Dancing with the blue God
With flute in hand, skin the colour of a fresh water-laden cloud, dressed in yellow silk, lips red like the Bimba fruit, a face as charming as the full moon and eyes like lotus — I know not what Truth there is beyond Krishna.
Sri Krishna’s very name evokes memories of the blue boy of Vrindavan, crowned with peacock feathers and adorned with a garland.
He is the stealer of hearts, dispeller of sins, upholder of righteousness, protector of the humble and a friend to all those who seek Him. In the Bhagavatam, it is said, “Sri Krishna is the Lord Himself.” He is the infinite lord whose birth we celebrated on Janmashtami.
Sri Krishna did not follow human laws; He lived according to the highest law — dharma. Whatever He does is to be seen as His divine sport and not as the actions of an individual. So do not try and copy what He did. One may say “Sri Krishna had 16,008 wives. Is it wrong if I have two?” But think, can you make even one completely happy? Sri Krishna drank poison while we fall sick due to minor infections. We feel demeaned to be called a “driver”, but the king of Dwaraka willingly drove Arjuna’s chariot.
Sri Krishna says, “Even though I have nothing to attain in all the three worlds and no duties to perform, I remain always in action.” Hence, He is the perfect sportive incarnation — Lila Purushottama. Now, what is lila? Lila means sports. Each of the Lord’s sport is beautiful. Lila in Sanskrit is defined as that which manifests a dormant emotion in us. Love for the Lord is dormant in our hearts. But when the Lord enacts His lila, that love manifests. When you watch a film or a play, the horror scenes or the comic scenes arouse fear or laughter and so on, and we respond accordingly. That is what lila does. The Lord’s lilas are such that they bring out our devotion and love for Him, destroying all our clinging attachments.
His lila is inscrutable. Some become enlightened and some get deluded. Even a great devotee like Narada once got deluded!
Also, some learn all the wrong lessons from His sports. Yet, His divine sports are meant to detach our mind from worldly preoccupations and develop love for God. Even those who hated Sri Krishna thought of Him day and night. That is exactly what He wants. He blesses the person who has single, pointed hatred towards him, then what to talk of single, pointed love for Him!
Remember, the scriptures and saints who talk of His greatness declare Him to be the Lord incarnate. His sports are meant to enlighten us. They are meant to inspire us to walk the path of dharma and fill our hearts with devotion.
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