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The Lord's teachings

CHENNAI: Each manifestation of the Supreme Being is venerated by generations of His devotees for a special reason though the main purpose of His descents has been to reinstate Dharma in the world whenever it is on the wane. This is especially true of His incarnations in human form as Rama and Krishna, which are very important from the standpoint of humanity in the context of liberation. There is an adage in the Puranic tradition, which exhorts mankind to emulate Rama's character and follow the teachings of Krishna. This is not in any way casting an aspersion on the actions of Krishna but an insight offered into the significance of His incarnation. Krishna's deeds were divine and hence there is no way human beings can judge His actions from their standpoint.

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri B.Damodara Dikshitar said Lord Krishna taught the truth on three occasions for the sake of humanity. The first is His most popularly known sermon on the battlefield to Arjuna when he laid down his arms refusing to fight— the Bhagavad Gita. Though this is a philosophical exposition of the highest wisdom, which is meant for realising the ultimate goal of human life (liberation from bondage), the intention of Krishna's teachings was to wake up Arjuna to the call of his duty (as a warrior to fight) because pursuit of the spiritual path does not mean one can shirk one's responsibilities. The path of action (Karma yoga) is hence the way to begin for the majority. Action without attachment to the result will purify the mind of the seeker and make him eligible for learning spiritual knowledge (Jnana).

After the war the Lord taught the truth to Arjuna again when he requested Him to, which has come to be known as the Uttara Gita. There is a distinct shift of focus in His teaching in this text for Arjuna was more mature then. The third instance of Krishna's teaching was to His dear devotee and friend Uddhava who approached Him when He was about to depart from the world— the Uddhava Gita. When Uddhava beseeched Him to take him also with Him unable to bear even the thought of separation from Him, Krishna taught him this highest wisdom.

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