The Hindu : God's accessible nature

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 10, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

God's accessible nature

CHENNAI, MARCH 10 . The Supreme Being, who is described in the scriptures as the abode of infinite auspicious qualities, deigned to display His nature for the edification of mankind during His incarnations. It was during His manifestation as Krishna that the quality of His easy accessibility came to the fore fully as He chose to be born under circumstances, which were conducive for anyone to approach Him. He became the cynosure of all eyes from the moment His father Vasudeva transferred Him as a newborn babe to Nanda's household to save Him from Kamsa.

In his discourse, Sri M.A.Venkatakrishnan said the Krishna incarnation was a recurring theme in the hymns of the Azhwars. While the Lord had singled out Vasudeva and Devaki as His parents in this manifestation, it was His foster parents, Nandagopa and Yashoda, who enjoyed His company and childhood deeds when He grew up in Gokul. In the prison Krishna blessed Vasudeva and Devaki with the vision of His divine form as soon as He was born and they had to pray to Him to assume the human form feared as they did for His life. Their attachment made them react that way even though they had just seen His supernatural form.

It is no wonder then that saints and mystics wax eloquent on the grace showered on Yashoda who was the butt of all His pranks. She reacted as any doting mother would oblivious to the fact that she was privileged but devotees envy her wondering what kind of penance she must have done to merit such singular grace? Periazhwar comes readily to mind, as he is the Azhwar who has elaborately described the minutiae of how Yashoda enjoyed Krishna in His childhood.

In a rare departure from this norm another mystic-saint Kulasekara Azhwar in his hymn Perumal Tirumozhi empathises with Devaki's lot by bemoaning that she did not get to enjoy Krishna's company, "Kind and well-bred ladies take You on their lap again and again, fondle You saying, `My master and lamp of our clan, more beautiful than the rain-cloud; O lion! Show father, where is father?' With Your little pink fingers and side glances You show blessed Nanda. Alas my hapless husband Vasudeva does not enjoy that good fortune. Krishna! I can only see and enjoy Your infancy through my mind... Alas, within the span of thinking that I was Your mother, I lost the joy of begetting You because of my Karma! I fear I shall not live."

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