Ras Leela

Lord Shiva was once invited by Lord Krishna to Brindavan to enjoy the Ras Leela in the month of Ashvin during the Sharada Navratri. Shiva was reluctant, but on Krishna’s persistence, he agreed to visit him in Brindavan on the designated night.

When the Mahadeva descended on the banks of Yamuna, he could see a large Peepal tree lit by many tiny lamps by the Gopis of Brindavan. The lamps were hanging on branches of the peepal tree around which flowers were spread for Lord Krishna to rest. The waxing crescent moon was sleepily looking at the divine play, sometimes hiding under the dark blanket of thick monsoon clouds. Autumn had begun, and there was a slight chill in the air. 

The Gopis had cleaned the circumference around the tree for the Ras Leela. Lord Krishna was about to arrive at any moment now. 

Shiva is displeased by such a display of worldly pleasures. He saw honey and milk pitchers passed on by the Gopis, and the Gopas, who drank the earthly Amrit to their fullest. The Gopis and the Gopas donned in golden jewelry and flowers all over their washed, scented bodies. Shiva’s temper rose at this sight, and his rage was increasing with each passing moment. 

” I am Lord Shiva, the destroyer. I live in the Himalayas and sleep on the Ashes of dead men. I see the uselessness of this whole night and the way these wretched people are worshipping their external bodies that are perishable instead of cherishing their eternal souls. I will teach them a lesson.” 

Saying so, Lord Shiva opened his third eye and started his Tandava in the ring meant for Ras Leela. Upon seeing Lord Shiva’s sudden entry and Rudra avatar, the Gopis and Gopas ran away to take shelter. They watched him dance furiously from behind the bushes. Lord Shiva was dancing on the tunes to show them the importance of the soul and its infinity against the body and its worthlessness. 

Few Gopis ran to fetch Krishna. Lord Krishna took his time and reached the banks to watch divine Shiva still in his Rudra avatar dancing. Later, unexpected to everyone, he jumped into the circle and joined Lord Shiva in his Tandava. He was matching Lord Shiva’s steps, and an unusual event was unfolding in Brindavana now. 

Lord Shiva watched Krishna dance with him. Step by step, they were attaining a synergy. Krishna slowly introduced his Ras Leela in the act. Lord Shiva was so engrossed in matching steps with Krishna that he changed his stance from Tandava to Ras Leela. Krishna and Lord Shiva were now both at tandem dancing to the musical rhythm of Krishna’s flute and slow drum beats. 

Lord Shiva enjoyed the shift and drank milk and honey mixture offered by a Gopa to quench his thirst. He understood the game played by the mischievous Krishna. 

He walked up to him and, with folded hands, said,” Hey, Krishna, thank you for opening my senses and shedding my ahankar regarding the importance of being Nirankar. I have understood the game you laid for me to understand the importance of bodily pleasures that act as a stepping stone towards Nirankar Roopa. Unless the earthly creatures experience the goodness that mother earth offers, they will not understand her importance and will not worship her before surrendering to the eternal truth. The body and its senses are created by the divine force so that men and women can enjoy them in the right way, and then when the time comes to leave everything behind, they have no regret.”

” I am taking this divine experience with me, oh Lord Krishna, and returning to my abode in the Himalayas,” saying, so Lord Shiva disappeared into thin air.

Krishna folded his hands and continued playing his melodious flute with Gopis and Gopas, dancing around the lit Peepal tree.