Miscellaneous - Religion   

Divine manifestation

CHENNAI : Of all the incarnations of the Lord, it is that of Krishna that brings out His singularly supreme trait Soulabhya (accessibility). The unique and endearing relationship Lord Krishna established with the cowherds, the Gopis, and even with the animals and birds of Brindavan, is symbolic of the highest strains of Bhakti Bhava leading to liberation, said Sri Muralidhara Sarma in a lecture. The love of the Gopis is distinguished by total dedication and selflessness. Theirs was the kind of love that had no strings of quid pro quo attached to it. They did not expect anything else in return except union with Krishna. By this Bhava alone, the uneducated and simple Gopis attained the highest state of spiritual oneness with God. They did not learn the Vedas nor did they practise any austerity. They had not served any preceptor either.

The Gopis were in a state of mind that was oblivious to everything else, and only enjoyed being immersed in thoughts of Krishna. It was a rare love that longed for Krishna with a tenacity that itself became a kind of austere penance. Disregarding their selves, chores and homes, they became engrossed in Krishna. This is symbolic of the relationship between the Paramatma and the Jivatma, where the Gopis' longing for Krishna is the Jivatma's efforts for liberation. In such instances the Lord lends His helping hand to liberate the soul. He yields to the individual yearnings of His devotees in many subtle and explicit ways.

Here, Krishna, who is Himself the embodiment of bliss, divided himself into as many Krishnas as there were Gopis, and danced and played with them so that each Gopi felt the divine presence and divine love of Him. Each of them felt herself the most blessed. Each one's love for Krishna was so absorbing that she felt herself one with Him. If the Gopis reached the highest spiritual state so difficult to attain by even those practising rigorous penance, it is because the sincerity and intensity of one's devotion is what qualifies for God realisation.

It also establishes figuratively the Lord's attractiveness that is the basis of the cause of devotion. Krishna's childhood exploits can delight and enthral as much as instil love and devotion, that one never tires of it, neither the speaker nor the listener.

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