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The Spiritual Love of Radha-Krishna

5/29/2020

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It is ignorance to talk anything wrong about relationship of Radha-Krishna. In fact, Sri Krishna left Gokul-Virndavan at the age of 12 years. It is stupid to talk their relationship as of mundane love. The love felt by the Gopis is not lust (Kama). Sexual lust cares only for sensual gratification for oneself. The Gopis on the other hand seek Krishna’s enjoyment, not theirs. The unalloyed love of Radha-Krishna is without the slightest touch of self-centeredness. The play of Radha and Krishna is extremely deep and
Radha’s spiritual love for Krishna was without the least taint of selfishness
.

In the Skanda Purana, Vaishnava Khanda, Bhagavata Mahatmya talks about Radharani. The 1st chapter (Volume 6) contains the famous statement, “Atma Tu Radhika Tasya” – Radharani is Krishna's soul. Radharani features prominently in Rudra Sampradaya of Sri Vallabhacharya and Gaudiya Sampradaya of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Radha is also the principal god of worship in the Nimbarka Sampradaya, as Nimbarka, the founder of the tradition, declared that Radha and Krishna together constitute the absolute truth.

Gopis:

Gopi is a Sanskrit word, refers to milkmaids. The Skanda Purana states that out of many thousands of gopis who had divine love with Sri Krishna, sixteen thousand were predominant; and out of 108 gopis, eight were still more prominent. The prominent eight gopis were Lalita, Vishakha, Champakalata, Chitra, Tungavidya, Indulekha, Rangadevi and Sudevi. But the two gopies, Radharani and Chandravalli were most prominent; and out of these two gopis, Radharani is the most prominent. Radha, is also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani.
 
Why Gopis had love for Sri Krishna:
Goverdhan episode developed trust in the minds of Gopis that Balkrishna is almighty. This sowed the seeds of love and devotion among their minds. Intensity of devotion increased gradually in the minds of Gopis leading to restlessness. This restlessness was due to separation from almighty and not worldly desire or passion.

Balkrishna was eleven years old at the time of Raaslila. Some ignorant persons paint Raslila as ordinary sexual appetite. Any sensible person can understand that eleven years old child can’t have sexual appetite. Gopis were of all ages including married women. They had pure devotion and spiritual love for Sri Krishna and not attachment with body. Further, Raas was done in open and not closed door.  Neither Gopis in Gokul were ordinary ladies nor was Balkrishna ordinary human being. In case, the episode would have been for sexual appetite, Shri Shukdev ji who was an enlightened person since birth will not mention this.

Dongra ji Maharaj has explained about the Gopis. Raaslila was not an ordinary meeting of man and woman but meeting of Jivatmas with Parmatama. When the covering of desires and ignorance is abolished, it is pure Jivatma. Sexual appetite is caused in the physical bodies. No sooner feelings of physical body eliminate, sexual appetite is erased from the mind. Everybody has to shed ego to meet almighty.  

What is Spiritual Love:
Initially, love starts between two persons. As love intensity grows, feeling of oneness develops. The power of love is revealed in 8 forms i.e.

1. Prem, (प्रेम) - Indissoluble attachment binding devotee to God,
2. Sneh (स्नेह) - The end product of Prema is when the heart melts in love,
3. Maan (मान) – It is marked by sensitiveness due to excessive love,
4. Pranaya (प्रणय),
5. Raag (राग) – It is eager longing for the object of love touched with the enjoyable pain associated with it,
6. Anuraag (अनुराग) – It is the experience of unceasing novelty in the object of love,
7. Bhavavesh (भावावेश) – It is the experience of excellent spirit, admiration, cheerfulness and velour etc. During the experience, there may be continuous flow of tears, and
8.Maha-bhav(महाभाव) - is the most ecstatic expression of love, and is called Divine madness.

Each of them epitomizes a higher degree of love than the previous one. Thus Maha-bhav is highest and in Mahabhav as well there is most intimate level of love which is called Madan Maha-bhav. Shri Radha is the embodiment of Madan Mahabhav.
 
Gopis are spiritual preceptress of Bhakti. While performing their duties, their mind was constantly engrossed in Balkrishna. This is height of Bhakti. Sri Shankaracharya said, immerse in any form of deity with full devotion. Perform all worldly duties keeping in manas of almighty and for the almighty. If devotion is done all through our actions, speech and thought, shri Krishna enters in life.  Believe all other forms part of that form. It will not develop pleasure or pain. All attachments are of manas (मन). Meditating the sensual pleasures makes the manas impure. Abandoning such thoughts of sensual pleasure, purify the manas. When manas becomes steady in almighty, it is peaceful. After liberation of manas, jivatma enjoys freedom.
 
What is the original form of Radha:
Radha is regarded as the Goddess or Shakti. She is the eternal consort of Sri Krishna. She is the internal potency or Hladini Shakti (Blissful energy) of Sri Krishna. She is the personification of para bhakti (complete devotion) unto Sri Krishna (Bhakti Devi) and is revered as the epitome of selfless love and service towards Krishna. She is also considered by some as the feminine form of Lord Krishna himself.

Radha once asked krishna in Golok whom does he love the most, and krishna told her that he is free from all the emotions and loves everyone. To this she asked about herself, to which Krishna said that you and I are same so how can I love myself. When she asked him why didn’t he marry her? He said how he could marry her because love and marriage needs two people but they are one.
 
According to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:
  1. Sri Krishna is the Supreme Being, the source of all incarnations, the First cause. He has His external abode where he is eternally present. His body is pure Sat (existence), Chit (Consciousness) and Ananda (Bliss). He appeared as the supernatural youthful Cupid (Angel).
  2. Radha, the Krishna’s powers are infinite, but three of them are the most important. These are Chit-Shakti, Maya-Shakti and Jiva-Shakti. Chit Shakti is internal and intrinsic power (Svarupa-shakti); Maya-Shakti is external creative power and Jiva Shakti is His preservative power.
  3. Svarupa-Shakti has three kind of manifestations according to three aspects i.e. Sat-Chit-Ananda which are Sandhini (creative), Samvit (Jiva nature) and Hladini (Love, Prema) respectively. Hladini delights Sri Krishna.
  4. One cannot attain Krishna by adoring Him as a Divinity but by serving Him as a Gopi, as Sakhi. 
 
Source:
  1. Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji MaharajBhakti
  2. Schools of Vedanta – by Swami Tapasyananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.
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The Story of Maha Raas of Shri Krishna and Gopis

5/22/2020

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The Story of Maha Raas of Shri Krishna and Gopis

Maha Raas was solemnized by Shri Krishna and Gopis in Vrindavan, by Balkrishna at the age of 8 years 3 months while Radharani was 3 years 3 months only (on October 3, 3222 BC on Kartika Purnima).
 
Spiritual Significance:
  1. Maha Raas is integration of music, dance & literature. Raas is devoid of sexual appetite.
  2. At the time of Raaslila, Balkrishna (Shri Krishna) was eleven years old. Some ignorant persons paint Raslila as ordinary sexual appetite. Any sensible person can understand that eleven years old child can’t have sexual appetite. Gopis were of all ages including married women. They had pure devotion and spiritual love for Shri Krishna and not attachment with body. Further, Raas was done in open and not closed door.  Neither Gopis in Gokul were ordinary ladies nor was Balkrishna ordinary human being. In case, the episode would have been for sexual appetite, Shri Shukdev ji who was an enlightened person since birth will not mention this.
  3. Raaslila was not an ordinary meeting of man and woman but meeting of Jivatmas with Parmatma. When the covering of desires and ignorance is abolished, it is pure Jivatma. Sexual appetite is caused in the physical bodies. No sooner feelings of physical body eliminate, sexual appetite is erased from the mind.
  4. To meet almighty, Gopis left their womanhood and Narada ji his manhood. Everybody has to shed ego to meet almighty.  

Story:
Goverdhan episode developed trust in the minds of Gopis that Balkrishna is almighty. This sowed the seeds of love and devotion among their minds. Initially, love starts between two persons. As love intensity grows, feeling of oneness develops. Intensity of devotion increased gradually in the minds of Gopis leading to restlessness. This restlessness was due to separation from almighty and not worldly desire or passion.

Dongra ji Maharaj has explained about the Gopis as under:
Gopis are of two types’ viz. Nityasiddha (नित्यसिद्धा) and Sadhansiddha (साधनसिद्धा). Nityasiddha Gopis are Shrutiroopa (श्रुतिरूपा), Rishiroopa (ऋषिरूपा), Sankeernroopa (संकीर्णरूपा), anypoorva (अन्यपूर्वा) and ananypoorva (अनन्यपूर्वा). Sadhansiddha Gopis were that who’s Sadhna (spiritual elevation) was not yet completed.
 
Nityasiddha Gopis:
  1. Shrutiroopa Gopis are those rishis (sages) who have established connection with Brahman (almighty) and came in form of Gopis to have realization or vision of almighty.
  2. Rishiroopa Gopis are those rishis who have come to experience Mukti (liberation) in form of Gopis.
  3. Sankeernroopa are those Gopis in whose mind sexual appetite grew after seeing the form of almighty such as Soorpnakha.
  4. Those persons, who developed distaste for the worldly pleasure after enjoying it and developed devotion for almighty, are anyproova Gopis such as Tulsidas (whose attachment for wife transformed into devotion for almighty).
  5. Those persons, who were recluse or stoic since birth such as Shukdev, Meerabai etc. were ananyproova Gopis.
Lalitha , Visakha , Roopamanjari, Anangamanjari etc. were Nityasiddha Gopis. Radha ji is part power of God.
 
Sadhansiddha:
  1. Although Vedas much explained about the almighty, yet could not experience the almighty. Hymns of Vedas came as Shrutiroopa Gopis.
  2. Many sages such as Vishvamitra, Prashar etc. could not destroy sexual appetite hidden in mind despite all tapas. Such sages came as Rishiroopa Gopis.
Balkrishna played flute in late evening. Gopis heard the music of flute and ran leaving the worldly affairs. Gopis were running without caring of their clothes, make-up and bodies. Some Gopis ran with dirty hands of cow-dung. They were restless to meet almighty. Gopis were the rishis who took birth only to surrender before almighty.
Balkrishna asked them to return their homes. Shri Krishna said to Gopis, they would get more pleasure in separation than that of meeting. It was not proper to come here leaving their husbands and children at home. Gopis asked reason for saying this. Shri Krishna replied, body has husband, father etc. but Atman does not belong to father or husband etc. Atman’s duty is to meet almighty. Shri Krishna further said duty of women is to serve husband and children which purifies mind and pure mind attains almighty. Gopis said they have done renunciation of all desires from sense organs & mind and decided to surrender in the feet of almighty. Gopis further said, they are neither man nor woman but pure Atman. For thousands of births, they have waited for him. Shri Krishna said he could deliver them at their homes with the power of yoga. Gopis said it would deliver the physical bodies but not the minds. Gopis were adamant not to go back and preferred to die. They insisted for amrit (nectar) of divine love and wisdom so that feeling of duality eliminates.
Hearing all this, Shri Krishna accepted the defeat. He thought that devotion of Gopis is true and they would give up lives, if sent them away today. Almighty took many forms and did Maha Raas with each individual Gopi. Jivatmas met Parmatama. Narada ji regretted for being a man as he could not participate in Raas. Radha ji advised him to take bath in Radhakund. Narada ji after taking bath in Radhakund became Naradi.
Brahma ji and other deities beheld Raas. Brahma ji thought, although Shri Krishna and Gopis are desireless and flawless, yet Shri Krishna is for establishing virtues and Raas with others’ wives is not proper. Shri Krishna thought Brahma has not understood that this is not ordinary Raas Lila but dharma (Virtuous) Lila. Almighty did one trick. He gave his form of Krishna to all Gopis. Now, there was only Shri Krishna. Brahma ji understood that this is not ordinary Raas.

Source:

Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji Maharaj
 
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The Story of Goverdhan Lila of Shri Krishna

5/15/2020

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When Balkrishna was seven years old, he did Govardhan lila (play). “Go” means wisdom and bhakti. Every year, Nand baba was performing Indra yajna. Balkrishna asked Nand Baba about the Indra Yajna and its purpose. Nand Baba replied, Indra is deity of rains. He gives rains which grow grains and cereals. They perform the yajna to make him happy. Balkrishna said, performing yajna of Indra is good but he cannot be termed as almighty. Anybody who performs one hundred yajna attains the post of Indra. Balkrishna asked Nand Baba whether he is aware about Indra’s Indra. Nand Baba asked who that is. Balkrishna said, Goverdhannath. Goverdhannath is deity of all the four directions. Jagannath Puri is in the east direction, Rameshwar is in the south, Dwarkanath is in west, Badrinath is in north and in the center is Goverdhannath. Balkrishna asked Nand Baba to worship Goverdhan. For so many years, everybody does Indra’s worship but he has not given his vision. It means he is egoistic. Goverdhan could be seen and it protects us so it should be worshipped. Balkrishna decided to erase the pride of Indra. Nand baba asked the procedure to worship Goverdhan. Balkrishna said, caring of poor, cows and virtuous Brahmins is worship of almighty. Food items were collected from all houses and Annakut (mixed vegetable dish) was prepared. 

All virtuous Brahmins were invited. Brahmins started chanting Mantras and Abhishek (consecration) of Balkrishna. Children got tired of bringing water from Yamuna for Abhishek. It required a large quantity of water for Abhishek. Balkrishna said to Goverdhan that his friends are tired and prayed to reveal Ganga-Yamuna from its foothills. Ganga appeared which is called as Mansiganga. Abhishek of Goverdhan was completed. Balkrishna entered in his another form into Goverdhan. He was worshipped like a living deity. Balkrishna asked to offer food to Goverdhannath. Braj people asked whether Goverdhannath would consume food. Balkrishna said in affirmative. Balkrishna in form of Goverdhannath started consuming food. Entire Braj was very happy. Later, Braj people got worried as Goverdhannath appeared to consume everything. Balkrishna dispelled their fear and said, Goverdhannath would give equivalent amount of food as Lakshmi ji has arrived. After worship and aarti of Goverdhannath, all Braj people sat to take food. Balkrishna served it to everybody. Everybody enjoyed food and rested in the foothills of Goverdhan.
 
Meanwhile, Narada went to Indra and informed him about the worship of Goverdhan. Indra felt insulted and asked all the twelve clouds to rain over Braj and to destroy everything. Due to heavy rains, there was outcry of Braj people. Everybody was terrified. Balkrishna said Goverdhannath would protect us. Believe him. He informed that Goverdhan appeared in his dream and said, he is happy with them. It would rain for seven days and he will stand weightlessly on his finger. Balkrishna asked the help of everybody to take Goverdhan on his finger. Goverdhannath became light. Balkrishna took Goverdhannath on his little finger. There were heavy rains for seven days. Gapals thought that Balkrishna must be tired and asked to place Goverdhannath on the wooden sticks. As soon as Balkrishna removed his finger, the weight of Goverdhan became unbearable. Gopals cried Balkrishna to put his finger. Ultimately, base is almighty. To see the divine form of Balkrishna, Braj people forgot their body requirements and hunger for seven days.
 
Now, Indra realized the original form of Balkrishna. He lost pride. He ordered clouds to stop raining. Indra did Abhishek of Balkrishna with milk. Milk was collected in a furrow which is called as Surubhikund. Braj people was surprised with the powers of Balkrishna and surmised that he is almighty. They asked Nand baba, who is father of Balkrishna. Nand baba told them that he is his son. Gargacharya rishi informed them that he has attributes of almighty. In Goverdhan episode, Shri Krishna is worshipping and worshipped.
 
Spiritual Significance:
  1. Goverdhan mount, Mansi Ganga and Surbhikund can be seen today also as an evidence of Goverdhan lila.
  2. Goverdhan lila was to erase the pride of Indra.
  3. Caring of poor, cows and virtuous Brahmins is worship of almighty.
 
Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji Maharaj

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The Stories of Balkrishna in Vrindavan

5/8/2020

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When Balkrishna was five years old, he desired to go to Vrindavan. Vrinda means Bhakti. Balkrishna alongwith Gopis & Gopals went to play near Yamuna River in Virndavan.
 

Stories of Balkrishna during the age of five to eleven years & their Spiritual Significances:
 
  1. Vatsasura – the Calf Demon - Once, when Balkrishna and Balarama were playing on the bank of the Yamuna, a demon of the name Vatsasura assumed the shape of a calf and came there intending to kill the brothers. By taking the shape of a calf, the demon could mingle with the other calves. Balkrishna caught him by the two hind legs and tail, whipped him around very forcibly and threw him up into a tree. The demon lost his life and fell down from the top of the tree to the ground.
 
  1. Bakasura – the Stork Demon - One day, on the bank of the Yamuna, Gopals saw a huge animal as big as a hill. Its top was as strong as a thunderbolt. Bakasura attacked Krishna with his pointed, sharp beak and quickly swallowed him. But when the Bakasura was swallowing up Krishna, he felt a burning sensation in his throat due to radiance of Krishna. The demon quickly threw Krishna up and tried to kill him by pinching his beaks. Balkrishna caught hold of him splits.
 
  1. Aghasura – the Snake Demon - Kansa sent Aghasura. When Gops and Gopis were playing, Aghasura came there. Aghasura was younger brother of Bakasur and Putna. Aghasura came in form of Python. Python sat on the way of Gopals and Gopis with open mouth. His mouth was so big that Gopals & Gopis thought it a cave in a big mountain. They entered inside his mouth along with Balkrishna. However, they were not able to come out. While the demon was trying to smash Krishna and His companions, Krishna immediately began to expand Himself within the throat of the demon which killed Aghasura. Balkrishna took them out.
 
  1. Aristasura – the Bull Demon - Once a demon named Aristasura, a big bull, frightened the inhabitants of Vrindavan. Balkrishna challenged the demon and caught his horns and tossed him away. He again attacked Balkrishna with great force and anger. Balkrishna again caught his horns and immediately threw him to the ground, breaking his horns and began to kick his body. Aristasura rolled over and died.
 
  1. Kesi – the Horse Demon – Once, the horse demon was terrifying all the residents of Vrindavan. Balkrishna. Balkrishna challenged him. The horse then ran toward Balkrishna to crush him. Balkrishna caught hold of his legs and began to whirl the horse around. Then, he threw him away. After he gained consciousness, he ran towards Balkrishna with great anger and force with his mouth open. As soon as Kesi reached Him, Balkrishna pushed his left arm within the horse’s mouth. Balkrishna’s arm within the mouth of the horse at once began to inflate, and Kesi’s throat choked up & he died.
 
  1. Removal of Brahma’s ego - Gopals and Gopis desired to take food after coming out from stomach of Aghasura. Balkrishna asked them to sit in a row near Yamuna and said the calves would graze the green grass. One of the Gopals was Madhumangal. Madhumangal was son of Shandilay rishi. Shandilay rishi was very holy and was fasting on full moon. Since nothing was available except sour butter milk at home, Madhumangal brought butter milk vegie (कढ़ी). Other children brought sweet dishes. Everybody shared their food except Madhumangal. Madhumangal was hesitant to share sour butter milk vegie and was drinking it himself. When Balkrishna saw buttermilk vegie, he grabbed it from Madhumangal and drank entirely. When Balkrishna saw the butter milk on the face of Madhumangal, he started licking it.
 
At that time, Brahma ji came there and saw this. Brahma ji was surprised to see this. He doubted Balkrishna being almighty. Brahma ji decided to test Balkrishna whether he is almighty. Brahma ji took all the calves to Brahmaloka (his realm). When children saw no calves there, they told Balkrishna. Balkrishna said to them to continue taking food and went to search calves but could not find. When Balkrishna came back, he could not find children also. Balkrishna understood that this is handiwork of Brahma ji. Balkrishna formed another calves and children.
 
Brahma ji again came to find the status but he saw everything normal. Children and calves were there. He went back to Brahma loka. There also children and calves were playing. Brahma ji pondered over it and could not decide which children and calves are real. Meanwhile, Balkrishna decided to play one more trick. He took the form of Brahma ji and asked the servants to beat fake Brahma who is roaming around here. When Brahma ji reached Brahmaloka, the servants started beating him saying real Brahma is sitting on the throne. Brahma ji meditated upon to find the truth. He found Balkrishna sitting on the throne and children & calves also there. Balkrishna removed Brahma’s ego.
 
  1. Dhenukasura – the Ass Demon - Once Gopals complained Balkrishna & Balrama that Dhenukasura in Taalvan is stopping them from taking fruits. Dhenukasura means one who accumulates excessively. Both went there. The demon appeared before Balarama and kicked His chest with his hind legs. Balarama caught hold of the legs of the ass with one hand and, wheeling him around, threw him into the treetops. The demon lost his life.
  2. Pralambasura – the fiery Demon - Once Pralambasura demon entered in the group of Gopals, desiring to kidnap both Balarama and Krishna. Balkrishna decided to play in two groups. The defeated members in duel fighting had to carry the victorious members on their backs, as a horse carries its master. The group of Balarama, accompanied by Sridama and Vrishabha, came out victorious, and Krishna’s party had to carry them on their backs. Balkrishna, being defeated, had to carry Sridama on His back, and Bhadrasena carried Vrishabha. Imitating their play, Pralambasura, carried Balarama on his back. He began to feel the burden, and thus he turned into demon. Balrama struck the head of the demon with his strong fist. The demon fell down dead.
 
  1. Kalia – the Venomous Snake - Once, Balkrishna was playing ball game with his friends near water reservoir. In the water reservoir, Kalianag was living. During the play, ball fell in the water reservoir. Balkrishna’s friends informed him that nobody drinks its water as nag lives there. Balkrishna jumped in the water reservoir. Kalianag tried to sting Balkrishna. Balkrihna caught hood of Kalianag in one hand and tail in other hand. Then he ascended on the hood of Kalianag. Balkrishna started dancing on the hood. Kalianag was distraught. Wives of Kalianag came in shelter of Balkrishna and prayed to leave him. Balkrishna said to Kalianag to go away as the water has turned poisonous due to him. Kalianag said, he is willing to go but is afraid of Grauda. Balkrishna said, due his foot prints on the hood, Garuda would not torture him.
 
  1. Forest Fire - Once, Balkrishna and his friends were staying at night near Yamuna. Forest fire spread near them. Balkrishna asked all his friends to close their eyes. Balkrishna took huge size and drank entire fire to save them.
 
  1. Story of Cheerharan (Theft of garments) - Once, Braj maidens were taking bath in naked form in Yamuna. These maidens were of the age of five to six years rishiroopa Gopis. Then Balkrishna picked their clothes and jumped on Kadamb tree. He asked maidens to come and take their clothes. Balkrishna said, by taking bath naked, they have done crime to the water deity. Hence, they should come with folded hands and take the clothes. They did so. The episode was explained properly by Dongra ji Maharaj. Maidens were having feeling that they are women which reflected their arrogance. The episode was to destroy their arrogance. Shri Krishna taught them to surrender him completely after shedding the ego. Body is hidden by clothes and Jivatma is hidden by desires and passions. Only after shedding desires, almighty appears.
 
Spiritual Significance:
Dongra ji Maharaj has explained the spiritual significance of various episodes of Balkrishna lucidly as under:
  1. Killing of Vatsasur, Bakasur and Aghasur signify abolition of ignorance, hypocrisy and sins respectively.
  2. Dhenukasur is symbol of attachment to body (देहध्यास). Such person has proud about his body form, education, wealth etc. and start torturing others.
  3. Killing of Pralambasur and suppression of Kalia nag signify quieting of sensual pleasures. Hence, sense organs were purified.
  4. Kalianag is one which pleases sense organs and manas (इंद्रियाध्यास). Hence, it should be controlled by intellect, Satsang. It would purify them.
  5. Cheerharan (theft of garments) episode signified shedding of desires and ego. 
Source:
Shri Bhagavad Purana

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The Stories of BalKrishna in Gokul

5/1/2020

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Balkrishna Kanhiya lal ki jai
 
In the mid night of eighth day in Shravan month (Krishna Paksh), four armed Narayana appeared before Vasudev and Devaki. Narayana said to them that they could see his form and continue to meditate for eleven years, he would again come. Later, Kanahiya (child form) appeared. Vasudev carried him to Gokul and brought Yogmaya. Yogmaya announced Kansaa that the child to kill him has already been born.  “Go” means sense organs and “kul” means group.
 
During Gokul stay, Balkrishna never wore stitched clothes and shoes as his friends were poor. He carried flute and butter-sugar candy (मिश्री). He never cut his hairs in Gokul.
 
Balkrishna in his childhood faced several attacks in Gokul.
 
Stories of Balkrishna up to age of five years & their Spiritual Significances:

  1. Bhagwan Shankar ji came on 4th day of birth of Balkrishna to see Balkrishna on twelfth day of Shravan month (Krishna Paksh).
  2. Putna – the Witch - Kansaa sent Putna on 6th day of birth of Balkrishna (fourteenth day of Shravan month) to kill him. When Putna came in elegant form, nobody stopped her. But she came with poison on her breast and started feeding. Kanahiya started drinking milk in such a way that she was distraught. She requested him to leave. But Kanahiya once catches, never leaves. Then she transformed into Rakshasi and flied with him. Kanahiya dropped her in a garden. She fell destroying many trees. Kanahiya was on the Putna. Gopis saw Kamahiya playing and they brought him in Gokul.
 
Spiritual Significance:
  1. Putna means impure. Impure is ignorance. Fourteenth day has its significance. Because Putna or ignorance (desire) stays in fourteen locations viz. five sense organs, five organs of action and four internal organs (Manas, Buddhi, Chit & Ahemkar). Kakai also demanded fourteen years of stay in forest of Shri Rama.
  2. “6” signifies six defects viz. kama, krodha, lobha, moh, madd & matsar; six attributes of almighty viz. aishvariya (Supremacy, Prosperity), veeray (virility, energy), yash (fame), shri (wealth), gyan (wisdom) and vairagya (dispassion).
  3. Killing of Putna signifies destruction of desires.
  4. Elegance does not signify purity.
 
  1. Shatkasura – the Calf Demon - Shatkasura came on 108th day of birth of Balkrishna to take revenge of death of her sister, Putna. Yashoda was celebrating Krishna's turning over in the bed. After the function was over, Yashoda was busy attending to the guests. She placed Krishna under a cart outside the house and put him to sleep. This cart was a ghost named Shaktasura.  Kanahiya pushed his cart full of milk, curd etc. Shatkasura died by crushing under the cart.
 
Spiritual Significance:
  1. 108 numbers signify garland of beads for japa. In case connection is not made with japa, Shaktasur in form of Kama, kkrodha etc. may enter in life. 
  2. Killing of Shatkasur signifies destruction of ignorance.
 
  1. Trinavarta – the Whirlwind Demon - Then Kansa sent Trinavarta. Trinavrata assured Kansa that he has magnificent power of blowing away everything and he will surely blow away Krishna and will through him from the height that will finally kill him.  One day, Trinavrata came to kill Balkrishna in form of tornado. Balkrishna was sitting in lap of Yashodha mata. To kill Trinavrata, Balkrishna increased his weight. Yashodha mata could not bear his weight and she laid him on the floor. As she got busy in the household work, Trinavrata and flied away with Balkrishna. Balkrishna increased his weight further and kept hold of Trinavrata. Tranivrata lost his life.
 
Spiritual Significance:
Tranavrat signifies Rajasika attribute which sweeps manas (मन). Manas loses connect with intellect and Kama or krodha enters manas. Kama and krodha are sons of Rajas attribute.
 
  1. Damodar lila - One day, Yashodha mata saw butter pot broken and scattered here and there. Balkrishna was feeding butter to his friends. Yashodha believed that gopis were telling truly that Balkrishna has stealing habit. Yashodha decided to tie Balkrishna and ran after him with a stick. Yashodha was tired of running but failed to capture Balkrishna. Vallabhacharya said bhakti with ego would not succeed. Yashodha ran with stick which represent ego. Yashodha threw stick. Balkrishna stopped. Yashodha caught him. Balkrishna started weeping. Yashodha said that he is fooling her. His friends pleaded Yashodha for not to beat or tie him. But Yashodha decided to do away the habit of Balkrishna of stealing.
 
Balkrishna’s friends went to the homes and informed their mothers about this. Gopis came running and told Yashodha to leave Balkrishna. They started complaining that Balkrishna had broken their butter pots several times but they never tied him. They also promised to give five pots as against leaving Balkrishna. But Yashodha was adamant. She said to Gopis that he is her son and would do whatever she likes.
 
Yashodha tried to tie Balkrishna. To her surprise, cord fell short despite using all the cords of the home. Shri Krishna saw that Yasodha mata is tired and out of affection, he got bonded with pestle. Shri Krishna cannot be tied with worldly chord, but tie with chord of love.
 
Spiritual Significance:
  1. Breaking of butter pot signifies breaking the attachment with world.
  2. Damodarlila signifies that after breaking of attachment almighty comes in loop.
 
  1. Yamlarjuna trees - There were two Yamlarjuna trees in the Nand’s courtyard. Balkrishna pushed the pestle towards the trees. Pestle turned in between both trees of Yamlarjuna. Balkrishna pulled strongly which uprooted the trees and two noble gentlemen came out. They were sons of Kubar named as Nalkubar and Manigreev in their previous life. They were cursed by Narada ji to take form of trees because they got indulged in gambling, eating non-vegetarian food and adultery. They were regretful and begged Narada ji to pardon them. Narada ji said to them that they would grow in the courtyard of Nand in Gokul and would be pulled out by Balkrishna.
 
  1. Flute of Balkrishna - Gopis said to flute that it is very lucky because Balkrishna adopted. They questioned flute about its good deeds. Flute told them, it has done big tapas. It has faced all six seasons patiently and does not hide anything in the stomach. It speaks as per desire of its master and remains silent when alone.
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