 The Story of Uddhav and Gopis
After completing his studies, Shri Krishna came to Mathura and stayed there. King Ugrasena said to Shri Krishna that Mathura kingdom belongs to him. He would seve as his attendant and his directions would be supreme. Shri Krishna got all kinds of comforts in Mathura. But he missed Yashodha, Gopis, Cows, Vasudev and Gokul. He sat on the terrace every day and dropped tears in their memory. The separation from Yashodha, Gopis, Cows, Vasudev and Gokul, has made him emotional. Uddhav ji was Krishna's beloved friend as well as his cousin (son of his father’s brother). He was also serving Shri Krishna apart other servants. Uddhav ji, when heard about Shri Krishna’s sadness, he plunged in deep thoughts. He thought all kind of comforts; servants, sumptuous food, prosperity and wealth are available to Shri Krishna, then what made him emotional. Uddhav ji decided to ask Shri Krishna about the reasons of his sadness. When Uddhav ji came on terrace, Shri Krishna was tearful and on seeing Uddhav tried to be composed. Uddhav ji said to Shri Krishna that everybody is taking his care as much as possible, still he is not happy. Shri Krishna explained the episodes happened in Gokul and love and affection showered by Gopis, cows, parents etc. He remembered the affections of Yashodha who was feeding him with thousands efforts. He could not forget their love. Gopis, cows and parents must be weeping in his absence. Uddhav ji was a wise person but unware of love and affection. Uddhav ji told Shri Krishna that it was nice to play with Braj people in childhood but now he is king of Mathura. He should forget Braj people and enjoy the prosperity of Mathura. Shri Krishna told, he could forget everything but not Braj. Uddhav ji was a man of spiritual wisdom but his heart was without bhakti. Shri Krishna decided to send Uddhav ji to Gokul to learn bhakti from Gopis so that his spiritual wisdom would fructify. Simultaneously, Gopis would also gain spiritual wisdom and it will reduce their pain of separation. Shri Krishna asked Uddhav to go to Braj and preach them Vedanta and ask them to forget him. Once they forget him, he would also forget them. Uddhav said, “It is better to send letters to them weekly which would give them pleasure of meeting”. Shri Krishna said to Uddhav that he tried to write letters several times but he could not get words and how letters would comfort Mata. So, Uddhav, you should go to Vrindavan and educate Gopis to forget him. Uddhav thought, he is man of wisdom, hence he is being sent to Braj. Uddhav ji said, “He is ready to go but how the uneducated people of Braj would understand Vedanta”. Hence, it would be futile to go there. Shri Krishna said, “Gopis are beyond education but they have learnt love; they have sacrificed their husbands, relatives etc. Uddhav, Gopis need the wisdom”. Hence, he must go. Uddhav was not interested to go but to fulfil the desire of Shri Krishna, he got ready to go. Shri Krishna told him to convey his message that he remembers all and they should not weep due to the separation. In morning, Shri Krishna gave Uddhav, Pitamber and vejayantimala (yellow clothes and Vejayanti garland) and asked to wear before meeting Gopis. He said, “Gopis did not see any man other than him; if he wears the attire, they would believe him as his messenger”. When the chariot started, Shri Krishna asked Uddhav to convey his parents that Kanhiya would surely come and he started weeping. Uddhav was not able to comprehend, why Shri Krishna starts weeping while remembering Braj. In Braj, tears of Gopis were flowing like river since Kanhiya left. Cows stopped grazing. Nand and Yashodha did not eat anything. Yashodha has been thinking that she would eat after feeding Kanhiya. Nand and Yashodha were always in thoughts of Kanhiya and weeping. Yashodha taunted Nand for sending Kanhiya to graze cows. He was to eat dry rotis and run after cows. Hence, he left. Nand said, “He did not send him rather he insisted for grazing cows”. He said, “He is borne to serve cows, Kanhiya has forgotten us after becoming king of Mathura”. Chariot of Uddhav ji reached in Braj. Braj was pure and Satvika. Animals, birds, trees etc. all were divine. Shridam, Madhumangal etc. Gopals were waiting Kanhiya on the way of Mathura. They saw the chariot. They thought that Kanhiya must be coming. They ran towards chariot but found Uddhav. Uddhav said to gopals that he has brought message of Shri Krishna. He would be coming. Gopals said, “They never thought Kanhiya would be so ruthless; without him, everything is lifeless”. They showed the way of Nand’s house. When chariot stopped at Nand’s house, Nand and Yashodha ran towards chariot believing their Kanhiya has come. To see some other person, Nand fainted. Uddhav was perplexed to see everybody weeping in the name of Krishna. Yashodha ji kept patience. When Uddhav completed his bath, food etc., one attendant informed Nand that friend of Krishna has come. Nand got up from faint. Nand ji asked about welfare of Yadavs and Mathura. He further said, “He feels Kanhiya is here in Braj, He hears the music of Kanhiya’s flute, Sometimes, he feels that Kanhiya is sitting in his lap”. Entire braj, Yamuna, Giriraj, cows etc. are waiting for his return. Tell Kanhiya, his parents are weeping whole day. Yashodha told Uddhav that black color of Yamuna remind her about Kanhiya. She feels that Kanhiya has sat in her lap. Uddhav ji was perplexed, how to preach them. Seeing the love of Nand-Yashodha, half of the pride of Uddhav vanished. He felt, they see almighty in everything. Uddhav took the permission from Yashodha to take bath in Yamuna. Uddhav heard Gopis’ Krishna bhajan. He thought Gopis sing so well and Braj people are fortunate to sing Krishna’s bahjan in early morning. Uddhav’s pride of wisdom dissolved slowly. Later, Gopis were discussing among themselves about Shri Krishna. Lalita said, “Whenever she tries to forget Kanhiya, he comes in mind more intensely; yesterday, she saw him playing flute on the tree and she turned half-mad; due to this, she tied her child instead of bucket and dropped in the well; Kanihya brought out him from well”. Another Gopi said, “people may say anything, but she is sure that Kanhiya is here only; yesterday, she was coming in dark to take water from well and was scared, Kanhiya chatted with her and came up to her house”. When Gopis were talking, Uddhav took bath in Yamuna and dressed in Pitamber & vejayantimala. Gopis saluted Uddhav. Uddhav introduced him to Gopis that he is friend of Shri Krishna and brought the message of Shri Krishna for them. Gopis taunted Uddhav that Shri Krishna is everywhere and whether he sees Krishna in Mathura only. Uddhav said to Gopis that they should worship formless almighty. Gopis told Uddhav that the bliss given by Krishna could not be received from his wisdom; they did not have mind to practice for formless almighty as their mind had been stolen by Krishna and they have no other mind. Uddhav ji thought that Gopis and Nand-Yashodha see Krishna in everything and everywhere. They experience almighty omnipresent and he wasted so many years in contemplating about almighty. He was entangled in Vedantic principles but could not experience almighty. His entire pride of wisdom vanished. Gopis brought Uddhav before Radhika. Radhika was in dilapidated condition. She also repeated, “Shri Krishna is here only and everywhere”. Uddhav again repeated, “He has brought a message of Krishna”. Radhika said, “My Krishna is omnipresent, he is in my heart, he is in my whole being”. Uddhav ji requested to Radhika that his mind became dull due to pride of wisdom and to donate him Premlakshna Bhakti. Radhika obliged. Uddhav was surprised. He was most surprised when, by Gopis’-grace, he saw Shri Krishna standing with his eyes everywhere among the Gopis. Uddhavji had come to give wisdom to Gopis. Now, he became a disciple of the Gopis. He started thinking of himself as the Gopi. Gopis also got spiritual wisdom from Uddhav ji and their Bhakti along with spiritual wisdom became divine. Uddhav ji had come for a few days and stayed for six months in Braj. He sought permission now to go to Mathura. Yashodha ji said, “Uddhav ji, tell Krishna to come whenever possible”. Radha ji said, “Uddhav ji take the flute and Kamli and give to Krishna as it is not required”. Uddhav ji comforted everybody and said, “he will bring him soon here”. When he went back to Mathura, he started calling Lord Krishna as Gopinath instead of Yadunath. Holding the feet of God, he started crying and said, “O Gopinath! Why he left Premlok (region of love) of Braj and settled here in this dry Mathura”? Hearing Uddhavji's words, Shri Krishna said “Wah, you went to teach wisdom, Uddhav”. Shri Krishna further said to Uddhavji, “Uddhav! You saw the unique love of the cowherds! That's why I can't forget them for a moment”. Spiritual Significance:
Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji Maharaj
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 Story of Sukhiya Malin (florist)
In Braj, there was a Sukhiya Malin. She listened of the Shri Krishna stories daily. She was addicted to seeing Balkrishna and hearing (Shravana) stories of Balkrishna. Shri Krishna enters into manas (मन) through eyes and ears. Sukhiya came daily in the courtyard of Nand baba. But balkrishna did not come out. She asked the solution to it from Bhoodev. Bhoodev advised her to continue Seva (service of almighty), sadhana (diligent practice) and samran (remembrance) and one day Balkrishna would be happy. Sukhiya asked Bhoodev the procedure to serve as she was very poor. Bhoodev told her to turn 21000 times garland of beads or after listening stories of Shri Krishna, take some vrat (resolve) to do. He told many methods. But Sukhiya could not find them suitable. Bhoodev then suggested her to circumambulate the house of Nand Baba at least 108 times daily for three years. She started circumambulation. Circumambulation (प्रदक्षिणा) means going left to right of the person or object in reverence. During circumambulation, one should move joining both palms in reverence and doing japa in salutation of almighty. She regularly did circumambulation of Nana baba’s courtyard for three years. After three years, it became unbearable for her. She decided not to leave courtyard of Nand baba till the vision of Balkrishna. She continued circumambulation. Balkrishna remembered Shabri and came out. He demanded the fruits from Sukhiya. Sukhiya thought, in case she immediately gave fruits, Balkrishna would return inside. So, she started talking Balkrishna that the fruits are for sale and bring grains for the fruits though she felt bad. She wanted to take him in her lap. Balkrishna brought handful rice and kept in the fruit basket of Sukhiya. Sukhiya asked him to sit in her lap. Balkrishna jumped into her lap. The malin got satisfied. Jivatma met Parmatama. The malin gave him big and sweet fruits. Both were happy. Balkrishna took the fruits and went inside. Sukhiya took her fruit-basket and left for home. When she brought down fruit basket, she found it full of diamonds. She was pleasantly surprised and thought that her poverty is eradicated forever. If you give fruit to the almighty, he would give diamonds. Spiritual Significance:
Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji Maharaj  When the Kansa decided to perform Dhanush Yajna to increase his age and to kill enemies, he invited Nand along with his sons. For this, he sent Akroor ji to Gokul. He asked the wrestlers to kill Krishna & Balrama on their arrival. Shri Krishna and Balrama came along with Akroorji.
Stories of Shri Krishna in Mathura:
When Muchukund saw Shri Krishna, he requested him for undistracted Bhakti (devotion). Shri Krishna said, “Muchukund! You cannot get undistracted devotion in this life; in youth, you were extremely lustful or libidinous and luxurious”. Hence, he has to take one more birth. In next birth, he would get birth in Brahmin family and would get undistracted devotion. Muchukund did hard penance and born as Narsingh Mehta in Kalyug. Thereafter, Shri Krishna preferred to leave Mathura in the interest of Mathura habitants. He left for Okha, Gujarat. BalKrishna stayed up to the age of eleven years in Gokul and thereafter up to the age of twenty five years in Mathura. Spiritual Significance:
Source: Shrimad Bhagavad Mahapurana.  Narada ji informed Kans that Shri Krishna is eighth son of Devaki who was transported by Vasudev to Nand’s home and he brought the daughter of Nand. It is better to call Shri Krishna and Balrama in Mathura to kill them. Then, Brahmins suggested Kans to perform Dhanush Yajna. Performance of Dhanush Yajna increases the age of the yajman (host) and kills the enemies. In case, the yajna is interrupted during first five days, yajman dies. Kans decided to invite Nand along with his sons. He asked wrestlers to kill Krishna & Balrama on their arrival.
Kans called Akroor ji and asked to bring Nand baba, Krishna & Balrama for Dhanush Yajna. He warned Akroor ji that they should not know that Kans wanted to kill them. Death of Kans was close by; hence, he called Shri Krishna. Akroor ji was eager to meet Shri Krishna. He could not sleep whole night. He completed swiftly the morning Sandhya etc. and got ready. Gold chariot of Kans came, Akroor ji moved on it to Gokul. kroor means cruel. Akroor means who is not cruel. On the way, Akroor ji imagined about Shri Krishna, whether Shri Krishna would pronounce him as Chacha (father’s brother). He saw some footprints on the way. Footprints were with Lotus, flag and hook. He believed that such footprints must be of Shri Krishna who roams around for grazing herd without wearing sleepers or shoes. Akroor ji thought, while thinking almighty, he should not sit on the chariot. He started moving on foot and prostrated on the footprints of Shri Krishna on the way. He reached gowshala in Gokul. He thought, Shri Krishna will meet him there and he would confess that he is a sinner. But he became emotional there and could not speak a word. He fell in the feet of Shri Krishna. Akroor ji wondered, whether Shri Krishna would call to the sinner as chacha. Shri Krishna placed his beneficent hand on the head of Akroor ji and lifted him. Shri Krishna called him Chacha and embraced him. Whenever jivatma come to almighty, he embraces him. From Gowshala, they went to Nand’s house. Nand ji welcomed Akroor ji. After taking meals etc, Nand ji asked the reason for his visit. Akroor ji informed him that he has come for extending invitation on behalf of Kans. Kans is organizing Dhanush Yajna at Mathura. He has called him and his sons, Shri Krishna – Balrama to view it. For the children, Kans ha sent gold chariot. Nand ji was very innocent. He felt happy to recive the invitation. Nand ji thought Kans loves his children and sent gold chariot for them. Nand baba said he was also interested to show his children Mathura. When the boys of Gokul knew about this, they also decided to come along with them to Mathura. They thought who would care Shri Krishna. Nand ji permitted them to come to Mathura. When Yashodha heard this, she was very upset. She said, don’t take Shri Krishna. If he goes, Gokul would be deserted. Who would care him there? Cows would not graze. Take only Balrama. Mathura’s women are charmers. They will charm Shri Krishna and he would not come back. Akroor is actually kroor (cruel). She would not permit him to go. Nand baba consoled her and explained that Shri Krishna is now eleven years old. How many days, he would be inside house. He should see the world. Nand baba said, he wants to make him king. They would return within three – four days from Mathura. Don’t worry. But Yashodha was not satisfied. She kept waking whole night. Out of grief, she went in courtyard and started sobbing. Suddenly, Kanhiya got awake and could not find his mother. He started searching and found her weeping in courtyard. He sat near mother and asked the reason of weeping. He said, her weeping has made him sad. Hearing this, she was consoled. She told him, as he is going tomorrow, she is feeling distressed. Without him, she can’t survive. Kanhiya assured her to come back but did not tell the timing of his return. Hearing this, Yashodha was happy and forget the timings of his return. Both slept thereafter. Shri Krishna thought, if he doesn’t visit Vasudev & Devaki who are struggling in prison for eleven years, they would die. In morning, Yashodha made ready Kanhiya. Kanhiya assured her to come back. Yashodha’s mind was restless even now. She made food for Kanhiya, herself and fed him. Akroor ji brought the chariot in the courtyard. When Gopis knew about this, they came running. Radhika fainted there. In that condition, she was murmuring, hai Krishna, don’t leave him. Gopis started arguing with Akroor ji. They said why he is taking Kanhiya. Without Kanhiya, they would not survive. Don’t take Kanhiya. Who has kept his name as Akroor? In fact, he is Kroor. He has come to make them weep. They are ready to do any job of his house. But leave Kanhiya. Gokul would be funeral place without Kanhiya. Don’t snatch Kanhiya. Mathura women are smart and educated and they are uneducated. Kanhiya would forget us there. Their luck is bad. Gopis were crying like anything. They said, almighty is cruel. First, he develops love and later splits to bear the pain of separation. Akroor ji was not able explain them. No idea struck to him. Shri Krishna whispered in Radha’s ears that Rakshasa have increased tremendously on earth and he is going to destroy rakshasa. They are two in bodies but in fact they are one. He is leaving his flute which is so dear to him. Whenever, she will play flute, he would come running. He asked Gopis to protect their lives to protect his life and he has to go. Gopis asked him, don’t forget them. They were crying. Kanhiya assured them of his return and left. Gopis followed the chariot. They were still crying. One Gopi said, she has resolved not drink water without seeing him. She asked Kanhiya to come for few moments every day. Entire Gokul was crying. Cows were also weeping. Akroor ji also became emotional. Shri Krishna asked Akroor ji to move chariot rapidly. Kaushakya started running behind chariot. To see his mother, Shri Krishna asked to stop chariot and got down. Kaushalya did Krishna’s aarti. She said her love is not solely for her. She would pray for him to be happy wherever he lives. She also shared him the secret that he is son of Devaki and she has only brought up him. She is only maid. Shri Krishna told her, don’t say all this. He would convey entire world that he is son of Yashodha. Yashodha asked Kanhiya to forget the incidence of tieing him with pestle. Shri Krishna said, he has already forgotten the incidence but he would forget bondage with her. Chariot moved further. Gopis were still running. Kanhiya told them that he has born to destroy demons and his one form would be in Gokul and another in Mathura. He entered in the hearts of all Gopis. Bereavement brings concentration. Separation makes love robust. Chariot reached near Yamuna. Akroor ji got down to take bath in Yamuna. He saw Krishna & Balrama inside the Yamuna. When he saw on chariot, they were sitting there. Again and again, he saw all this. Akroor ji had vision of Narayana also. After taking bath, Akroor ji did Sandhya. When chariot reached Mathura, Shri Krishna asked Akroor ji to move ahead and they would take rest in the garden. Shri Krishna and Kans, both can’t live the same city. Light and darkness can’t be together. Yashodha ji gave food, curd etc. for the journey. They sat there to take food. But Shri Krishna did not take food. Nand ji asked him the reason for not eating. He told him that mother and Gopis would be hungry due to separation. How could he eat? Bhakti should be so profound that almighty also remembers. Spiritual Significance:
Source: Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji Maharaj |
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