Lord Krishna is a powerful Divine form of ParaBrahman. While He is depicted always as being playful as shown in the picture from our family room, the protection and blessings that one receives from Lord Krishna worship are quite powerful. In Gopika Geetam, the Gopikas who are the cowherdesses, sing their praise for their dear Lord Krishna who gets quite moved by their devotion and bhakthi.
Uddhav, the friend of Lord Krishna, represents reason, while the ahir gopis of Vrindavan represent an emotion.
After Krishna had left Vrindavan and settled down in his capital Mathura, the gopis of Vrindavan were deeply anguished at their separation from him.
Uddhav told Krishna that he should send a message advising the gopis to forget him. After all, their love for Krishna was only an adolescent infatuation, but now that they have grown up they will be married, and have children and new relationships and new homes.
On hearing this, Lord Krishna smiled and asked Uddhav to go to Vrindavan as his messenger.
When Uddhav reached Vrindavan and told the gopis to forget Krishna, they started rebuking him, calling him a madcap, etc until he fled back to Mathura. They said " Uddhav, man na bhaye das bees. Ek huto so gayo Shyam sangh, ko avraadhe ees " ( Uddhav, we have one heart, not ten or twenty, and that has gone with Krishna ".
When Uddhav returned to Mathura after his rebuff at Vrindavan, Lord Krishna again smiled and said " I could have told you that your visit to Vrindavan would be futile, but you would not have listened to me. So I let you go, knowing the outcome "
Uddhav had to learn by bitter experience that reason, though very important, is not enough. One must have passion too.
GOPIKA GEETHAM ...
Thanmanaska: tadaalaapa: tadvichestaas tadaatmikaa:
Thatgunaaneva gayanthya nathmagaraani sasmaru: !
Puna: pulinam aagathya kaalindhya: Krishna Bhavana:
Samaveda jagu: Krishnam tadaagamana kaankshita:!!
The Gopis - whose mind were set only on Lord Krishna, who were talking only about Him, who were acting among themselves as if they were their Lord Himself and thus became the Lord themselves – were singing the praise of their Lord and forgot the entire world around them (as their entire universe became only Lord Krishna Himself) came back to Yamuna Theeram again totally engulfed in their Lord’s Bhavana and joined together to sing the praise of the Lord in anticipation of His arrival soon. The Gopis who were born for the Lord’s Service only nothing new in their becoming than manaska: or tadalaapaa: - in fact, they show us a way how to tread in the unconquered path of Devotion to His Lotus feet by their words and deeds. In Narada Bhakti Sutra, Sage Narada himself says “Yataa Vrajee Gopikaa:” so to say no one can be compared or equaled to the level of devotion that is humanely impossible as that of Gopis. By this way, Gopis are teaching us Prema Bhakti – how to tread upon and be successful in our daily life.
Gopya Ouchu:
Jayathi thedhikam , janmana vraja:
Srayatha Indira, saswadathrahee,
Dhayitha, drusyatham dikshu thavaka:
Thwayi druthasava: thwaam vichinwathe. 1
The Gopis said:-
This Vruja land of ours, oh Krishna,
Has always been rich, oh Krishna,
For Lakshmi is here, oh Krishna,
Because of your birth, oh Krishna,
When all the people are happy, Oh Krishna,
We the gopis who love you, Oh Krishna,
Search for you in all places, Oh Krishna,
So be pleased to come before us, Oh darling Krishna.
Where the Lord dwells there one can see the presence of Goddess Mahalakshmi – though true devotees of Lord were poor outwardly they were rich in their mental poise and fragrance. The entire Gopika Geetham is in Indira Vruttam / meter and hence Indirani the Goddess of Wealth following the footsteps of the Lord came down to Vraja Bhoom and thus it became radiant with wealthy luster at every corner of the holy land.
It is only by the presence of Thee Oh Lord Krishna this holy land has attained name and fame. VRAJA means one who dwells in the holy thought of the Lord THEY JANAMANA VRAJA it became holier by your very birth ADHIKAM JAYATHI has become more known by your birth and the deeds to follow hereafter.
SHASWATH ATHRA HEE INDIRA SHRAYATA Goddess Mahalakshmi following thy footsteps decided to reside here permanently knowing the greatness of devotion that Vraja Niwasees have on thee.
We the Gopis were always on the lookout of thee on all corners.
THAVAKA: meaning we below to YOU only hence the search of the beloved who knowingly disappeared to see their plight & depth of their devotion.
THWAAM VICHINVATHE we always think of you only to such people you have discarded us and disappeared probably you have become cruel not imbibing the holy and soft nature of Yashoda your mother !
Saradudashaye sadu jatha Sath
sarasi jodhara sreemusha druhsa,
Suratha nadha, they ashulka daasika:
Varada! nignadho aneha kim vadha: 2
With your eyes which can win, oh Krishna,
The luster inside the lotus flower, Oh Krishna,
Which is in a clear pond, oh Krishna,
In the season of spring, Oh Krishna,
You kill us who are your lowly maids, oh king of love,
Don’t you think, it is a murder, Oh benefactor of all.
Lord Krishna’s lotus-like eyes (as if they were a full-blown lotus in a Spring season in a pond bestowed with the brim of water) are darling to our heart and thus kill us –
thy beloved ones which is a cool blooded murder! Full bloomed Lotus like eyes of the Lord are supposed to give pleasure to the Gopis instead it is piercing them and is inflicting pain in them owing to your disappearance amidst them. Oh, Giver of Boons, it is not fair. This stanza refers to a Gopi of Thamasic nature who is cursing the Lord for His deed and is openly criticizing him for the same. You are the Benefactor of all – who is capable of giving anything to your devotees at a whisker – if that is true why don’t you give us your darshan and do not kill us by your disappearance...
Visha jalapyayaath Vyavla raakshasath ,
Varsha maruthad waidhyutha analath,
Vrusha mayathmajath Visatha bhayth
Ruushabha, they vayam rakshitha muhu: 3
From the poisonous fumes, Oh Krishna,
Of the serpent Kalinga, Oh Krishna,
From the storm, the thunder and the rain, Oh Krishna,
From the asura who came as a bull, Oh Krishna,
From Vyoma the son of Maya, Oh Krishna,
And from all such great fears, Oh Krishna,
You have saved us several times, Oh our God.
Oh Krishna! We were saved by you on many times;
from the poisonous fumes
of the serpent King Kalinga, from the storm,
the thunder & the rain,
from the Asura who came as a bull,
from Vyoma (the son of Maya)
How can we forget that you were the Protector indeed from many great fears & dangers (the real fear & danger is your separation which pleases grant us which you know very much).. On many occasions you were kind enough to protect us from various evils and incidents – once from poisoned water of Kalinga Madu by removing Kalinga and family from there; on another occasion from the serpent who appeared with his mouth open – thinking that it was a cave entire Gopas and the herd went in and swooned and only by thy grace they got back to life; yet another occasion from the wrath of Indra who ordered for severe downpour – unprecedented and unknown to Vraja Bhoomi and you saved entire Gokulam by lifting Govardhan Giri itself for seven days with you little finger; again from forest fire on one occasion and on many occasions from the wrath of asuras who were constantly attacking you – Oh Bull King of this land how can we forget thee who was bent upon giving protection at all these hard times of ours. (Meaning this is the hardest time of our life that your disappearance cannot be tolerated upon please come back to us soon).
Na khalu gopikaa nandano bhavaan,
Akhila dehinam antharathma drugh,
Vikhana saarthitho viswa gupthaye,
Sakha udeyivaan saathwatham kule 4
You are not the baby of gopis, Oh Krishna,
You are the soul of all beings, Oh Krishna,
By the request of Lord Brahma, Oh Krishna,
You have appeared in our clan, Oh Krishna,
To save the world, Oh Lord who is our friend.
The world thinks that you are son of Nandan & Yashodha but you are the all-pervading – soul of all living beings – on the request of Lord Bramma you appeared amongst us by taking birth in our Kula and thus gave us fame & name which we can never dream of and made Sathvatha Kula a blessed one by your very birth and had been the best friend of ours at every stage of life. Being the Antaryamin of the entire universe you know better how we feel thy absence please come soon and give us the boon of thy grace & grandeur o your presence.
Virachitha bhayam vrushni dhurya, they,
Charana meeyushaam samsrther bhayaath,
Kara saroruham, kantha, kaamadham,
Shirasi dehi na: sree kara graham. 5
To those who are afraid of this life, Oh Krishna,
And who seek the protection of your feet, Oh Krishna,
You grant them protection, Oh Krishna,
And you give them all that they ask, Oh Krishna,
We request you to place your hand, Oh Krishna,
Which is like a lotus on our head, Oh Darling.
All those who are really afraid of this mortal life in this world those who take shelter in the lotus feet you are the Giver of all boons that are sought for from you; this is a universal truth; if that is so, why don’t you grant us one boon – by placing your lotus-like hand on our head (which is boiling with fumes of love by thy separation). Do you know how we feel your absence whenever you go out for grazing of the cattle and the herd you lead upon? Till such time you return back in the evening until our eyes are fed with your grace, we were the only machine-like doing work without any involvement and we get back our lives only on seeing you. Please feel our pain and help us by giving your hasta deeksha very soon (give us the gadaalingana very soon and remove the pain soon).
Vruja janaarthihan, veera yoshithaam,
Nijjanasmaya dwamsasmitha,
Bhaja sakhe bhavath kimkareesma no
Jalaruhananam chaaru darshaya. 6
You destroy the sorrows of us in Vruja, Oh Krishna,
You are a great hero, Oh Krishna,
Your captivating smile, Oh Krishna,
Destroys the pride of your own people, Oh Krishna,
Please obey us, your slaves, Oh our friend,
And shows your lotus-like face, Oh Krishna.
Oh, Lord! This Bhoomi has been blessed by your very birth which has totally destroyed the sorrows of the people here by your captivating smile and incomparable deed of yours; Oh Friend! We thy servants are thy slaves who constantly beg you to give us your Darshan ; a glimpse of thy Lotus like face once again please! Entire world is praising you as one who is bent upon removing pain and hardships of this land if that is so we thy kinkarees (servants & vraja vassees) have full right to claim the boon of thy presence. Why don’t you consider our sincere prayers and grant us our cherished boon of thy presence soon?
Pranatha dehinam, papa karshanam,
Truna charanugam, sree nikethanam,
Phani phanarpitham, they padaambujam,
Krunu kucheshu na: krundi hruchayam.7
You who destroy the sins, Oh Krishna,
Of those who bow before you, Oh, Krishna,
Please keep those lotus feet of yours, Oh Krishna,
Which accompanies the cows, Oh Krishna,
Which is storehouse of beauty, Oh Krishna,
And which danced on the head of a snake, Oh Krishna,
On our pretty breasts, Oh Krishna,
And satisfy our passion for you, Oh Krishna
Those who pay their obeisance to thy lotus feet you make it a vow to cleanse them of their sins. Oh Lord, storehouse of Grace and Grandeur, accompanier of cowherds and a Dancer on the hood of Snake, such a graceful lotus like feet are fit to be on the bosoms of our beautiful breasts as they will get the grace of thy feet which had been wandering all day long because of which we are now put to untold suffering and heated us up. Cows which follow your footsteps to Vrinda ran for grazing often get the chance to lick lotus-like feet of your and also get sparsha suka by dashing you often from the back and you also stand in such a way as if leaning on them removes their itches (cows often get their itches removed by constantly dashing their bodies on stones meant for this purpose (chori kambam kept in villages) and these cows were most blessed ones as they found YOU as the remover of their itches and YOU were also very happy to oblige hem. If cows can get their purpose served by simply following your footsteps why not we thy servants get the chance to keep your feet on our chest and embrace them to give you some relief and also get some relief that our souls were longing for.
Madhuraya gira, valgu vakhyaya,
Budha manognayaa, pushkare kshana,
Vidhi kareerima, veera, muhyathi,
Radara seedhuna pyayaswa na. 8
Oh, Friend with a lotus eye, Oh Krishna,
The words that fall from your mouth, Oh Krishna,
Which made the wise turn in to ecstasy, Oh Krishna,
Have attracted us a lot, Oh Krishna,
Oh, friend who is our hero, Oh Krishna,
Feed us the nectar from your lips, Oh Krishna,
And give us our life again, Oh Krishna.
Sweet words of the Lord on hearing which even the wisest person in the world will go into ecstasy has been the source of attraction to us. Oh, the bravest one please shower us the grant of the adharamrutham very soon and bless us. Your sweet ways of talking have been the attraction of the world on hearing which even wisest has been immensely pleased if that is so we the Gopis who have no knowledge and who are most illiterate can as well cherish like the wisest Oh Lord please grant us the sweet lips to us.
DHARATHI ITI DHARA – that which bears us is known as Bhoomi or Dhara – NO DHARATHI IT ADHARA – that which does not carry us is known as Adhara i.e. by the Grace of the Lord Gopis are not meant to be born again so Adhara. Dharayaa: amirutham is the nectar given by the holy land – A DHARAMRUTHAM is commonly known as the kiss that Lord gives to the chosen ones – but it is actually his act of giving them boon not to be born in this world and reach GOLOKHA for nitya kainkarya. That is actually ADHARAMURTHAM.
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