Krishna Janmashtami

The piercing sound of an alarm echoed across the room. Krish used to punch the alarm to send it into sleep mode all these days, but today he gently touched the alarm as if to lull it to sleep. His gaze hovered over the beautiful portrait of Lord Krishna. Being an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, Krish couldn't afford to spend this day in sleep mode. He prostrated before the portrait of Lord Krishna with utmost respect and devotion. He had been used to listening to stories of Lord Krishna since his childhood days. He had kind of developed a proclivity towards the creator of the Bhagavad Gita. He intoned the following hymn dedicated to his favourite God. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Krish pulled the window curtain aside and glanced at the Sun God, who seemed to be dazzling in full glory as if to celebrate Janmashtami in full swing. His lips curved into a smile, and he folded his hands in namaste. His parents had gone on a pilgrimage, so he decided to visit the ISKCON temple on his own. Being a typical Brahmin, he did pooja to Lord Krishna and offered obeisance. His face flushed with a smile and brimmed with pride as if he had received blessings from Krishna himself. Krish wore a traditional dhoti along with a white shirt after taking a bath. He combed his dishevelled hair and anointed his forehead with vermilion. His heart was filled with abundant joy, which reflected on his face as well. Unable to restrain his overflowing excitement, he started for ISKCON on his bike. The beautiful hymn of Lord Krishna started playing in his mind like a tape recorder. He enjoyed every moment with utmost purity. He stole a glance at the sky, visualising the brilliance of Krishna. He reached the ISKCON temple and was overwhelmed to see the huge crowd. Everyone had thronged to the temple, desperate to get the darshan of Radha Krishna. He parked his bike in the parking lot and quickly joined the queue. Before that, someone at the entrance applied Vaishnava tilak on his forehead, which he gleefully accepted. Radhe Radhe Radhe Radhe Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Vibrations of these two powerful names coursed through his veins, brimming him with ecstasy. That waiting time to see Lord Krishna was so heartwarming and auspicious. Every second, you are desperate to see Him. He did not mind the long queue. It was the auspicious birthday of Lord Krishna, after all. The queue didn't look dead or lost. They looked electrified, reciting Krishna shlokas with ease. Drenched in the ocean of devotion, Krish closed his eyes and imagined himself placing his forehead at the lotus feet of the Lord. An hour and a half passed, and finally, Krish won the opportunity to get the darshan of Lord Krishna. It felt as if the Supreme Soul had come all the way from above to possess the idol. The idol looked stunning with colourful clothing and magnificent jewellery. It was indeed a sight for sore eyes. No matter how long it went on, you didn't feel the urge to take your eyes off this wonderful idol of Lord Krishna. Krish couldn't hold back his tears. It seemed as if Lord Krishna had come in person to bless him. The moment overwhelmed him to the core. He let the tears wash his face. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Words choked in his mouth, but he did not lose their purity. The water of devotion brimmed his eyes, taking control of his heart. Even crores of rupees cannot substitute for this beautiful moment, which doesn't come often. This was devotion of the highest order. He prostrated before the Lord, not sending out any petition to acquire anything. This once-in-a-lifetime experience itself had made his day. He did not wipe the tears that had flowed seamlessly from his eyes. He wanted that ocean of devotion not to dry but to stay there for some time. The enchanting silence enveloped him despite being amidst the crowd, which was a testament to his ardent love for the Lord. Torrents of love seeped out of his body and flowed like a river before merging at the lotus feet of Krishna. A gentle smile hovered over his lips as if to expound his submission to the Lord. “I am still breathing and alive because of your love. I am able to get your darshan because you pulled me onto your lotus feet. I am nothing but a speck or an atom in your universe. Today, I am blessed with an emotion which has reinforced my inner strength and augmented my inexorable love towards you. How foolish are we to swim in the river of arrogance? How stupid are we to boast about our bank accounts? If you wish, you can make us a beggar instantly. You are the ruler, the protector and the omniscient. I am your servant, your devotee and your pawn. I humbly offer this soul at your lotus feet. Oh, Lord Krishna! Please accept my offerings.” Krish meditated for an hour with utmost sincerity, going deep into the recesses of his subconscious to ensure Krishna stayed there forever. Krish pulled his palms together and rubbed them fiercely to generate sufficient warmth before placing them over his eyes. Then he slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the Supreme Idol, smiling in all its dazzle and glory. He rose to his feet and folded his hands in namaste again, expressing his gratitude for according him such a beautiful experience that rarely appears in human life. On his way to the prasadam hall, he happened to see a person being chastised. “You are an intellectually bankrupt person. You haven't earned Krishna's blessings; that's why you are like this. Foolish idiot. You don't deserve to be here.” The poor man had tears welling up in his eyes, but he didn't stop taking Krishna's name. He went down on his knees and cried, “Krishna,” in complete submission, not worrying about how others perceived him. Krish felt pity for the man. He rushed to his aid. “With all due respect, sir, you don't have to be an intellectual to win the blessings of Lord Krishna. This man may not be an intellectual, but he has surrendered himself to Lord Krishna. Bhakti Yoga is the highest form of yoga. If you surrender yourself to the Lord and just take His name, that's the most powerful way to reach God. His holy name itself is the benediction for humanity. Even an intellectual with his powerfully crafted shlokas can't reach Krishna that easily. This is pure devotion of the highest order. Being an intellectual is not enough; you need to know how to use that intellect. If we don't cleanse the dust of ego settled on our intellect, we cannot be drawn to Lord Krishna. We cannot excavate pure devotion from an impure well.” The intellectual man zipped his lips, with no words coming out of his mouth. “Sir, please continue taking the Lord's name. Remember, your Bhakti Yoga is the highest form of yoga.” The kneeling man had tears rolling down his cheeks, and he tried to fall at the feet of Krish, but the latter jumped aside. “Sir, I am a mere soul. He is the Supreme Soul. Please fall at His lotus feet.” Krish gleefully accepted being in a long queue again for lunch. His eyes hovered over little ones dressed in Krishna attire, which brought a grin to his face. He then shifted his gaze towards the monks who had dedicated their lives to uplifting the spirit of Krishna. He saw them as blessed souls designed for a Godly purpose. After an hour, Krish managed to grab a seat in the lunch hall. He sat next to an elderly man lost in Krishna's prayer. Krish felt happy to see people investing their time in the Lord even in this Kali Yuga. Volunteers plunged into action, serving food in a neatly skilled manner. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare He took a delicious bite from the plate. He was taken aback when the elderly man sitting next to him broke into tears. “Sir, please don't cry while eating. It is divine prasadam, which needs to be consumed with gratitude and joy.” “Sorry, I couldn't control myself.” “Why, sir? If you don't mind, can you tell me why you broke down?” “I had been an atheist all my life and never believed in God. I used to laugh at people who dedicated their lives to spiritual practices. I was of the notion that money could buy us everything, from commodities to happiness.” Krish listened to him attentively. “I was wondering why people would go to temples, meditate, or recite shlokas when they couldn't see God in person. But all my ego eventually got dissolved when I stumbled upon heavy losses in my business. Until then, I was flying high up in the sky under the garb of material illusion. When that material protection was stripped off me, it felt like being naked on the streets,” he continued. “People give you respect when you are financially stable, but when you become financially crippled, you will be treated worse than a dog. Many disassociated themselves from my venture, leaving me helpless. That career downfall not only taught me a life lesson; it made me believe in God. Thanks to God, I have revived my business. God doesn't judge you based on caste, creed, or your past. If you soulfully surrender to Him, He will always be there to guide you imperceptibly.” “Beautifully said, sir. I am happy to have had the privilege of hearing your transformation story.” “We can only acquire transcendental knowledge from God Himself.” Krish thanked the Lord from the bottom of his heart for the divine feast. “People rush to hotels with mad enthusiasm, not realising that the food prepared over there is purely for money, barring a few places. Whereas here, the food is prepared to satisfy the hungry stomachs of devotees.” “I enjoyed your association in this divine hall. If God permits, we shall cross paths again,” the elderly man offered, extending his hand. Krish shook his hand, and they walked in opposite directions. Krish spent the evening attending the cultural programmes at the ISKCON centre itself. He enjoyed the skits by students, the fashion show by children, and the philosophical messages from priests. His day was indeed made. It seemed as if he was wallowing on the grass of pure devotion. He did not refrain from making a donation, which he deemed a blessing rendered by God Himself. All the devotees enjoyed the day with laughter, devotion, and pure love for God. Krish made a phone call to his parents and briefed them about his experience at the ISKCON temple. He then waited for the main pooja at midnight, which is considered the most auspicious time since Lord Krishna was born at that hour. The main pooja started with much fervour. Everybody folded their hands in pure devotion. Some of them started dancing, exhibiting the pure joy oozing out of their hearts. Krish allowed his blessed eyes to witness the auspicious pooja. He then went down on his knees and surrendered to the divine. Before pulling his bike from the parking lot, he ordered his mind to prepare a delicious poem which he could dedicate to Lord Krishna. He closed his eyes and turned inwards. We bow sincerely to Lord Krishna He is an embodiment of Lord Vishnu Today is His auspicious birthday Being in His presence made my day His teachings are nothing but nuggets of wisdom Not falling for your alluring senses is the ultimate freedom Lord Krishna dwells in the hearts of people So we need to carry Him in our heart temple Krishna says not to fall for the seduction of vices They may taste like aromatic spices, but eventually cripple your voices He doesn't judge you based on your past So surrender to His lotus feet fast Devotion is something that cannot be pretended It has to come from the heart to be comprehended You don't have to be an intellectual to win His heart Your pure devotion while taking His name is the ultimate spiritual art He is the ultimate Supreme Soul Submission is the tool to reach that soul Material illusion keeps you away from God Spiritual enlightenment takes you towards the Lord