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 KRISHNA
Indians
are not as mesmerized with any god in the Hindu pantheon
as much as they’re with Krishna. He’s the
mischievous little boy, whose pranks won the hearts of
everyone in Gokul, where he was raised. Krishna’s
stories have a lot to tell the world and each comes with
a message.
As
a child, he was the apple of everyone’s eyes-a natural
leader of his gang. He’s Lord Rama’s incarnation and
also the former’s exact opposite in disposition. Where
Ram was the fair handsome kid, Krishna was the dark,
handsome one. Where Ram was obedient, Krishna was the
naughty, disobedient kid. Where Ram was a one woman’s
man, Krishna was one man whom all women wanted to marry!
Where Ram ruled as a just ruler, being the perfect role
model by setting an example of wise living, Krishna
lived life on his own terms, making laws only to break
them and bending rules with ease. Where Ram was the
ideal man, Krishna was the sorcerer, the magician!
Where
Ram warned his enemies and struck them straight, Krishna
was crafty in identifying his opponent’s strengths and
weaknesses and used them against themselves!
Krishna
painted the whole of Gokul red with his colorful
childhood, and was the terror kid, who stole butter from
the milkmaids, who minded the shepherds, who protected
the villagers from harm! Ram’s and Krishna’s
personality traits suggest how each child is different!
Even
in youth both personalities were poles apart. Ram was
loyal and devoted to his consort Sita. But, it was
Krishna’s mission to run to the rescue of any damsel
in distress. Krishna is supposed to have had 24,000
wives! According to mythology, Ram’s devotion to Sita
causes many women’s love being unrequited. In order to
appease the many besotted women, Ram in his incarnation
as Krishna, courted all the women who had reincarnated
themselves only to unite with the same soul! Both men
were stark opposites in looks. “Beauty lies in the
eyes of the beholder”, goes the ancient adage and
there were women who fell for the fair and handsome Ram
and there were those who fell for the dark and handsome
Krishna!
Among
the many stories, the most endearing one is the love
story of Radhika and Krishna. Radhika was older to
Krishna and was supposed to be his true love, although
he never married her. She was a much married woman too.
Without seeking any commitment whatsoever, she found her
way to not only his heart, but also into the many books
and paintings even today. Their union symbolizes nothing
but the union of Paramathma (Supernatural forces) with
the Jeevatama(living organisms). God is as eager to
unite with us, as much as we are!
Krishna
is the Indian ‘pied piper’, who made the whole
cosmos dance to his tunes. As a shepherd, he played his
flute to gather his cattle which went to graze daily. He
played many enchanting tunes on his flute, which
mesmerized the women, especially Radha or Radhika.
Whenever they had a tiff Krishna placed his flute
at her feet and sought her forgiveness. There’s a
message to lovers here. This today is translated as,
“Never get angry simultaneously.” Ego never comes in
the way of true love.
Krishna’s
loyalty as a friend is reflected in Sudhama’s story.
Krishna who was of a royal lineage was admitted to the
Gurukul (school), where several other children hailing
from different backgrounds studied. Krishna’s best
friend was Sudhama a poor Brahmin boy.
Having
completed schooling, both parted ways, till Sudhama who
could never make ends meet was suggested by his wife
that he seek Krishna’s help. Armed with a humble sweet
dish that Krishna loved, Sudhama met Krishna at the
latter’s palace. Fearing ridicule, he entered the
palace, only to be greeted and hugged by Krishna, who
went to the extent of washing Sudhama’s care-worn feet
with milk. Here, the essence is, Krishna a prince
bestowed the respect due to an erudite scholar, Sudhama
whose feet he worshipped.
It’s imperative to mention his role as a
friend, philosopher and guide to his friend Arjuna. The
conversation between Krishna and Arjuna form the crux of
the Hindu gospel-the Bhagvat Geeta!
Arjuna
the great archer had to fight a long battle against his
own first cousins to acquire the justified share in the
property that he, his four brothers and mother had a
share in. When negotiations and reasoning failed, and
when the former’s wife Draupadi was molested, Krishna
advised Arjuna to wage a war. Upon seeing Arjuna’s
reluctance to strike at his own relatives and elders in
the battlefield, Krishna standing behind Arjuna guided
him when to strike, dispenses a long discourse on
justice, worldly desires, duties, the meaning of
existence, the results of one’s actions and the
subsequent consequences.
While
Ram was straight forward and honest, Krishna was shrewd
and wise and being so shows that acumen pays when it’s
for the common good. Krishna’s valuable advice here
is, “Knowing your enemies is half the battle won!”
He knew about the egoistic opponent Duryodhan and about
the boon he received that none would be able to slay him
if his mother’s sight fell on his whole naked body.
Krishna teased Duryodhan how stupid he was to allow his
mother to see him naked as a grown man, although she was
his mother! Thus, Duryodhan tied a loin cloth and
allowed his mother to view only the parts that were
exposed, barring his thighs and loins. And after knowing
this secret, Krishna advised Bhim to strike Duryodhan
below his waist, which killed Duryodhan instantly.
Similarly,
he also used Shikhandi the eunuch knowing fully well
that Bheeshma who was on the opponent side, would never fight with a eunuch.
Thus, when Shikhandi marched towards Bheeshma, the
latter had to drop his weapons and thus was wounded. In
this way, Krishna demonstrated the superiority of
‘intelligence’ over physical strength. While the
epic Mahabharata recognizes that ‘All’s fair in love
and war’, Krishna in the Bhagwat Geeta emphasizes the
need for us to do our duty and leave the fruits of our
labor to God. Doing one’s duty and having implicit
faith in the Almighty is the fundamental teachings of
Krishna!
From
a naughty carefree child to an enchanter of sorts, to a
loyal friend, to the dispenser of justice, Krishna
played it all, to the hilt. His message in the Geeta is,
“To sin is bad, but to tolerate a sinner and the sin
is the worst.”
Can
you find a better child, lover, friend, liberator,
teacher and dispenser of justice than Krishna?
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