Janamshtmi

This day, over 5,000 years ago, Krishna appeared on earth is the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Because of his human form and behavior, not many knew he was god incarnate. But while rendering advice to Arjune at kurukshetra. Krishna unabashedly reveals – in the Bhagavad-Gita– that he is infinite, his vibhutis or divine manifestations and opulences being unlimited. No one, not even the gods, can know him completely. Krishna then proceeds to impart what he calls the most sovereign knowledge and profound mystery, contemplating on which alone one can attain moksha or liberation. Krishna said: “Everything that one can see or know emanates from me… I am its creator, maintainer and destroyer… I am antaryami, residing in the heart of every jiva. I am the goal, support, lord abode, refuge, and friend of all. I am immortality and death, being and non-entity, moving or non-moving, can exist separately from me…

“I am the syllable Om. I am Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. As the substratum of the material universe, I support it; as the presiding authority, o preside over it, and as the controller, control it; being all – pervasive,  I pervade it and as the creator, I am its cause, my vibhutis are endless; what I have described to you is a mere indication of them. And yet, although everything emanates from me, I remain the same, uncharged and transcendental.”

There is also the other Krishna, who, out of love for his devotees, welcomes their communion with him in a relationship of their choice. Devotees endear themselves to Krishna in Bhavas or relationship of dasya or servitor, sakha or friend, vastly or parent and Madhurya or lover. In Vrajamandala. Lord Krishna ceases to be the awesome full-of –vibhutis god; he identifies with the inhabitants of vraja in several close human relationships.

         

To Vrajavasis, Krishna is the most attractive an adorable young lad, captivating anyone who comes in contest with him. To Yashoda, da, he is her naughty but loving son and to Nanda Maharaj, he is the obedient son who tends his cows. To his cowherd friends he is a playmate and to Balarama, he is the perfect, respectful, younger brother. To Arjuna, he is the ideal guru and also his loyal charioteer, who ensures him victory in the Mahabharata war; and to his attendant and companion Udhava, he is friend and spiritual guide.

To the Gopis of Vrindavana, Krishna is their Intemate lover; and to Radha-Rani, he is her paramour. The Gopis are in love with Krishna 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 young Gopis cease all activity they are engaged including caring for their husbands and children, and run madly towards the hypnotic sound of Krishna’s flute. To allay suspicions, Krishna creates duplicate Gopis in their respective homes so that mothers-in–laws, husband and children believe everything is normal.

Krishna assumes the forms of the boys and calves so that no one finds them missing. And when the ‘lost’ boys and calves finally go home, mothers find themselves brimming with extra love, unaware that it is because they are, are in fact, Krishna himself.

During his rasalilas I virndavana, Krishna multiplies himself into many Krishna to make each gopi feel that he is exclusively hers In Dwarka, Krishna makes each of his 16,000 wives believe that he is her husband alone. This is the real Krishna, embodiment of love and compassion for whosoever relates with Him.