Radha Krishn- EDT & The Epic based Doubts/ Discussions - Page 17

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Radha Rani – The Incarnation of Devotion and Selfless Love

A few days after He left to Mathura, Shree Krishna sent Uddhav to Vrindavan, with a message to Mother Yashoda and the gopis, to relieve their misery and distress caused by His separation.

After conveying the message and making an attempt to appease the gpios, Uddhav asked whether they had a message for Shree Krishna.

One group of gopis said, “Inform Krishna that we are very happy.” Surprised, Uddhav asked, “But I see that you have been miserable every moment since He left. Why do you want me to convey this message?”

“It’s because we don’t want to cause him any pain, Uddhav ji,” replied the gopis. “If I told him that you are happy in his absence, would he not think that you don’t love him?” quizzed Uddhav.

“In that case, narrate to him how miserable we are, while waiting for him to return to Vrindavan,” responded a second set of gopis. “I certainly can give an account of your plight, but would that not cause distress to him?” questioned Uddhav again. Not able to come up with an adequate answer, the gopis were lost in their thoughts.

Watching the helpless gopis, Radha Rani beckoned to Uddhav and said tenderly, “Uddhav ji, you may convey any message that you wish, as long as the smile on Krishna’s face does not fade; instead, his smile should broaden as he listens to your message.”

Such is the nature of unalloyed love! Radha Rani is the quintessence of selfless devotion to Shree Krishna. She bound Shree Krishna with Her pure and illuminating, selfless love. Vedas proclaim that it is this kind of noble, self-sacrificing love and devotion that enslaves Shree Krishna:

यस्यरेणुम् पादयोर्विश्व्भर्ता धरते मूर्धिनि रहसि प्रेमयुक्त: |

श्रस्तवेणु: कबरिम स्मरेद्यल्लीन: कृष्ण: कृतवत् तम नमाम: ||

Yasyarenum pādayōrvisvabhartā dharate mōrdhni rahasi premayuktaḥ |

Srasthavenuh kabarim smaredyallēnah Krishnaḥ kritavat tam namāmaḥ ||

(Adharva Veda – Shree Radha Tapani Upanishad , V 7)

“We pay our obeisance to the Supreme Radha Rani, whose feet dust the ruler of universes, the ardent devotee of divine love, Nandanandan, smears upon His head, in whose love, He forgets His divine splendors, and to whom He has given Himself away.”

Shree Radha Krishna are not two separate entities, they both are ONE. From time immemorial, our benevolent Supreme Lord has sent saints to the earth to guide us and instill wisdom. At times when we failed to recognize and understand His saints, He descended upon the earth. Like a true mother, He came to the rescue of His helpless children and showed us the path that leads to Him through Shree Radha Rani, His Yogamaya (divine energy) that descended along with Him. Rigveda Pariśiṣṭa sheds light on the oneness of Shree Radha Krishna: Ekam Jyothi Rabhō Dvidha Radha Madhava Rōpakam – Parabrahma “The one single effulgence ‘Parabrahma’ is resplendent in two ways as Radha and Madhava.”

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How Uddhav completed his knowledge!!

Once, Uddhav, a cousin-brother of Krishna, came to see Krishna in Dwarka. He was the son of Vasudeva's brother and was almost the same age as Krishna. His bodily features resembled Krishna's almost exactly. After finishing their studies Krishna was pleased to see his dearest friend Uddhava after such a long time.

One day Uddhava found Krishna sitting alone in a deep thought with his eyes moist. Uddhava who knew the real identity of Krishna asked "How can I see tears in the eyes of my lord. May i know the reason for this. ? Krishna told him that memories of Vrindavan, Maiya Yashoda & Nand Baba is torturing him & specially the memories of loving gopis is torturing him. Krishna said "Since, I had left Vrindavan. The inhabitants of Vrindavana, especially mother Yashoda, Nanda Maharaja, Srimati Radharani, the gopis and the cowherd boys, were simply thinking of me at every step. They were thinking, "Krishna was playing in this way. Krishna was blowing His flute. Krishna was joking with us, and Krishna was embracing us. And similarly I am also missing them very much. I am missing the love of Ma Yashoda and Nanda Baba, I Am missing the pranks of my Gopa friends, I am missing the unconditional love of gopis."

Uddhava gets shocked and asked How can the one who provides salvation to all deserving beings can get entangled in the clutches of maya? How can you cry for the one who are perishable?

Krishna told him about the lovely activities of gopis. Krishna told him that he is not crying just because he is missing them but also because they are in same condition as I am today ans which he cant see. Uddhava told it is natural because you so much love your devotees and lovers that you cant see them in pain. But, then why don't you make them free from this pain of separation ? Why don't to teach them that you are the supreme soul and not this material human body and you reside inside them and in all living and non-living entities ? You should tell them your real identity, that you the supreme God " Narayan". This Gyan (knowledge) will definitely relieve them off their pains. Knowledge is the superior most.

Krishna tell Uddhava I am So busy in My Day to Day tasks that I never find time to meet them and tell them the true knowledge. You are absolutely true Uddhava only the divine knowledge can relieve them from this deep pain. But How will I do that. I have to look after this vast kingdom?

Krishna thinks for a while and speak....Uddhava you are most intelligent. You were the direct student of Brhaspati, the teacher and priest of the heavenly beings and demi-gods. From the intellectual standpoint also you are highly qualified. I request You Uddhava Please help me in this case. In order to pacify the heart of Gopis you should go to vrindavan and impart them the true divine knowledge. You tell gopis that they should stop hurting themselves by thinking about me all day and night. Tell them that they should worship my divine form which is omni present. Tell them that they should do their karmas wholeheartedly and they will reach my abode in end and will thus attain salvation (mukti).

Uddhav got ready to do this task happily. But he asked Krishna to give all whatever he said in writing in a piece of paper with the mark of royal stamp as a sign of authentication of the message written. Krishna did so and put his signature with royal stamp on the letter and handed over the letter to Uddhava. Shaking Uddhava's hand with His own hands, He said, "My dear gentle friend Uddhava, please go immediately to Vrindavana and try to pacify My father and mother, Nanda Maharaja and Yashoda-devi, and the gopis. They are very much grief stricken, as if suffering from great ailments. Go and give them a message. I hope their grief will be relieved.

Requested by Lord Krishna, Uddhava immediately left on his chariot and carried the message to Gokula. Udhav, considering this as a trivial job, came to Braj with his puffed up ego. He approached Vrindavana at sunset, when the cows were returning home from the pasturing ground. Uddhava and his chariot were covered by the dust raised by the hooves of the cows.

Uddhava saw that the entire land of Vrindavana was filled with white cows and their calves. Cows were running here and there all over Gokula, and he could hear the sound of milking. Some how he found the house of Nand baba & Ma Yashoda. Uddhava entered the house of Nanda Maharaja and was received as a representative of Vasudeva. Nanda Maharaja offered him a place and sat down with him to ask about messages from Krishna. Nand Baba started describing the activities of krishna.

While describing the uncommon activities of Krishna before Uddhava, Nanda Maharaja gradually became overwhelmed and could not speak any more. As for mother Yashoda, she sat by the side of her husband and heard the pastimes of Krishna without speaking. She was simply crying incessantly. When Uddhava saw Maharaja Nanda and Yashoda so extraordinarily overwhelmed with thoughts of Krishna, the Supreme god (Par Brahma), and when he experienced their extraordinary affection for Him, he also became overwhelmed and spoke as follows. "My dear mother Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja, you are most respectable among human beings because no one but you can meditate in such transcendental ecstasy." Both Balarama and Krishna are the Supreme Personalities of God Narayan.

"My dear mother Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja," Uddhava continued, "you have thus fixed your minds wholly and solely upon that Supreme Lord, Narayana, in His transcendental form, the cause of impersonal Brahman. The Brahman effulgence is only the bodily ray of Narayana, and because you are always absorbed in ecstatic thought of Krishna and Balarama, what activity remains to be performed by you? I have brought a message from Krishna to the effect that He will soon come back to Vrindavana and satisfy you both by His personal presence.This promise He will surely fulfill. I therefore request you both, who are the best among all fortunates, to be not aggrieved on account of Krishna's absence.

Udhhava Spoke to Nanda Maharaj & Yashoda Ma "You are already perceiving His presence twenty-four hours a day, and yet He will come and see you very soon. Actually He is present everywhere and in everyone's heart, just as fire is present in wood. Since Krishna is the Supersoul, no one is His enemy, no one is His friend, no one is equal to Him, and no one is lower or higher than Him. Actually He has no father, mother, brother or relative, nor does He require society, friendship and love. He does not have a material body; He never appears or takes birth as an ordinary human being. He does not appear in higher or lower species of life like ordinary living entities, who are forced to take birth on account of their previous activities. He appears by His internal potency just to give protection to His devotee. He is never influenced by the modes of material nature, but when He appears within this material world, it seems that He acts like an ordinary living entity under the spell of the modes of material nature. In fact, He is the overseer of this material creation and is not affected by the material modes of nature. He creates, maintains and dissolves the whole cosmic manifestation.

Nanda and Uddhava thus passed the whole night in discussing Krishna. In the morning, the gopis prepared for morning aratrika by lighting their lamps and sprinkling butter mixed with yogurt. While churning, they also sang the glories of Krishna. When the gopis saw Uddhava, they observed that his features almost exactly resembled the features of Krishna, and they could understand that he was a great devotee of Krishna's.

When the gopis understood that Uddhava had a message from Krishna, they became very happy and called him to a secluded place to sit down. They wanted to talk with him very freely and did not want to be embarrassed before unknown persons. They began to welcome him with polite words, in great submissiveness. "We know that you are a most confidential associate of Krishna and that He has therefore sent you to Vrindavana to give solace to His father and mother. Krishna has therefore sent you to His father and mother; otherwise He has no further business in Vrindavana. He is now in town. What does He have to know about Vrindavana village or the cows' pasturing grounds? These things are not at all useful for Krishna because He is now a King. Then Gopis also started describing the activities of Krishna and their Loving association with him.

Uddhava understood that the gopis of Vrindavan were all simply absorbed in the thought of Krishna and His childhood activities. While talking about Krishna with Uddhava, they forgot all about their household business. They even forgot about themselves as their interest in Krishna increased more and more.

One of the gopis, namely Srimati Radharani, was so much absorbed in thoughts of Krishna by dint of Her personal touch with Him that She actually began to talk with a bumblebee which was flying there and trying to touch Her lotus feet. While another gopi was talking with Krishna's messenger Uddhava, Srimati Radharani took that bumblebee to be a messenger from Krishna and began to talk with it as follows. "Bumblebee, you are accustomed to drinking honey from the flowers, and therefore you have preferred to be a messenger of Krishna, who is of the same nature as you. Is there any possibility that Krishna will again come back and place His arms around us?

She thought, "Krishna is still kind to Me. In spite of the messenger carrying disruptive messages, He is so kind that He has again sent the bee to take Me to Him." Srimati Radharani was very careful this time not to say anything against Krishna. "My dear friend, I welcome you," She said. "Krishna is so kind that He has again sent you. Krishna is so kind and affectionate to Me that He has sent you back, fortunately, in spite of your carrying My message against Him. My dear friend, you can ask from Me whatever you want. I shall give you anything because you are so kind upon Me. You have come to take Me to Krishna because He is not able to come here.

Uddhava was standing near, and he heard Radharani talking in this way, as if She had become almost mad after Krishna. He was exceedingly surprised at how the gopis were accustomed to think of Krishna constantly in that topmost ecstasy of maha-bhava love. He had brought a message in writing from Krishna, and now he wanted to present it before the gopis, just to pacify them. He said, "My dear gopis, your mission of human life is now successful. You are all wonderful devotees of the Lord Krishna. He is the goal of all kinds of pious activities and ritualistic performances, such as giving in charity, rigidly following the austerity of vows, undergoing severe penances and igniting the fire of sacrifice. He is the purpose behind the chanting of different mantras, the reading of the Vedas, controlling the senses and concentrating the mind in meditation. These are some of the many different processes for self-realization and attainment of perfection of life. But actually they are only meant for realizing Krishna and dovetailing oneself in the transcendental loving service of Lord Krishna."

He continued to say: "My dear gopis, the mentality which you have developed in relationship with Lord Krishna is very, very difficult to attain, even for great sages and saintly persons.

Uddhava said that he had a message from Krishna, the gopis were more interested in hearing the message than in hearing about their exalted position. They did not very much like being praised for their high position. They showed their anxiety to hear the message which Uddhava had brought from Krishna.Uddhava said, "My dear gopis, I am especially deputed to carry this message to you, who are such great and gentle devotees. Krishna has specifically sent me to you because I am His most confidential servitor."

The written message which Uddhava brought from Krishna was not delivered to the gopis by Uddhava, but he personally read it before them. The message was very gravely written, so that not only the gopis, but all empiric philosophers might understand how pure love of God is intrinsically integrated with all the different energies of the Supreme Lord. Uddhava, as the student of Brhaspati, had very sharp intelligence, so instead of handing over the written message, he thought it wise to read it personally and explain it to them.

Uddhava continued: "These are the words from Lord Krishna.........

'My dear gopis, My dear friends,

Please know that separation between ourselves is impossible at any time, at any place or under any circumstances, because I am all-pervading. Nothing is separate from Me; the whole cosmic manifestation is resting on Me and is not separate from Me. Before the creation, I was existing. I myself create, maintain,and annihilate the whole cosmic manifestation by expanding myself in different incarnations. I am everything, and everything is depending on me, but I am not perceived in the material energy (Maya). "

Krishna continued: "Transcendental knowledge of the Absolute is no longer necessary for you. You were accustomed to love Me from the very beginning of your lives." Knowledge of the Absolute Truth is specifically required for persons who want liberation from material existence. But one who has attained love for Krishna is already on the platform of liberation. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita, anyone engaged in unalloyed devotional service is to be considered situated on the transcendental platform of liberation. The gopis were not actually feeling any pangs of material existence, but they were feeling the separation of Krishna. Krishna therefore said, "My dear gopis, in order to increase your superexcellent love for Me, I have purposely separated Myself from you. I have done this so that you may be in constant meditation on Me."

When a woman's beloved is away, she thinks of him meditatively, and He is present before her. Krishna wanted to teach through the behavior of the gopis. One who is constantly in trance like the gopis surely attains the lotus feet of Krishna. By these personal statement of Krishna, the gopis were convinced about the strength of feelings of separation. They Asked Uddhava.. "My dear Uddhava, will you kindly let us know if Krishna sometimes remembers us while He is in the midst of other women?"

Another gopi inquired: "Does He remember that night in the midst of kumadini flowers and moonlight, when Vrndavana became exceedingly beautiful? Krishna was dancing with us, and the atmosphere was surcharged with the sound of foot bells. We exchanged pleasing conversation then. Does He remember that particular night? We remember that night, and we feel separation. Separation from Krishna makes us agitated, as if there were fire in our bodies.

Another gopi said, "Krishna has killed His enemy, and He has victoriously achieved the kingdom of Kamsa. Maybe He is married with a king's daughter by this time and living very happily among His kinsmen and friends.

Another gopi said, "Krishna is the Param brahma Narayan, the husband of the goddess of fortune, and He is self-sufficient. He has no business either with us, the girls in the Vrindavana forest, or with the city girls in Mathura. He is the great Supersoul; He has nothing to do with any of us, either here or there."

Another gopi said, "It is an unreasonable hope for us to expect Krishna to come back to Vrindavan We should try instead to be happy in disappointment. "

The gopis further expressed that "Vrindavan was still full of all opulence and good fortune; there was no scarcity or want in Vrindavan as far as material necessities were concerned, but in spite of such opulence they could not forget Krishna and Balarama. We are constantly remembering various attractive features of beautiful Krsna, His walking, His smiling and His joking words. We have all become lost by the dealings of Krishna, and it is impossible for us to forget Him. We are always praying for Him, Hey Krishna Please come back and deliver us from this pitiable condition.'"

At this Uddhav Ji started giving them teaching of Nirgun Brahma. Gopis said we don't know, what is sagun and what nirgun.
We only know about our love with Krishna. Now each Gopi narrated their story about how they see Krishna everywhere in their daily life.

"Shyam tan, Shyam man, Shyam hi humaro dhan,
aathon yaam humko udho(uddhav) shyam se hi kaam hai,
shyam heeye, shyam jeeye, shyam hi to khaye peeye,
andhe ki si laakdi , aadhar shyam naam hai,

Shyam mati, shyam gati, shyam hi to praan pati,
shyam sukhdaayi so, bhulaayi shobha dhaam hai,
shyaam aan, shyam praan, shyam hi humari shaan,
aadi ant madhya, humara shyamaviram hai.

After listening to each story, Uddhav damned his knowledge.
He thought, i know everything about sagun brahman, but never felt presence of God. These brajwaasi are illiterate, still they are experiencing omniness of God.He felt,my dry knowledge is of no use.
Uddhava appreciated the extraordinary fortune of the gopis, who relieved themselves of all kinds of material contamination by continuously remembering Lord. Thus Uddhava desired to be able to constantly pray to be honored by the dust of the gopis' lotus feet. He applied dust of gopis feet all over his face and body.

After living in Vrindavana for some days, Uddhava desired to go back to Krishna, and he begged permission to leave from Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda. He had a farewell meeting with the gopis, and taking permission of them also, he mounted his chariot to start to return to Krishna's Palace. All the way he started thought of his days in vrindavan. On his way back to Dwaraka, he noticed a totally new world at the same place. An eternal, peaceful world where everything seemed beautiful. Uddhava sensed a big change within him. He sang to himself. He offered lift to a sick man. He appreciated the sunset in the Western sky.

When He reached Dwarka.. He offers his respects by Lying down at the feet of Lord Krishna. Krishna Picked him up and Looked at his face which was covered with dust of vrindavan. Krishna asked him for this condition. Krishna Asked How are my Nand Baba and Ma Yashoda? How are my Dear gopis? How did you pacify them? How did you freed them from their painful grief of separation? Uddhav got emotional and clinging to the Lotus feets of Krishna he began to describe the wonderful devotional life of the inhabitants of Vrindavana. "Oh my Lord, I am not that interested in the title anymore. why did you send me to teach the gopis? You knew all along how they feel and how they relate to you. No one can teach them; they not only know about your being, they are filled with you."

Krishna replied, "Uddhava, That is what was missing in your knowledge. Love is as important as Knowledge. Devotion is a part of God himself, so there is no separate need for salvation (Moksha)".

"Your journey is complete. You have arrived. I bestow you the responsibility of writing down my teaching in simple language for all those who do not have luxury of spending their life trying to be Maha-rishi. You will share the gems of knowledge to others. And for this great contribution to humanity, hereafter you shall be known as Maha-rishi".

Uddhav's Shri Radha darshana (GS canto 5 chapter 15)

Shri Narada said: O king, as they talked about Lord Krishna, Nanda and Uddhava enjoyed a great festival of happiness, and the time seemed to pass like a single moment. In each home the gopis rose at brahma-muhurta, anointed the doorways, arranged the lamps, washed their hands and feet, looked for the churning sticks and began churning cream and yogurt.

As with their arms they pulled the churning-rope, their bracelets and other ornaments tinkled, their earrings glistened, and flowers fell from their braids. As in every home they churned, the lotus-eyed, moon-faced, colorfully-dressed, beautiful, affectionate gopis sang with love about the auspicious pastimes of Krishna and Balarama. Then in every barn the beautiful cows began to moo. Hearing on every path the gopis' songs and the sounds of yogurt being churned, Uddhava, filled with wonder, said: "Love for Krishna dances in Nanda's village." After speaking these words, Uddhava left the village to bathe in the river. The gopis said: Whose chariot is this? Has cruel Akrura, who took lotus-eyed Krishna to Mathura City returned? At what inauspicious moment did his mother, in order to give pain to the loving devotees, give birth to Akrura? She did it as Kadru, in order randomly to kill people here and there, gave birth to the species of snakes. Has Kamsa' cruel friend and servant, Akrura, come again to the circle of Vraja? Will he now perform his dead master Kamsa's funeral rites for us? Shri Narada said: Speaking these words, and slapping his face, the gopis asked the pained and bewildered charioteer, Whose chariot is this? Tell us at once!"

At that moment seeing Uddhava, splendid as a monsoon cloud, His eyes lotus petals, His form like Shri Krishna's, more handsome than millions of Kamadevas, dressed in yellow garments, wearing a new vaijayanti garland filled with bumblebees, holding in his hands a stick, flute, and thousand-petal lotus, wearing a crown and ornaments glorious as the rising sun, decorated with earrings and a great jewel, and gently laughing, the gopis became filled with wonder. O king, aware that this must be Shri Krishna's friend, they approached him. Aware that he was carrying a letter from Lord Krishna, the gopis brought Uddhava to a secluded banana tree forest to ask him with sweet and respectful words about the welfare of Lord Krishna, the master of the devotees. King Vrsabhanu's daughter Radha, who thought the entire universe an empty void in Lord Krishna's absence, was there, in a beautiful forest-cottage by the Yamuna's shore. There, in the banana-tree forest, in a cooling monsoon-cloud banana-leaf cottage anointed with sandal paste and cooled by nectar moonlight and mist from the Yamuna's graceful and restless waves, Shri Radha was burned by flames of separation from Shri Krishna. Only the hope that Shri Krishna would return kept Her alive. Hearing that Krishna's friend Uddhava had come, Radha and Her friends greeted him with great respect. She offered him a seat, water, madhuparka, and many other things. Again and again She said, "Shri Krishna! O Shri Krishna!" Radha, tormented in separation from Lord Krishna, and now slender as the new moon, bowed before Uddhava. With folded hands Uddhava circumambulated Her and cheerfully spoke.

Shri Uddhava said - Eternally Shri Krishna is the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead. Eternally You are His supreme goddess. Eternally Shri Krishna enjoys transcendental pastimes. Eternally You enjoy transcendental pastimes with Him. Eternally Krishna is Lord Narayana. Eternally You are Goddess Laksmi. Eternally Krishna is Lord Brahma. Eternally You are Goddess Sarasvati. Eternally Krishna is Lord Siva. Eternally You are Goddess Parvati. Eternally Krishna is the auspicious Supreme Personality of Godhead. Eternally You are His greatest devotee.Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the father of the four Kumaras. You are the auspicious Sruti-castra. Krishna is Yajna Varaha, who plays on the ocean of devastation. You are the earth goddess.Krishna is Narada, the best of divine sages. You are the vina in His hand. Krishna is Narayana Rsi, the son of Dharma and the companion of Nara. You are Santi, who bring peace to the living entities.Krishna is Lord Kapila. You are the mystic perfections served by the Siddhas. Krishna is Dattatreya, the king of the great sages. You are the perfection of transcendental knowledge eternally.Krishna is Yajna. You are Daksina. Krishna is Urukrama. You are Jayanti eternally. Krishna is Prthu, the master of all kings. You are beautiful Queen Arci. When Krishna appeared as Matsyavatara to kill Sagkhasura, You became the Four Vedas. When, during the churning of the milk-ocean, Krishna appeared as Kurma, You became Vasuki, the auspicious churning-rope. O beautiful one, when Krishna became Dhanvantari, the physician who cures all sufferings, You became His medicine of transcendental nectar. When Krishna became Mohini, You also became Mohini, the beautiful girl that bewilders all the worlds.When Krishna became Nrsimha You became His man-lion pastimes, which were so kind to His devotee. When Krishna became Vamana, You became His fame, which is chanted by the devotees.When Krishna became Paracurama You became the sharpness of His ax. When Krishna became Rama, the moon of the Raghavas, You became Sita, the daughter of King Janaka.When Krishna, who holds the Sargga bow, becomes the sage Vyasa and writes the Vedanta-sutra, You become His commentary on the Vedas. When Krishna becomes Balarama among the Vrsnis, You become Brahma-bhava Revati.When Krishna becomes Buddha and bewilders the atheists, You will become the intelligence by which He bewilders them. When Krishna becomes Kalki, the master of religion, You will become His pious deeds.O moon-faced Radha, Shri Krishna is a moon, and You are His moonlight eternally. Shri Krishna is a sun, and You are His sunlight eternally. Krishna, the king of the Yadavas, is Indra, and You are His saintly queen Saci eternally. Krishna is a fire, and You are eternally His splendid light.Krishna is Kuvera, and You are the queen of His treasury. Krishna is the ocean of milk, and You are the silk-white waves on the ocean of milk. Whenever Lord Krishna, the master of all, assumes another form, You follow Him and assume the form of His companion. When He is the universal form or the impersonal Brahman, You also become the universal form or the impersonal Brahman.Now He is the son of Vraja's king, so now You are born as Vrsabhanu's daughter. With Your charming pastimes You bring peace and happiness to Your devotees.Krishna is the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, and You are His pastimes and the potency that fulfills His desires. I offer my respectful obeisances to You, Shri Shri Radha and Krishna, the Supreme, whose forms are eternal.O Radha, please take this letter. Don't lament. Krishna said, "Soon I will finish My duties here. Then I will return."Please also take these hundred very auspicious letters, one for each of the hundred groups of beautiful girls in Vraja.

Here is the interesting story of Govardhan Leela.

There is an interesting story in the Bhagwata and other Puranas about Shri Krishna lifting the ‘Govardhan Parvat’ or Govardhan Hill when he was only a small child. The story goes like this:

Once, when the elder people of Braj including Nanda Maharaj were planning for the Puja of Lord Indra, Shri Krishna, a child then, questioned them as to why they were doing so. Nanda Maharaj explained to Krishna that this was done every year to please Lord Indra so that he continued to grace the people of Braj by providing rain as and when required. But little Krishna debated that they were farmers and they should only do their duty or ‘Karma’ to the best of their abilities, by concentrating on farming and protecting their cattle, rather than performing pujas or conduct sacrifices like this for any natural phenomenon. Finally convinced by Krishna, the villagers did not perform with the puja.

Furious with the inhabitants of Braj for listening to the little child Krishna and worshipping the Govardhan Hill instead of him, Indra, the King of Heaven, decided to punish them by sending terrible rain clouds to flood the land of Vrindavan. Calling the Samavartaka clouds of devastation, lndra ordered them to lash upon Vrindavan with torrents of rain and thunderstorms and cause extensive floods that would destroy the livelihood of the inhabitants.

As terrible rains and thunderstorms ravaged the land and submerged it under water, the frightened and helpless inhabitants of Vrindavan approached Lord Krishna for help. Krishna, who understood the situation perfectly well, lifted up the entire Govardhan Hill at once with His left hand and held it up like an umbrella. One by one all the inhabitants of Vrindavan, along with their cows and other household possessions, took shelter under Govardhan Hill. For seven days they stayed under the hill, safe from the terrible rains and surprisingly undisturbed by hunger or thirst. They were also astounded to see the huge Govardhan Hill resting perfectly balanced on Krishna’s little finger.

Stunned and mystified with the order of events, King Indra called back the clouds of devastation, thus stopping the thunderstorms and the rains. The sky became clear again and the sun shone brightly over Vrindavan. Little Krishna asked the inhabitants to return home without any fear, and gently placed the Govardhan Hill back to exactly where it was. All the inhabitants of Braj including Nanda Maharaj, Yasoda and Balarama hailed Krishna and embraced Him with happiness.

This was how the false pride of King Indra was shattered to pieces. He came to Lord Krishna with folded hands and prayed to Him for forgiveness. Shri Krishna, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, bestowed his grace on Indra and also enlightened him about his ‘Dharma’ and duties.

Love of Radha for Krishna.

Lord Krishna expressed in his life pure love in its highest form. He has shown to the world that love without any impurity can exist between man and woman. It is impossible to describe adequately his life for the general public because it was unique and transcended mundane laws and standards. Someday I hope to put in print the true significance of Krishna's life, for it has been much misunderstood and misinterpreted. His expression of divine love was unique in this world.

Krishna had many women disciples, but one favorite, Radha. Each disciple said to herself, "Krishna loves me more than anyone else." Still, because Krishna often talked to Radha, the others were envious of her. Noticing their jealousy, he wanted to teach them a lesson. So one day Krishna feigned a terrible headache. The anxious disciples expressed their great concern over the master's distress.

At last Krishna said, "The headache will go away if one of you will stand on my head and massage it with your feet." The horrified devoted exclaimed, "We can not do this. You are god, the Lord of the Universe. It would be the highest sacrilege to dare to discrete your form by touching your sacred head with our feet."

The master was pretending an increase in his pain when Radha came on the scene. She ran to her Lord, saying, "What can I do for you?" Krishna made the same request of her that he made of the other devotees. Radha immediately stood on his head; the master's "pain" disappeared, and he fell asleep. The other disciples angrily dragged Radha away from the sleeping Lord.

"We will kill you" , they threatened.

"But why?"

"You dare to step on the head of the master?"

"What of it?", Radha protested. "Did it not free him from his pain?"

"For such a sacrilegious act you will go to the lowest stratum of hades."

"Oh, is that what you are worried about?" Radha smiled. "I would gladly live there forever if it would make him happy for a second"

Then they all bowed to Radha. They understood why Krishna favored her; for Radha alone had no thought for herself, but only for her Lord's comfort.

We’ve all grown up listening to stories of Lord Krishna. He’s a butter thief, a mischief-maker, an exuberant imp with the literal ability to move mountains. He’s also very romantic and plays the flute with divine grace. So we all think we know him – but actually, no one does! The story of Krishna from start to finish is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, with anecdotes from here, there and everywhere!!😊

Krishna’s story comes to us in fragments via Sanskrit literature, first in the Mahabharata (that speaks of Krishna’s adulthood amongst the Pandavas), then in the Harivamsa (that speaks of his pastoral foster family), then in the Vishnu Purana (that refers to him as Vishnu’s avatar), then the now popular Shrimad Bhagavata Purana (that refers to the dance with milkmaids at night) and the Geet Govind of Jayadeva (that introduces us elaborately to Radha).

Of course, Krishna’s story may have been transmitted in its entirety orally for thousands of years before being put down in writing. That we will never know. What we do know is that the Mahabharata reached its final textual form about 2,000 years ago, Harivamsa around 1,700 years ago, Vishnu Purana around 1,500 years ago, the final layers of the Bhagavata Purana came together 1,000 years ago, and the Geet Govind about 800 years ago.

Few retell the story of Krishna from birth to death sequentially, as they do for Ram. Of course, the devout will never say Ram, or, Krishna died! They will speak of their descent from Vaikuntha as avatars, and their return to Vaikuntha!

So, for many devotees, Krishna’s heaven of Goloka stands higher than Vishnu’s heaven of Vaikuntha. Vaikuntha is located in the ocean of milk, but all this milk comes from the udders of cows located in Goloka. These cows voluntarily release their milk because they are so moved by the music of Krishna who, inspired by the beauty and love of Radha, plays the flute as he stands under the celestial Kadamba tree which, in Goloka, takes the form of Kalpavriksha, the divine wish-fulfilling tree!

To be continued ....

Different Perspectives Regarding Radha and Krishna in Different Parts of India And Abroad ---

There are many common and continuous stories of Krishna across India, Krishna is different in different parts of India, and the world.

In Maharashtra, people connect with Krishna through the image of Vithoba of Pandharpur. Poet-saints of Maharashtra such as Eknath, Tukaram, and Gyaneshwar brought Krishna to the masses. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, Krishna is accessed through Shrinathji of Nathdwara.

People from Odisha connect with Krishna through the local image of Jagannath in Puri temple. In Assam, it is through the many Namghars, which was established over 500 years ago by Shankardev. Here, there are no images of Krishna. He is accessed through chanting, singing, dancing, and performances.

In Tamil Nadu, Krishna is rarely distinguished from Vishnu. He inspired the collective of poets known as Alvars. In Kerala, about 400 years ago, the Sanskrit poetry known as Narayaniyum was composed. It tells the story of the Bhagavata Purana in a very short form and it is popular in the Guruvayur temple. North India is completely unaware of these traditions.

In South East Asian countries like Cambodia, Krishna is heroic. He wrestles and defeats demons, but there are no references to his pastoral roots.

So the Krishna who became popular in South East Asia over 1,000 years ago is Vasudev Krishna of the Mahabharata, not Gopal Krishna of the Bhagavata. Krishna is thus very different when seen through the lens of geography, as he is when seen through the lens of history.

Surprisingly there are stories of Krishna abound in the Buddhist and Jain traditions! In the Jain Mahabharata, the battle is not between the Kauravas and Pandavas. The battle is between Krishna of Dwaraka and Jarasandha, the emperor of Magadha, in which the Pandavas support Krishna and the Kauravas support Jarasandha. It is important to note that the Jain Mahabharata runs along the east-west axis of India: Jarasandha is in Magadha, in the east, and Krishna is in Dwaraka, in the west.

The Buddhist Jatakas make no direct reference to Krishna, but a Krishna-like character appears in the Ghata Jatakas, where his quality as a wrestler is highlighted. When he mourns the death of his son, he is consoled by Ghata-Pandita, who is the Bodhisattva.

To be continued ....

The Mahabharata is traditionally considered inauspicious because it deals with bloodshed and the break-up of a family. This is why people prefer retelling stories of Krishna’s childhood and youth with Radha, his mother Yashoda and his beloved Gopikas from the Bhagavata Purana. The only auspicious part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita, a summary of Hindu philosophy narrated by Krishna to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

The Bhagavad Gita introduces us to bhakti yoga 2,000 years ago. The Bhagavata Puranaelaborates it in fine detail nearly 1,000 years ago. The former gave an intellectual foundation to the latter’s emotional approach to God that swept across India as the bhakti movement about 500 years ago. In this period, local poets such as Meera of Rajasthan and Salabega of Odisha and Narsi Mehta of Gujarat and Vidyapati of Mithila and Tukaram of Maharashtra composed songs on Krishna, bringing him closer to the masses. In their songs, stories of the Bhagavata Puranablended with the philosophy of Bhagavad Gita.

There are stories full of household quarrels; Krishna multiplies himself to give attention to each of his 16,108 wives!!

Krishna’s life in Dwaraka is something of a mystery: a few stories of Krishna, the husband and householder are retold. People are familiar with his two most well-known wives, Satyabhama and Rukmini. Many of the Puranas refer to his eight senior queens.

These stories are full of household quarrels. Krishna has to be a good husband to maintain domestic harmony between competing wives. There are stories about how he multiplies himself to give full attention to each of his 16,108 wives. These are, of course, metaphors explaining at one level Krishna’s ability to manage complex situations, and at another level establishing him as God divinity.

Some folk narratives of Krishna draw attention to his androgynous nature>>>> partly male and partly female in appearance; having the physical characteristics of both sexes. Look at Krishna’s statues in Odisha: he bends like a dancer, which is not how a modern macho man would stand, and he has a braid and nose rings to connect with his mother and to Radha.

In many temples, his image is dressed in female attire (Stri-vesha) on festival days to remind us of Krishna’s feminine form, Mohini. In one South Indian folk story, Krishna and Arjun go around the country, dressed as an old woman and a young girl respectively, tricking villains to do their bidding.

Here is an interesting story which I never heard before, the first time I read this ---

In a tale from north Tamil Nadu, Arjuna’s son, Aravan, by a Naga woman called Ulupi, has to be sacrificed before the war at Kurukshetra. But he refuses to be sacrificed until he gets married. Since no woman is willing to marry him, Krishna takes the form of Mohini and becomes his bride for one night. The next day, Mohini wails for him like a widow!!!

In the raas leela, only Krishna is supposed to be male. So when Shiva wants to participate in the raas leela, he takes the form of a gopika and so is worshipped in Vrindavana even today as Gopeshwar Mahadev. Likewise, Arjun and Narada both take the form of women to gain access to the raas leela as per the Padma Purana.