - Not an egoistic intellectual, eating- out -of silver-plates, as being shown currently.

In fact if anyone constantly jaaped Krishna's name it was Uddhava- not Sudama. If anyone fell at Krishna's feet , it was Uddhava- not Sudama. If anyone was absorbed in krishna bhakti, it was Uddhava- not Sudama. And finally, if the Lord chose to honour someone as his devotee, it was Uddhava- not Sudama.

Edited by varaali - 13 years ago

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 13 years ago

#10

Originally posted by: varaali
True to their nature, Sagar Pictures have distorted the character of Uddhava also.

Let us see what Srimad Bhagavatham has to say about Uddhava...

We first encounter Uddhava in the 3rd Skanda, when Vidura meets Uddhava, on the banks of Yamuna. This is after the Yadava annihilation, of which Vidura is not aware. Vidura courteously inquires about all the prinicpal Yadavas.

At first, Uddhava is unable to speak, because the very thought of Krishna has transported him to a devotional trance. While informing Vidura about the Yadava fratricide, Uddhava recounts the exploits of the Lord which forms the basis of the next two chapters.

In the next few of slokas we come to know that
1)Uddhava was Krishna's companion even at the age of five and
2) his devotion to Krishna only increased with age.

In the course of their dialogue, Vidura observes that Uddhava had reached the pinnacle of devotion.

Uddhava's nature comes out even better in the 4th Chapter of the 3rd Skanda where the Lord Himself certifies his character

Uddhava was one of the few to witness Krishna during his last few moments on Earth and he describes the scene (to Vidura) in a choking voice. Krishna had already warned Uddhava about the impending disaster and advised him to go to Badarikarshram, but Uddhava could not even think of leaving Lord's presence. As the Lord took his final abode under a tree, He observed Uddhava standing nearby and asked him to sit near Him. (See, this was Uddhava... he won't even sit in front of Krishna unless specifically asked to do so...Such was his reverence)

I know we'll probably discuss this more later while discussing the discrepancies b/w the different works of Rishi Vyasa & his disciples, but for now, one thing that struck me about the above was Vidura being alive in the first place after the Yadava fratricide and Krishna's passing.

In the Mahabharata, 15 years after the Ashwamedha Yagna, Dhritarashtra went into exile w/ Gandhari, Sanjaya, Vidura & Kunti. Around 2-3 years later, the Pandavas visited them, and during that time, Yudhisthir had his last encounter w/ Vidura, who passed away after finally witnessing him. Since he was living the life of a sanyasi, he was buried, rather than cremated.

So 18 years after the war, Vidura died, and 36 years after the war, Krishna passed on. It's therefore very curious that Vidura was around to discuss Krishna's passing w/ anybody.

Originally posted by: varaali
The Lord reveals that Uddhava had attained the present birth after a lot of tapas and this would be his last birth. The very fact that Uddhava alone ventured to visit Krishna in His final moments on Earth, spoke volumes of his devotion and was enough to assure him of a place in Vaikunth.

Uddhava, knowing that separation from his beloved Lord was inevitable (albeit temporarily) requests him to impart the Supreme knowledge which the Lord Himself had narrated to Brahma. (This discussion is narrated in greater detail in the 11th Skanda.)

Parikshit then questions Sage Sukhdev, when all the Yadavas disappeared, why did uddhava alone remain behind?

Sukhdev then answers, that in His final moments, The Lord deemed only Uddhava fit to propagate the divine knowledge which He had imparted to Uddhava. Sukhdeva says that "the Lord did not consider Uddhava any different from Himself, since Uddhava is also above the three gunas i.e Saatva, rajas and tamas"

In the Mahabharata, no mention is made of Udhav in Mausala Parva. After the death of all the Yadava menfolk, Krishna send Daruka to Hastinapur to fetch Arjun, and was going to hand over responsibility of the women & kids to Babhru, except that the latter was killed right then & there in front of him w/ one of those macelets (can't think of a better term for them). Krishna then asked Vasudev to take care of them until Arjun arrived.

Thing that strikes me is that if Udhav was alive & well, Krishna could well have handed over control to him, and asked him to wait for Arjun and take everyone back north, to Indraprastha/Mathura/Vrinavan/Gokul/Martikavat or wherever they chose to ultimately settle down. Udhav could have well been a major stabilizing factor in future Yadava society, while Vajra was still learning the ropes. Somehow, it's interesting that the Mahabharata describes events like the enmity b/w Somdatta & Sini, but doesn't touch on Udhav.

Edited by .Vrish. - 13 years ago

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