My Krishna!

My Krishna!
Standing close to You,
Doubts in my mind must be few;
Yet, the mind conjurs its idiotic questions anew:

What will i enjoy, my Lord?
Must i look at Your beautiful feet
Which are my only shelter as times fleet?

Must i look at Your Forever-Giving Hands,
Which don't even give Your devotees to ask twice a chance?

Must i look at Your fingers slender-
That hold the Panchajanya which sent Your foes running asunder?

Must i look at Your arms so inviting-
That held me in an embrace revelling?

Must i look at Your pillar-like thighs,
Wherein, i rested my cheeks, on a day so nice?

Must i stare unabashedly at Your radiant face-
That brings a smile on Your devotees' face?

Must i stare at Your lotus-eyes so wide-
And, myself, lost in You find?

Must i look at Your moustache,
That completes Your picture of amazement with panache?

Or, must i find respite in Thine smile-
Even as it sends all haunting doubts to exile??

Or, must i just to Rukmini Thaayar bow-
Who has forever Her kind grace bestowed?

By the Lord of Time,
To stand close to Him, i have been blessed abundantly:
But oh! when You smile Your beautiful smile-
You send the concept of 'time duration' to exile!

Yashoda & Krishna

Once, Yashoda appealingly asked Krishna as to why He was going to the Gopikas’ houses to steal butter, when there was so much in their own house.

The child Krishna replied, "Mother, I am not stealing the butter, but the hearts of the gopis. Their hearts are pure and full of devotion. Their butter is filled with the devotion with which they churn the buttermilk. Their bangles keep time as they sing Krishna’s name while churning. The butter that emerges contains the essence of Vedas.".

In this manner, every word of Krishna was replete with spiritual significance.

Meera bai

We do not get a human life
Just for the asking.
Birth in a human body
Is the reward for good deeds
In former births.
Life waxes and wanes imperceptibly,
It does not stay long.
The leaf that has once fallen
Does not return to the branch.
Behold the Ocean of Transmigration.

With its swift, irresistible tide.
O Lal Giridhara, O pilot of my soul,
Swiftly conduct my barque to the further shore.
Mira is the slave of Lal Giridhara.
She says: Life lasts but a few days only.

--Meera

Krishna wandering with Shri Radhika

Krishna wandering with Shri Radhika He heard the loud voices of the gopies there. Krishna requested Shri Radha to quickly leave this place with Him, but She refused on the excuse of being tired. Syamasundar then crouched down and requested Her to sit on His shoulder, but just as She was about to do so, He disappeared.

Distressed in separation, Shri Radhika fainted, crying out n exclaimed : “O Krishna, My lover, O dearest, You are so fine and so powerful. Where have You gone? Where are You? Please, O mighty-armed one, O friend, show Yourself to this wretched maidservant of Yours.”

Radhey Radhey

radha raseshvari ramya ; rama cha paramatmanah
rasodbhava krishna-kanta ; krishna-vaksha-sthala-sthita

"Beautiful Shrimate Radharani is the queen and the origin of the rasa dance. She is the giver of pleasure to Krishna, who is the Supersoul in the hearts of all. She is the lover of Krishna and is always situated upon the Heart of the Lord."

krishna-pranadhidevi cha ; maha-vishnoh prasur api
sarvadya vishnu-maya cha ; satya nitya sanatani

"She is the presiding Deity of Krishna's very life, and She is the first of all persons, the energy of Lord Vishnu, the embodiment of truthfulness--eternal & ever-youthful."

brahma-svarupa parama ; nirlipta nirguna para
vrinda vrindavane tvam cha ; viraja-tata-vasini

"Her form is spiritual, therefore She is transcendental and beyond mundane qualities. She is divine energy and is unattached. O Radha, in Vrindavana You are the leader of the gopis, and You reside on the banks of the Viraja River."

GOPIKA s The Greatest of Devotees

GOPIKA s The Greatest of Devotees -
.
( Supreme Unconditional, & Pure LOVE )

One day, Krishna was seated in Mathura in his kingdom, and suddenly He acted as if he had a headache.

Narada then comes by and seeing his Lord in that pitiable condition, immediately wants to relieve Him of the pain. So he asks, “Lord, what should we do? Have they not provided you with some kind of ointment?” The Lord says, “See, this kind of headache will not go away by such medicines; what I need is the dust of the feet of My devotees.”

. "The medicine I need is the dust of the feet of my devotees."

Narada says he isn't willing to give the dust from his own feet to be put on the Lord's head because he's sure he'll be sent to hell if he does that. So he thinks of a plan and advises Krishna that He should seek the dust of His consorts, Rukmini and Sathyabhama.

Accordingly Narada approaches them and the obvious question they ask is, “Why are you not giving the dust of your feet?” And Narada expresses his fears. Immediately, they resound the same anxiety and say, “Even we will be condemned to hell if we do that. We cannot do this. It's impossible.”

Disappointed, Narada returns to the Lord and says, “Krishna, I don't think this headache of Yours is ever going to be relieved.” Then Krishna says, “No, no! You go to Brindavan. My true devotees are there. You ask them, they will give you.”

Narada is quite perplexed because he thinks, “The most intelligent and intellectual of them are right here in Mathura, and they are not ready to give the dust of their feet. What will those cowherds know? Anyway, I'll give it a try because my Lord has commanded me to.”

He therefore goes to Brindavan, calls the Gopikas and says, “Krishna is suffering from a headache and he wants the dust of your feet to cure it.” Immediately, the Gopikas bring a huge cloth and all of them jump on top of it, bundle it up, and give it to Narada without asking any more questions. Narada is perplexed. He asks them, “Are you not scared that you'll be shunned to hell for doing this blasphemous act?”

The Gopikas say, “Narada, all we know is that our beloved Krishna is suffering from a headache. It doesn't matter what happens to us. Even if our life has to be put at stake, we do not care. His headache should be cured. That is all. Even a second of our lord's pleasur is very important for us ... we are prepared to even suffer in hell till eternity for that”

That was the love the Gopikas had for Lord Krishna.Unconditional, Unparallaled, divine.

So this is the topmost devotee, prepared to do anything without any consideration.
That is pure devotee.

Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam [Bhakti Rasaamruta Sindhu. 1.1.11]. There should be no personal desire. That should be zero. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anā... Simply one should try to please Kṛṣṇa. There is no other consideration. Only to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is pure bhakti.

flute

Krishna's flute is the Divine love melody which elevates the sweet feelings of meeting with Krishna, resulting in the sweetest blissful experience of His association.

The conception of infinity cannot come into the finite minds of the worldly people, so how can they understand the stages of Bhaava (ecstacy) which is many many times higher and sweeter than Divine Bliss of meditation & samaadhi.

At the sweet sound of the flute, Gopis came running to Krishna, but He talked to them in a formal manner to increase their desire for meeting. In this way, He gave a lesson to the devotees that only those are qualified to enjoy the pleasure of ras who are completely detached from material and sensual attractions, and who have renounced their personal attachments for Krishna's sake. Again, with his playful nature, he gave them the pleasure of meeting and disappeared to excite their feelings of separation, so that in another meeting, they could realize the charm and beauty of Divine love in its full glory. These acts have been described in five chapters of the Bhagwatam
(Called - Raasa Panchaadhyaayi) which are actually the fivefold experiences of Divine sweetness, whose secrets are imperceptible even to those Saints who have not experienced the Divine love of Vrindaban bhao.

Radha pines for her Krishna Painting

Radha cannot bear separation from her beloved Krishna. She paints her face like Krishna’s, and gazes at her own reflection in the water to quench her inner thirst and steal a glimpse of her Lover. Her love and devotion also represent the longing to have a darshan of God.

MAHAA RAASA

Krishna is the beloved of the Gopis and He loves them all, so, with a will to enrich and give the fullest experience of Divine love Bliss, He, with His naughty actions, awakens and develops the desire of meeting in their hearts and gives them separation (viyog). He says to the Gopis,in chapter 10 of Bhagwatam

"A greedy person rejoices when he receives great wealth. If suddenly he loses it, he feels sad and every moment he remembers the previously enjoyed pleasures of his lost wealth.In the same way, I give you separation, so that your mind may be engrossed in My love and you can enjoy more Bliss in My meeting. I am your Beloved and you are My sweethearts, so I do such things because I wish to give you the utmost Bliss of love. It is My nature that I give My love to those who renounce everything for Me."

Renounce

Further He says, "You have broken the unbreakable fetters of family life, given up everything for Me and loved Me with your heart and soul. You lived for Me but you desired nothing from Me, so I have become your debtor forever."

Who can imagine the fortune of such Gopis and who can fathom the love of those Gopis, who made Krishna their debtor?

To give the ultimate experience of Divine love to the Gopis, Sri Krishnaa, during His appearance period, once provided them with the proper atmosphere and association to develop their feelings of separation pull the desire for meeting. Later, He poured the greatest bliss of Divine love into their hearts by His playful nets. All these activities are collectively called Maharas (maha means the greatest), which was the ultimate experience of the twofold sweetness of Divene love, virah and Milan and which, in the first instance, appeared as the music of His flute

Vihval Van

The nature of love is strange. Sometimes overwhelming restlessness makes us experience the pathos of longing even on being close to one’s beloved. Once sitting in a garden of Vihval Kund, Shri Krishna was anxiously waiting for Sri Radha. A mynah began singing her glories which further aggravated his longing. When soft-hearted sakha Subal came to know of this scenario, he figured out a way for their divine rendezvous. Soon after, moving the creepers in front, Sri Radha arrived with her sakhis. The Lord was delighted but his yearning knew no bounds. Even on being so near to his beloved, he was unable to savour the proximity. This led to the place being named Vihval which means restless.

Krishnas flute

Become Hollow (ego less) like the flute ... then whatever consciousness flows would be that of the eternal omnipresent supreme Paramatma... life becomes an eternally blissful divine composition of Love & Spirituality ♥ ♥

"We are as the flute, and the music in us is from Thee; we are as the mountain and the echo in us is from Thee..."
♥ ♥ Hare Krishna ♥ ♥

how to control the mind?

The mind has an innate tendency to merge in whatever it contacts; it craves for this merger and so, it is ever agitated and restless. But by constant practice and training, it can be directed towards the Pranava (Om, the Primordial Sound) and taught to be one with it.

The mind is naturally drawn towards sound and hence, it is compared to a serpent. The snake has two crude qualities - one, its crooked gait and second, the tendency to bite all that comes in its way. Human beings too seek to hold and possess all that they set their eyes on; people too move about crookedly. But there is in the serpent one praiseworthy trait; however poisonous and deadly its nature might be, when the strains of the charmer's music are played, it spreads its hood and merges itself in the sweetness of that melody, forgetting everything else. Similarly people too can, by practice, merge themselves into the bliss of Pranava.

Radha with Krishna

Once Shri Krishna knocked at Shrimati Maharani's door and the following conversation took place:

Radharani: Who is it?

Krishna: I am Hari.

Since the word Hari in Sanskrit also means a lion, she replied:

Radharani: There are no suitable animals of prey here, so why have you come?

Krishna: I am Madhava don't you know me?

The word Madhava, other than being a name of Krishna also means the season of spring, so came the reply:

Radharani: This is not the time for spring to come.

Krishna: I am Janardana, surely you know me?

The word Janardana holds within itself many meanings, two of which are contrary to each other. It means both - one who causes distress to society and also one who destroys the wicked. Obviously, Shrimati Radha chose the former meaning:

Radharani: Persons like you should stay in the forest where there are no other people you can cause distress to.

Krishna: Open the door young lady, I am Madhusudana.

The word Madhusudana means both the 'killer of the demon named Madhu,' and also means the honeybee, which drinks honey (madhu) from various flowers. Thus she said:

Radharani: Now I understand, you a dvirepha.

Dvirepha means both a honeybee and also an outcaste. Thus does Radharani suggest that since Krishna has the habit of fluttering towards various gopis like the honeybee, he has been banned from her house.

In this light banter Krishna introduced himself with various names, the meanings of which were taken differently by Radharani than that intended by him.

Meerabai

That dark dweller in Braj
Is my only refuge.
O my companion, worldly comfort is an illusion,
As soon you get it, it goes.
I have chosen the indestructible for my refuge,
Him whom the snake of death will not devour.
My beloved dwells in my heart all day,
I have actually seen that abode of joy.
Meera's lord is Hari, the indestructible.
My lord, I have taken refuge with you, your maidservant

~Meerabai

Why Krishna is painted blue and wears peacock feather??

Why Krishna is painted blue and wears peacock feather??

(the following is just one of the many explanations given to Krishna's Neela-Shyaama
Colour........would request you to do some research of authentic scriptures & come oout with more .........)

The same question was asked by a renowned spiritual leader to Dr.Rajgopalachari when he was in his school days. Then Dr. Rajagopalachari replied, "Blue signifies Infinity- the infinite sky" and lord Krishna is so - Infinite. The renowned spiritual leader was none other than Swami Vivekanannda.

The peacock feather contains all the seven colours in it. The entire universe is covered by akasha(ether) which appears blue in day times and black in night. So lord Krishna is identified by both the colours 'Blue' (neela) & 'Black' (shyaama). Krishna paksha in Indian calender means the days that follow after Full-moon day till the New-moon day i.e, the darker phase of 14 days of the moon. Further, he wears the peacock feather which signifies that the entire range of colours (we mortal beings) is in him. In virtue he is colourless but in the day he appears blue, black in the night to our vision and in between make us discuss all this multi-coloured multi-perceptional views.

Krishna and Sudhama

Sudhama

PICTURE: SUDHAMA, FRIEND OF KRISHNA IN EARLY DAYS, VISITS THE PALACE OF KRISHNA AND IS TREATED BY KRISHNA RESPECTFULLY!

Bhakt Sudhama, a gurukulam friend of Kanha, reached Dwaraka to meet his childhood friend. Sudhama had fallen on desperately bad times with nothing to feed his wife and children with. Sudhama, a great Krishna bhakt, was requested by his wife to seek Lord Krishna's help, who was then the King of Dwaraka. Sudhama did not wish to go bare-handed to meet the Lord, but the family had nothing of value.

The story goes that Sudhama's wife went from house to house and got some paddy.which she pounded and handed over the resulting "Pressed Rice" tied in a piece of cloth to Sudhama to offer to the Lord. There were hardly three mouth fulls of the pressed rice, Sudhama finally reached Dwarka.

The Lord spotted Sudhama approaching the palace from far. So happy was the Lord to see his beloved Sudhama that he ran out into the streets to embrace him. He ordered that the palace be decked up to greet his friend. Sudhama was escorted into the palace by Lord Krishna .He made him sat on this throne and the Lord along with Rukminidevi then washed Sudhama's feet and sprayed that teertham on his head and also advised others to do so. Then Kuchlean was served with food and both of them remembered their childhood days at Sandeepani Ashram.

Lord sat next to Sudhama as he rested. By now Sudhama, who was so happy to meet the Lord had forgotten that the purpose of his visit was to seek help from the Lord. He was also embarrassed to offer the humble "Pressed Rice" to the Lord. However, Lord Krishna spotted the "pack" that Sudhama was attempting to hide.

He grabbed the "Pack" from Sudhama and promptly put some aval in His mouth. At that moment all poverty disappeared from Sudhama's house and in the place of his hut stood a big palace His wife and children were dressed in royal finery and grand jewelery. Enough rice and grains filled their house to last them a lifetime.As Krishna proceeded to eat more "Pressed Rice", Rukminidevi stopped him. She knew that if Krishna were to eat that 'Rice" too then Rukmini Devi (Lakshmi Devi herself) would become a "dasi" to Kuchelan and his family.

Unaware of everything that had happened to his family and the riches awaiting him Sudhama made his way home, his heart filled with joy, after having met his childhood "sakha"..........Sudhama did not ask Krishna for anything but the Lord gave him everything and more in exchange for his "Pressed Rice".

Such is HIS Love towards his Bhaktas................It is extremely auspicious to offer 'Offering of Pressed Rice to Kanha.

Krishnas mission

Where was he born? In a prison. What were his possessions? Nothing. Born in a prison, he was taken to the house of Nanda, and then he went to Mathura. He owned nothing. But he became the greatest figure in the world. What does this show? Worldly possessions are not the secret of greatness. Krishna's greatness consisted in His permanent state of bliss (ananda).

If you recognise the distinction between Krishna and Rama, you will appreciate Krishna's nature better. Krishna always smiled at the outset and carried out his task later. For Rama, the deed came first and then the smile. Krishna made women cry. Rama wept for the sake of women. Rama went into the battle only after having a strong cause for it. Krishna first provoked the conflict and then determined its outcome.

The Krishna principle revels in delight. The Rama principle is based on the concept of obligation (baadhyatha).

The Ramayana is intended to promote the reign of truth and righteousness on earth. The Krishna Avatar was intended to give a perennial message to the world. He sought nothing for himself. He kept nothing for himself. He gave away everything to the people. He slayed his maternal uncle, Kamsa. He installed Kamsa's father, Ugrasena, on the throne. He did not covet the kingdom. He befriended the Pandavas, defeated the Kauravas, and crowned Dharmaja as the emperor. He did not make himself king. He was a king without a crown. He was the king of kings. He had no kingdom of his own. But he ruled over the hearts of the millions. It is this profound truth that is proclaimed by the Krishna principle (Krishna thathva).

If you enquire deeply, you will find that every Avatar has incarnated to convey a special message and carry out a particular mission.

WHAT SHOULD WE PREFER IN THIS HUMAN LIFE?

IN THE PICTURE: KRISHNA & RADHA ARE IN BLISSFUL LILAS!
WE TOO PLAYED THIS GAME WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN!

WHAT SHOULD WE PREFER IN THIS HUMAN LIFE?

SRILA PRABHUPAD SAYS:

“What is the real purpose of the human form of life?
Cultivating Krsna consciousness.

Other things will be obtained by nature's law, which is ultimately God's law.

Even if I don't try, I will be supplied with whatever I am to achieve because of my past work and my particular type of body. Your real concern, therefore, should be to seek out the higher goal of human life.

"We Are Spoiling Our Lives". Therefore, instead of being very anxious to stimulate our senses to increase material happiness, we should try to attain spiritual happiness by practicing Krsna consciousness.

As Prahlada Maharaja says, "Although your life in this human body is temporary, it is very valuable. So instead of trying to increase your material sense enjoyment, your duty is to dovetail your activities in some way in Krsna consciousness."

Jai Sri Krshna

World judges skin and size to know your identity,
People judge name and fame to know your community,
Country judges passport and license to know your authenticity,

Sri Krishna judges nothing other than your love and humanity....

JAI SRI KRISHNA!!!

Hare Krshna!!

WHAT IS THE REAL SELF REALISATION?

PRAHALAD SAYS (AS SAID BY SRILA PRABHUPAD):

"How can I save myself?" We forget our friends and even our relatives: "Let me first of all save myself."

Self preservation is the first law of nature.

In the grossest sense, the word atma--"self"--refers to the body. In the subtler sphere the mind or intelligence is the atma, and in the real sense atma means the soul.

In the gross stage we are very fond of protecting and satisfying the body, and in a subtler stage we are very fond of satisfying the mind and intelligence. But above the mental and intellectual planes, where the atmosphere is spiritualized, we can understand, "I am not this mind, intellect, or body. ‘Aham brahmasmi’--I am spirit, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord."

That is the platform of real understanding.”

Meera

There is a beautiful anecdote in the life of Meera, the renowned devotee of Krishna. When she went to Vrindavan, Krishna’s birthplace, she was prevented from entering the temple on the grounds that she was a woman and women were not allowed in that temple. She was told the chief priest of the temple was under a vow not to look upon a woman – he had never seen a woman since he had taken charge of t...he temple. Meera strongly protested, and what she said is significant. She said,

”As far as I know there is only one man in all the universe and he is Krishna. How can there be another man in the form of the priest of this temple? I wonder how he continues to be a man and a Krishna devotee too!”

When this message from Meera was conveyed to the chief priest he was taken aback, speechless,and he rushed to the temple gate where Meera was being held. He threw the gates of the temple wide open and asked her forgiveness.

He said to Meera, ”I am grateful to you for reminding me of my relationship with my Lord.”

Meera is a class by herself; she is rare. Her bliss, her ecstasy comes from being, not from doing. For her, just being is festive and joyous. Her song, her dance, is not a piece of work for her, it is an expression of her bliss, her ecstasy. She is so blissful that she is bursting into song and dance....

Meera’s songs are a case in point. She cries for God,she dances for God. Her songs are superb in the sense that they are so human. Her cries are the cries of a lover, a devotee. She says, ”I have made a beautiful bed for you, please come and grace it. I have opened the door and I have been waiting long for you....”