As it is Krishnashtami today, the roads are full of the excesses of the human pyramids that show the vanity of the organisers, least concerned with the safety of the "govinda's" who participate in those difficult, dangerous formations.
The internet, too, is overflowing with content as there are multiple interpretations of the Krishna Consciousness. Let me see if I can add my bit to the discussion.
Why is Krishna truly likeable? In my opinion, we like Krishna because he is always fair. He is never ever partial or unfair. He has many relatives, whose hearts are darker than the Yamuna on the darkest night of the month!
Look at his own Mama, maternal uncle, supposedly should be the nicest relative! Krishna's Kans Mama is after his life even before he is born, not to forget all the horrors he sends the nephew's way. Even then Krishna continues to be fair to him, to Jarasandha, to Shakuni, to Karna, to Jayadratha, name any villain in the 'Mahabharata'. Krishna is always fair and impartial. Why, when the Yadu clan, his own people, misbehave, drunk on their riches, he gives them, too, a piece of his mind.
Yet another reason behind Krishna's likeability could be that he is forever supportive and accepts support as well. Zillion examples can be given from his life, Draupadi to Sudama to the headstrong Balarama to Subhadra, to prove Krishna's supportive nature. Look at, however, how he is supported, too.
His parents get incarcerated because he is to be born. They gladly accept the punishment for a crime never committed. His father braves the Yamuna in spate to save him. His mother suffers the pangs of separation for his welfare, while Yashoda and Nanda love him to distraction even when their own daughter dies in his place, given Kansa's cruelty. The entire Gokul loves him, follows his advice even when he is a child. He sure is a miracle kid as the Govardhan Parwat or the Kaliya Nag incidents prove.
Yet another characteristic of Krishna that i love a lot is his very open, equal and democratic discourse. He forever helps, always teaches, eternally clarifies, but always leaves the final decision to the person concerned. Remember the choice he offers Arjuna and Duryodhana who chooses the vast Yadu army?
He never ever imposes even his divine will on anybody, not even on villains! The best example, however, to prove my rather unusual point would be the Bhagwad Geeta itself. In that great treatise, he discusses the Dnyan Yoga, the Karma Yoga, the Bhakti Yoga; the three types, namely, satvik, rajas and tamas of every activity and personage; he reveals his grand avataar. And, yet the Geeta ends with, "यथेच्छसि तथा कुरू!" , that is, "do what you want". In other words, he allows Arjuna the total, complete, inalienable freedom of choice. Indeed how very truly divine!
No wonder, the Krishna Consciousness is attractive world-wide!
Pratima@ Yet another unique point about Krishna is that he understands, appreciates, loves quiet, mature, sensible devotion. The best example of this would be Rukmini who, unlike Satyabhama, is happy with a tulsi patra and a parijat flower. Another could be Meera who lives the Krishna Consciousness even when she is viciously, cruelly and bitterly ill-treated and punished for it.
I would hence like to state that Krishna is for the people, of the people and in the people ( and their hearts) who truly understand the real Krishna Consciousness!
No comments:
Post a Comment