Impact of Various Sources about Shri Krishna on me

Wishing Happy Janmshtami to all of you!

Today I am going to write about the Lord after a long time. After reading many books, realising his Lessons and also feeling the Bliss within me, I become so emotional that sometimes it becomes quite difficult to express that experience which I go through. Mainly that is the reason of my Long Absence :) from this Favourite Blog of mine. This has been my Most Favourote Blog from the time of its conception, it is really close to my heart as it is the expression of my feelings for the Lord. But as soon as I start writing, I become so involved in His thoughts that writing becomes impossible for me. Today again I am trying, as this is the Blessed Day when He appeared on this Earth.

Now I will write in details how I have learned many facets of the Lord from many sources, like TV, Books and discussions-

# Satsangs:- I have listened to many Satsangs on radio on Shri Krishna for 2-3 years, which all helped me to feel the interest for Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta for the first time. As a result of all these Satsangs, I purchased the Geeta, reading which has left great impression on me!

# I have been reading the Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta for 2 years now. An still trying to understand, to go into the depth of the slokas, is has such depth and vastness. It has taught me many many of the striking lessons/teachings of the Lord.

# Reading Uddhava Geeta has helped me lot to clear many concepts, which I found quite tough in the Geeta. This text a bit easy to grasp and is in great details- so I enjoy reading it just any time. Uddhava Geeta is the Discourse of Shri Krishna to his friend and cousin Uddhava before leaving the earth.

# Mahabharat- Yes, this TV serial is the main reason behind my liking for the Lord at an very early age :... The performance of Nitish Bharadwaj was just awesome! He made Krishna alive by his sheer sincerity. His presence on screen has influnced me lot back in those school days!

(My post about Nitish Bhradwaj, Post of 31 Aug '10:-http://dpriya-lifearoundme.blogspot.com/)

# Shri Krishna Serial by Ramanand Sagar:- This has been a Real Source of Bliss since I started watching it from last year. The implications of all the actions of the Lord, His teachings and most of all the Divine Love- all have been shown so beautifully that I don’t have any words for Shri Ramanand Sagarji. His work is so Great that it is able to generate Love for the Lord in the minds of the audiences, there lies the greatest success of his endeavors.

(My posts on Swapnil Joshi and Sarvadaman Banerjee, Post of 31 Aug '10:-http://dpriya-lifearoundme.blogspot.com/)

# Ramayan- As I was feeling the devotion for Shri Krishna, I also got the exposure about another Great Work by Ramanand Sagraji, and surprisingly found out they generate the same emotion in the heart of a Devotee. Shri Ram is the same as Shri Krishna. I was unable to understand this previously as I never got involved in Ramayan in the same way I did with Mahabharat at childhood and with ‘Shri Krishna’ serial during last one and half year. But after watching Ramayan, I enjoyed it this time and it helped me immensely in finding similarity between the two great figures- Shri Ram and Shri Krishna!

# Krishnavataar Novel- This is a novel by eminent writer/statesman Kanaiyalal Munshi. It portrays Shri Krishna from the point of view of a human being. The way he has incorporated the element of Dharma and all the teachings of Shri Krisha in his novel is really Great! I have only read first two parts of it and eager to read the next 4-5 parts, but just lost the continuity. Will resume it soon.

# Krishnacharitra:- An essay by Bengali Novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhayay- Like K. M. Munshi, he also wrote and analysed about Shri Krishna, his Ideals, his teachings, values- very very rich and thought provoking writing indeed! I have read it only once, have plan to read it a few times more to understand it in details.

# Shrimad Bhagavad and RamCharit Manas- I haven't once read the whole of these masterpieces of Devotion :) …. I have read only few chapters and Loved them, it is as if they have the Shri Krishna and Shri Ram in them . I have plan to read both the texts to drink the nectar of Devotion by two of the Great Poets- Veda Vyas and Goswami Tulsidasji.

(My post about the way I was excited after purchasing both of them, the post of 24 Feb ’10:-

http://dpriya-lifearoundme.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-06-11T11:50:00%2B05:30&max-results=7)

# Movies-

* Shri Chaitanya – a Hindi Movie directed by Gufi Paintal, where Saheb Chatterjee played the role of Shri Chaitanya. I loved the element of Devotion in the movie. The songs are very nice!

(Song Lyrics and Link, post of 30 Aug ‘10:- http://dpriya-literaturefilmsmusic.blogspot.com/)

* Meera - A film by Gulzaar, where Hema Malini played the role of Meera. Very very nice movie. Meers’s Faith and Devotion are portrayed superbly! All the songs are Wonderful!

(Song lyrics and link, Post of 31 Aug ‘10:- http://dpriya-literaturefilmsmusic.blogspot.com/)

# Besides all these, I learned a lot from the discussions about the Lord from the social networking sites I visit everyday. There we have regular discussions/interactions about Shri Krishna and Shri Ram- the lessons they taught us, the analysis of their actions, the Bliss which we all feel while watching those serials/films on the Lord. They all have helped me to understand about the Lord and immerse more and more into the ‘Ocean of Devotion/Bliss’ (This particular combination of words I have taken from Dear Brother Shivang’s post on Shri Krishna serial, as it is So Appropriate to express the experiences of a Devotee!)

Today I decided to write about the Sources to let all of you know about them, if anyone is interested to experience to Divine Love he/she can take help from any of these sources, all of then are Real Gems. We have to take a decision and start somewhere, rest is upto the Lord. When we show our eagerness to reach Him, He comes to help us in every way.

Like My previous posts, very soon I will continue posting here, with many new topics (i.e.- about Shri Krishna and His Different Facets), which are as endless as the Lord Himself. It is He, Who has given and will keep on giving me the Concepts of each and every post and the Ability to Write about them, He is there with all of us in our every action.

Again sending Best Wishes to all the readers on Happy Janmashtami!

Jai Shri Krishna

Features of the LORD : HIS Yellow Dress

Today I’m posting here after a long time . all these months I’ve been watching many serials , reading a lot about the LORD and also experiencing the BLISS of DIVINE LOVE .

So , with a changed outlook , I was a bit confused to approach the blog . but decided to carry on with it in the way as originally (while starting the blog – Purnavataar ) I had planned to write about the features of the LORD . after discussing about all these different aspects , I’ll try to write about my personal experiences and realizations about the ALMIGHTY .

Why do we always find the LORD in a particular (yellow) coloured dress ? Today I’ll try to discuss about HIS ‘pitambar’ (yellow coloured ) dress .

The LORD is always described wearing fine yellow silken garments ‘ as brilliant as gold ‘ . or the 'blue LORD' wering a yellow dress seems like ‘ lightning in a dark sky ‘ . he seems ‘ more handsome than Kamdeva ‘ . here I have used expression from different religious texts on Krishna (like Chaitanya Charitamrita, Bhaktivinoda Thakura , Shrimad Bhagwat ) . all these prove that people were just awestruck by HIS beauty in yellow dress . if we try to know why is HE always associated with this particular colour , we will get many references . now I shall discuss about it .

The main reference which comes in the very beginning is that of LORD VISHNU , who is also dressed in yellow robe around HIS shoulders and yellow dhoti in all the pictures and literary descriptions . yellow colour is considered as auspicious , it is traditionally regarded as the colour of religion . thus HE represents Dharma by the colour of HIS dress.

Yellow colour also represents Earth . thus HE also reflects HIS Creation by this colour . it seems as if the Creation is (i.e.- exists) in HIM as well as He is present in the Creation for ever .

Many times yellow has been associated with knowledge , learning , happiness , peace , meditaion , competence , mental development (spiritual awareness ) . all these can be very easily related to the LORD , both in reference to Vishu and Krishna , as they are one and the same .

Yellow is also the colour of Spring , we can grasp the meaning as soon as the picture of the LORD comes to our mind . HE HIMSELF is the embodiment of Spring , from HIM everything (beauty , fertility and happiness ) springs … so yellow is the most suitable colour of the LORD .

Yellow has another significance that is ‘helps to activate the mind’ . when someone starts reading , understanding and reflecting on the GEETA , or starts meditating on the LORD , thinking about HIS ‘benign face , graceful smile , beautiful features’ (quoted from Uddhava Geeta , chapter – 9 ) , gradually Krishna takes him to a higher level of consciousness .

Another interpretation can be given from the point of view of devotion to LORD GANESHA . both of the gods are always dressed in yellow . it signifies the promptness to learn , and integrity in all the diiferent aspects of a personality . these qualities are present in both Krishna and Ganesha . actually not only in them but these qualities are present in all the gods , but here ( the source material , from which I read this particular point ) the comparison only with LORD GANESHA has been made , so I also decided to go with that .

In today’s post , I tried to relate this particular colour – yellow , to various facets of our life . so that we can find the connection with the LORD in all the aspects of our daily life .

With lots of best wishes for all .

Jai Shri Krishna

KRISHNA : THE BUTTER STEALER

All of us has seen a picture like this one –KRISHNA , BALARAM and their friends stealing butter . The LORD is the MASTER OF BLISS, so by only having a glimpse of this butter stealer , our hearts get filled with BLISS .

All the elder persons feel the VAATSALYA RAS while watching any picture of the LORD . It just fills their heart with LOVE for HIM .

As a child HE was very sweet to YASHODA . When the GOPIS would come to her to complain about KRISHNA , HE never admitted to YASHODA that HE actually steals butter . Besides HE would say that they were telling lies . Such was the MAYA of the LORD that YASHODA also believed HIM !
Actually , all the GOPIS loved to watch HIM stealing from their house and they also felt that LONGING for HIM . They only pretended to get angry but waited for HIS visit everyday . Sometimes they also kept butter in such a place so that KRISHNA can find it easily . This experience filled them with BLISS . They were true DEVOTEES of the LORD .

As BUTTER , the LORD wants the PURE and SOFT HEART of HIS devotees . HE steals BUTTER which means HE steals the HEARTS of all of us , of all the devotees who offer HIM their sincere devotion . Those hearts once given gets consumed by the LORD . HE never leaves his devotees .HE loves all of us . Only we need to offer HIM our devotion . HE is the SWEET CHARMER , we should pray to HIM to enter our heart and reside there .

Another view is that WISDOM is the BUTTER of life . when our life gets churned by the wheel of events , we become wise . the BUTTER of our life comes out , i.e.-we can see the real life as it is (without any attachment ) , we become FREE FROM MAYA , then that stage is very dear to our LORD . HE always wants us to be free from all bondages , WISDOM makes this easy . In spite of all this , we need HIS blessings to attain that WISDOM .

I came across another interesting view and thought to share it with you all .It says that BUTTER is the ‘extra money which we store due to insecurity for the future ‘ . Actually we should use the minimum amount of money for ourselves (daily use ) and the rest should be given for the service of the world . We should have the FAITH in the LORD and should never worry about the future . LORD will take care of it . Only we need to follow the right path and be true to our inner self .
At first , I thought the reference to MONEY in context of KRISHNA is something very ‘far-fetched ‘ , but then it occurred to me that the LORD resides everywhere . May be this point is also valid for some of us . So decided to include this point here .

The act of ' STEALING of butter ' by the LORD , is not reproachable (as considered by many ) , but it is a way of giving pleasure (sense of BLISS ) to HIS sincere devotees .

PRAYING FOR HIS BLESSINGS FOR ALL OF US .

With best wishes ,
Dpriya

FEATURES OF THE LORD : THE FLUTE (Part 2 )

Completing my earlier post on the Flute , now i shall discuss how all of us can try to hear the music of the LORD'S Flute .

# As we know that the bamboo goes through rigorous stages when the holes are made in the piece of wood , in the same way we all have to go through hardships ( the tests ) of GYAN / KARMA/ BHAKTI YOG to attain this blissful state .

We have to become hollow from inside ( leaving our ego ) , so that the LORD can take us and play music through us ( our soul ) .

We should remember to leave every negative emotions behind . Because if we continue with hatred , anger , jealousy , ego --- then our soul will not be useful for HIS purpose ( to play through our soul/being ) .

With each different hole of a flute , an unique sound comes out . In the same way as we keep on leaving all the worldly desires one by one and cross the tests of the chosen path ( GYAN/ KARMA/BHAKTI YOG ) , each time a different level ( musical note ) is achieved . Thus through all the different sounds which come from our soul , together they form a STATE OF BLISS .

Only RADHARANI could hear the sound of HIS Flute clearly because of her whole-hearted attention for the LORD . We should consider her as our ideal and try to leave everything behind for the love of the LORD . Only then there is a chance for us to experience HIS magical Flute ( that too -- only with HIS blessings ) .

# According to some beliefs -- the 7 holes in the Flute signify the ' 5 sense organs , the mind/heart/emotion and the intellect/brain' in us .( Ego is also included in the mind and intellect ) . To hear the Flute , we have to attain absolute control over all these 7 elements of our body .

Another theory says that the 7 holes of the Flute signify the 7 SHAKTI CHAKRAS in our body . If only we can make them awake , then only HIS Flute can be heard by us .

# When we meditate sincerely on our essential nature , then without any external source , sometimes a subtle sound may be heard by us . It is called the ANAHAT ( which means the vibration of 'prana ' through nerve channels -- the brain identifies it as a sound ) . More contemplating on this sound may help us to move nearer to HIM and listen to HIS blissful flute .

So these are the different paths which we can take to experience that sweet invitation of LOVE made by HIS Flute . Here I have tried to explain the glory of the LORD'S Flute according to my limited capacity ( given by HIM ) . HE wants all of us to become HIS Flute , so that HE can play through us and give us a taste of that BLISSFUL ECSTASY .

MAY HIS LOVE SHOWER ON ALL OF US .

With best wishes

Dpriya .

FEATURES OF THE LORD : THE FLUTE ( Part 1 )

Today i am going to write about an important feature of the LORD , that is HIS FLUTE . It always remains with HIM , HE is known as the MURLIDHAR . I shall try to discuss various significances of the FLUTE .

# The FLUTE is the oldest musical instrument known to mankind , it is valued for its mellodious sound .Generally a FLUTE is made of bamboo , it has no machanical part in it .

In this way , the FLUTE is very close to nature . And if it is used in a natural surrounding , it can produce immense effect . Sometimes one can experience how Nature itself answers back by echoing the music of a Flute when used in the lap of nature ( forests or mountains) .

# It is said that after listening to the Flute played by KRISHNA , people felt like --

"We lost ourselves compltely ,

We know not who we were ."

( i don't know who is the composer of these 2 lines , but i loved them and used here . Due credit goes to the original composer for expressing such wonderful experience in so simple words . )

Such is the power of the LORD'S FLUTE .

The Gopis used to call the Flute -- KRISHNA'S PAATRANI . They could not control themselves but always got attracted to this music . Here I am narrating some more attributes of the music of the Flute ---

--> Through this Flute , the magic of the ETERNITY flows .

--> By hearing the music , the hearer dances in esctacy because the soul itself becomes glorious .

-->It fills the heart with such an ETERNAL LOVE that the 'hearer' gets merged with the 'heard' and attains the blissful state .

--> Hearing the Flute , the river ( mind) changes its direction and feels an urge to flow towards the ABSOLUTE .

--> It creates a deep and never ending magic in the 'loving hearts' .

--> All the RASAS emerge and disappear in this Flute of the LORD .

--> All the animals ( and specially the peacocks ) dance in Ecstasy by listening to the sweet music of the LORD'S Flute .

Such is the great impact of HIS Flute on the world , that it transforms all of them who hear it .

Since this is a lengthy topic ,I stop here today . In my next post i will continue discussing the various ways by which we can try to hear this DIVINE MUSIC .

Praying for HIS blessings on all of us .

With best wishes ,

Dpriya .

FEATURES OF LORD KRISHNA : PEACOCK FEATHERS (Part 2 )

Today again i will try to discuss about peocock feathers .

# There are all the seven colours in the feather , which implies that the WHOLE UNIVERSE is reflected in it ( as HE is the MASTER OF THE WHOLE WORLD) .


# The colours of the feathers may also imply HIS true colours ( i. e. -- we can find HIM in every mood and in every role possible on earth , like son , brother , lover , husband , friend , guide , master and many many more ..) .


# In a poacock feather , there is a bluish dot at the centre which is called the EYE . It can be identified as ILLUMINATION . ( it signifies our LORD , who is also BLUE in colour ) . And the golden , green and all the other colours which surrounds the blue EYE can be seen as spirit of common human beings , meditating for that DIVINE ONENESS .


# The EYE of the feather signify both KNOWLEDGE and BEAUTY . The LORD combines KNOWLEDGE with HIS love for BEAUTY . HE sees BEAUTY everywhere ( in fact , HE makes everything beautiful with HIS DIVINE touch ) .


# The centre of the feather also tells us that the FOCUS on spiritual aspects is always active in HIM .Though HE belongs to this world , but still HE remains active in our SPIRITUAL JOURNEY and reminds us about it through his FEATHERS .

Here i have noted all the explanations i have read on the peacock feathers . But still , i think , i am unable to fathom its significance completely .I am ending todays post here .

MAY HIS BLESSINGS SHOWER ON EACH ONE OF US .

With best wishes

Dpriya

FEATURES OF LORD KRISHNA : PEOCOCK FEATHER ( Part 1 )

Today i will write about another chief feature of the LORD -- the peocock feathers in HIS crown . We all have noticed that peacock feathers are an inseparable part of HIS crown . Now i will try to discuss the significances of these feathers .

# Feathers tell us how much the LORD loves and values even simple eveyday objects .

# Feathers are a proof of HIS time spent in bliss with peacocks . ( Here i want to narrate the incident -- one day when HE was in the jungle with peocock and other animals , suddenly they mistook HIM as cloud , because of HIS blue colour; and started dancing . HE also became involved in the dance and they all danced for long time creating a beautiful atmosphere . Eveyone enjoyed the scene and at the end, the leader of the birds gifted the LORD those feathers as a token of their love and blissful state experienced in the company of the LORD ) .

# In those days there was a belief to consider peacocks as unlucky . But here the LORD's love for them implies that no one is unlucky for GOD .To HIM every being is special and equally important . HE loves and respects all of them .

# As a poacock kills snakes , in the same way LORD KRISHNA kills the negetive elements in us .

# If we see it from a more practical point of view -- using those feathers were very natural for a cowherd boy , because ample peacocks can be found in MATHURA and DWARKA ( geographical location is responsible here) . So HE could have used peocock feathers as an ordinary object of everyday life and gave it speciality by placing them in HIS crown .

# Feathers of male peocock is also a symbol of romantic love ( which we all can very closely associate with LORD KRISHNA ) .

# The feathers may also signify the LORD'S famous RAASLILA , which is actually the soul's journey directed towards GOD .

# Feathers can also be a reminder of the great RADHARANI , who is always with the LORD in HIS crown ( as feathers ) .


This topic is also very lengthy , so i decide to end it in the next post .

MAY GOD'S GRACE BE WITH ALL OF YOU .

With best wishes ,

Dpriya