112. Bhagavatha - Why Rasaleela and SriSukamuni's Reply

 112. Srimad Bhagavatha  -  Why Rasaleela and SriSukamuni's Reply

King Parikshit questions Sri. Sukamuni as to why Srikrishna had to undertake Rasaleela transgressing all limits prescribed in the Vedas. Is it not adharma to have physical indulgence with other’s wives? He has descended on earth as Jagadeeshwara. Why did he act this way with Gopikas, and what was the message to the world?

Sri. Sukamuni said, “ He is an all- knowing God. We, as mere mortals, cannot question His acts.  Yes, sometimes Gods, Rishis, and Munis, as what we perceive, act beyond limits that are prohibited to humans. We shouldn't imitate their actions blindly. 

For example, Agni can consume filth and corpses, yet it remains pure. Rudra consumed Halahala poison. Can we consume it? 

Rishis are capable of nullifying it by undertaking rigorous penance. Sage Viswamitra knowingly consumed dog meat for his survival. Later, he did severe penance to get rid of the sin. 

Such things can happen due to Prarabda Karma or for the benefit of the world.

How did they get this status?

Rishis purely sought the feet of Srikrishna and attained Tattvagnana. This helped in destroying their past karma. Later, they moved freely with no Karma bandana.  

Srikrishna was not born as a human being. He had descended and taken a form to destroy adharma and protect Dharma.  He had no Karma bandana or rebirth associated with it like us. He is Achyuta, with no relationship with the body.

Why Rasaleela?

Rasaleela is just His divine play.  There is no difference between Paramatma, the God, and Paramatma, the gopikas.  He is antaryami and Sakshi swarupa. It's just a mirror image of one another. 

Did Gopika's husband know about it?

Gopikas never left their home physically and were beside their husband. Mentally, they were able to meet Srikrishna earned through pure devotion and surrender.

The End of Rasaleela - Brahmaratri

At dawn, Srikrishna asked Gopikas to go back to their homes, and they agreed unwillingly. With thoughts fixed solely on Srikrishna, they carried on with worldly activities.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

111. Bhagavatha - Srikrishna's Rasaleela with Gopikas

 111. Srimad Bhagavatha - Srikrishna's Rasaleela  with Gopikas 

Gopikas heard the soothing words of Srikrishna and got off their agony. They were left with no desires at all. 

Srikrishna began Rasaleela with them on the banks of Yamuna River.

Gopikas danced in a circle, clinging their arms on each other's shoulders with Srikrishna at the center. Later, Srikrishna stood between each of them (creating His own mirror image) and placed his arms on their shoulders. Each of them felt that Srikrishna was with her. 

Devathas came down in their aerial vehicles and witnessed this divine event (Rasaleela turned into Rasottsava). Gandarvas and their spouses began singing, and Devatas showered flowers. 

The sound of bangles,  the sound of bells attached to the foot and waist belt of Gopikas, and that of Srikrishna created a unique sound.

Srikrishna was shining like a vibrant green emerald (Maragada stone) among golden beads representing Gopikas. 

Gopikas were simultaneously dancing and singing in a loud pitch and were highly appreciated by Srikrishna.  Sweat poured from their faces due to exhaustion. Their upper clothes,  jewelry were misplaced, braid was loosened, and flowers had gone, yet they weren't concerned about it. Some gopikas held His shoulders for support to withstand the exhaustion. 

The Lord who transgressed all limits of vedic injunctions entered the waters of Yamuna with gopikas to get rid of fatigue. Srikrishna appeared like a leader of the elephant amidst herds of female elephants.  Thus, He fondly enjoyed the night with rays of the full moon.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

110. Bhagavatha - Srikrishna's Grace on Gopikas

 110. Srimad Bhagavatha - Srikrishna's Grace on Gopikas

Considering Gopikas’ surrender and pure devotion, Srikrishna appeared before them. Seeing Him and His beauty, Gopikas were stunned.

One  gopika dared to go near Him and held His hand, another took His hand and placed it on her shoulder. Two of them held His feet - a sort of fixing Him physically,  lest He might disappear again.

One Gopika asks Srikrishna why some love in return to those who love them, while others love even those who do not love them. Still, others are indifferent to either.

Srikrishna said, “One should not make friendship with anyone for mutual benefit as it is not transactional. Give friendship only to those who deserve it.

Great souls never seek anything but get blessed.  Neither are they seekers. The relationship between parents and their children is not transactional. They have no expectations and remain pure.

The third category don't bother about others and care for themselves alone. On the other hand, they take help and ignore others. Some even harm those who helped them. 

You can put me in any of them. Gopikas were smiling with each other and remained silent.

Srikrishna continued, “the reason why I disappeared is because you need to strengthen your focus on me. Your mind should think in the same way as a penniless person lost his money and get engrossed in search of it. Sage Narada and Prahlada faced the same situation as you. 

I did not go anywhere but was invisible to you all. I could see your inner feelings also. Do not feel bad. Our relationship is that of Jeevatma and Paramatma. You have developed deep devotion to me. Do not allow it to let go.

You have ignored your family, home, and wealth  for me. You broke the strong cord (Kankana) of attachment. I cannot repay my obligation to you even if I give you the status of devatas. Let your greatness speak for itself. 

Gopikas were now free from the agony of separation from Srikrishna.  He took them to the banks of Yamuna for Rasa Leela (a dance  performance with many women and a single male (Gopikas and Srikrishna / Jeevatmas and Paramatma).

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

109. Bhagavatha - Gopikas' Prayers, Anger, Agony and Joy

 109. Srimad Bhaghavata - Gopikas’ Prayers, Anger, Agony and Joy

The lone gopika who was left behind by Srikrishna was wailing when this set of gopikas met her. They were surprised that such a situation could happen to them if they were not alert. Their perception changed altogether.

They went deep into the forest searching for Him until the visibility of moonlight and decided to return back to the sandy banks of Kalindi river.

Prayers

They spoke, sang, and remembered all His acts. It was a complete surrender to Him.  None remembered their family, home or had a feeling of self. 

They began with Harinama japa, and later, they praised Him. They said, “Our Vraja is superior to Vaikunta as You  were born here. Mahalakshmi, too, stays with you here as she is inseparable.  

Mild Threat

Give us darshan once atleast. We are eagerly waiting to see You. Indeed we have almost lost our life and You would be the cause of it.

Desperation 

Your eyes are like the inner portion of the most beautiful lotus flower appearing in a clean lake. We want to serve You, and we don't seek anything from You.  

You have protected us in various avataras in the past.  Why not for us now? It seems you are not born to Yasoda by your inaction. There is no humbleness. You have not bothered to see our internal pain, though you are called Rishikesha. 

Brahma requested you to be a protector, but you are indifferent to us. Keep your finger on our forehead and bless us. We seek nothing else. We have left everything - our family, home, wealth - and sought your feet. Are we not residents of Vraja who are protected by you? Put an end to our sorrow. 

Wailing

Listening to your stories is like nectar, but seeing You in person is much more. We need your darshan. Thus, they began singing praise of Him in the loud pitch of their voice and started wailing.

Srikrishna's Appearance

All of a sudden, Srikrishna appeared clad in Pitambara (yellow attire), wearing Vaijayanthi garland and with a smile.  

All the gopikas stood up and, with their eyes wide open, were overjoyed. One of them clasped His lotus like hands with her joined palms, another placed His arms on her shoulder, another received in her palm hollow the betel chewed by Him, another hugged His feet with her bosom.

One of the gopika fired her anger with her looks, another saw Him and closed her eyes to lock His looks and placed it in her heart, and another never closed her eye lid and was staring at Him. 

Finally, they shed their agony caused by the separation from Him. Surrounded by them, Srikrishna shone very brightly.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

108. Bhagavatha - Gopikas' Search and Agony

 108. Srimad Bhagavatha - Gopikas' Search and Agony

 

Gopikas began tracking the footprints on the presumption that they belonged to Srikrishna (they had sufficient knowledge on it). 

Adjacent to it, they noticed another set of female footprints and assumed that it might belong to one of the gopikas who would have gone along with Srikrishna.For a moment, jealousy took over their senses, and felt that she must be beautiful and charming. 

Going further, they observed only one set of footprints and that too with divinity . The depth of the footprints revealed that Srikrishna must have lifted her as she might have felt tired.  Their agony  increased further.

A little further, they saw just the finger portion of Srikrishna’s footprints surrounded by fallen flowers. They concluded that Srikrishna must have raised his legs to pick flowers for her. 

Someone among them presented a theory that Srikrishna must have combed her hair with a comb like thing offered by a forest deity. 

Sri Sukamuni, the narrator, accepted that Srikrishna spent time happily with a gopika. He is Swaroopananda. He has no desires and is not enticed by sense objects or information. Indeed, he controls them. That particular gopika represents devotion, and he obliges to pure devotion.

Searching for God using sense objects is impossible and incomplete. 

[Gopikas were desperate to see Him, be with Him.  Hence, they could not reach Him. What they needed most was pure devotion.]

Srikrishna Disappearance 

Both Srikrishna and lone gopika walked deep into the Brindavan forest. She was elated and felt her devotion was superior to that of other gopikas. 

When she could not walk further, she asked Srikrishna to carry her, thinking he would do everything for her. She was scared that gopikas might trace them if they stayed back.

Srikrishna, having understood her mind, nodded and asked her to sit on His shoulder. When she was about to climb, he disappeared.  

Gopika  was shell-shocked and regretted her behavior. She kept on wailing and called Him out loudly repeatedly. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

For Mahabharata writeups please visit www.shobaaravind.blogspot.com 

107. Bhagavatha - Gopikas' Mimicry and Finding of Srikrishna's Footprints

 107. Srimad Bhagavatha - Gopikas’ Mimicry and Finding of Srikrishna's Footprints 

In search of Srikrishna, Gopikas sought help from trees (big, small, fruit and flower bearing) and creepers. They asked the sacred tulasi plant and Mother Earth, too.  Yet, they could not get any response.

Seeing a female deer, they asked, “Did Srikrishna come here? He must have come along with his companion (they suspected someone among them would have enticed Him stealthily). Please tell us about Him.” With no response from it, they suddenly begin to mimic Srikrishna.

Gopikas’ Mimicry 

One gopika said, “I am Putana’ and the  other who mimicked Srikrishna began suckling her breast. 

Another gopika who mimicked Srikrishna lay on the floor and shaked her legs and hands like an infant.

One gopika called herself  Demon Trinavarta and  started swirling herself like wind and called “Krishna, Krishna” in search of Him.

Two gopikas became Balarama and Srikrishna, while others turned themselves into gopalas. Mimicrying Srikrishna's voice, they loudly called out cows, by their name, to return back.

Picking nearby sticks, they presumed that they were playing flute and made similar gestures.

One among them became Govardana Giridhari and said,”Don't be afraid. I shall protect you from wind and rain. She lifted her upper garment and held it up to denote as if she was lifting Goverdhana Hill.

To depict the punishment meted to  Kaliya,  one Gopika climbed on the head of another Gopika.  With no remorse, she pressed her head hard and said, “Kaliya, you are bad. Go away from here. I have come to punish you”. 

Another gopika said, “Gopalas, do not be afraid. Close your eyes. I shall immediately take you all to a safer place (depicting forest fire incident). 

One gopika became Yasoda and pretended to be in search of a wooden mortar to tie Srikrishna.  

Such was the mental state of Gopikas. They identified themselves as Srikrishna. Yet they needed Him desperately. 

Divine Footprints 

The search began once again as though they were searching for the first time. Luckily, one among them found the divine footprints on a wet mud that clearly depicted that of Srikrishnas’. It gave a big relief to those Gopikas. 

On the right footprints, they saw marks of Chakra (wheel), Padma (lotus), a flag, ankusha, and  swastik. 

The left footprint had Shanka (couch), two circles, arrow without strings, trikona mudra, ardha chandra (crescent moon), and fish.

They diligently followed to track those footprints. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

For Mahabharata writeups please visit www.shobaaravind.blogspot.com 

106. Bhagavatha - Gopikas Desperation and Search for Srikrishna

 106. Srimad Bhagavata  - Gopikas' Desperation and Search for Srikrishna 

106. Srimad Bhagavata - Gopikas’ Prayers and Sudden Disappearance of Srikrishna 

Gopikas did not wish to return home though Srikrishna told them to do so. They said, “ We need nothing else other than your feet. You are Ananda Swaroopa. Give us an opportunity to serve you. 

Who can stay idle while listening to your song? Even animals, birds and trees are enjoying your music in their own way. You attract them and slowly pull them into Ananda Swaroopa. Place your lotus hand on our head so that we get rid of our ignorance.  

Srikrishna ascertained that Gopikas never wanted to leave Him. Their devotion was pure. He hugged them and made them happy. He created several forms of Himself to be with each one of them separately. 

Srikrishna began singing in a loud pitch. Later they went to Yamuna river. When Gopikas felt superior to other folks Srikrishna understood their mind and suddenly disappeared. 

Gopikas were shell shocked and searched for Him in all directions. 

They repeatedly remembered His activities  - His  walk, smile, eye movements, and talk.   Missing Him severely led to mental imbalance in them. Gopikas were not ordinary mortals. They were accepted by none other than Srikrishna.

Gopikas, whose mind was firmly on Srikrishna, gradually became one with Him. They identified themselves as Srikrishna and not with their name. 

They mimicked his walk, talk, voice, smile, and actions. It was as if Srikrishna had entered Gopika's body.

After some time, they started singing loudly on Srikrishna's each and every achievement -  killing of Putana, Trinavarta, Agha, Baka, punishing Kaliya, release of curse on Nalakubera and Manigriva,  rescuing gopalas from forest fire, lifting of Govardhana Girii etc.

Later, they moved from one place to another in groups. In that mental state, they started questioning Ashwath, Plaksha, and Nagroda trees, one after the other, whether they saw Srikrishna. When there was no response from them , they were upset and accused them of remaining silent, stubborn, and unhelpful in nature. 

They then moved to flower bearing trees - Ashoka, Naga kesara, Punnaga, Sampangi, and  posed the same questions - Did Balarama's brother go this way He would have plucked flowers from you for sure. With no response from them, they accused and moved on to ask the tulasi plant. 

Tulasi, you are the most favorite among all for Govinda. When you are placed on his lotus feet, he even tolerates the bee's sound and its constant movements. Did you see our Achyuta? When they received no response from it, with desperation, they moved to creepers.

Going to Malathi (jaji), Mallika, and Yutika flower-bearing creepers, they said, “You look happy because Srikrishna would have come and accepted your offerings. For sure, he would have taken your flowers, the favorites of Mahalakshmi. When they got no response, they abused them and moved to the Yamuna river.

On the banks of Yamuna River, they addressed mango, Jackfruit, Jamba, Arka, Bilva, Kadamba, and other trees - you are like Maharishis, who are born to do good to others. Please tell us the direction in which Madhava went. He is our atma. We are nothing without him. 

 

With no response from them, they asked Bhoomi. What type of penance did you do to get his footprints on you in every incarnation of Sriman Narayana? The greenery in Brindavan itself tells how happy you are.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

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www.shobaaravind.blogspot.com