Sri Vrindavan-vihari-lal
After this, Sri Lilâshuk is saying – “All glory to my Ishtadev1, Vrajendranandan2 Sri Krishna Who is the Supreme Personality Himself and Who is adorned with peacock feathers.” Here he uses the word ‘Jayati‘ (glory be) in its present tense, thereby signifying that the pastimes of Sri Vrindâvan-Vihâri3 are eternal. All scriptures state that the Vrindâvan-pastimes are eternal. Srimad-Bhâgavatam, the chief Purân says –
(When Sri Krishna entered the battle-arena of Kamsa, the women of Mathurâ saw him and said) – “Ohh! The earth of Vraja is indeed pure, since Sri Krishna, Who is the Supreme Personality, is wandering4 there, in human-like form, decorated with attractive vana-mâlâ5. He tends the cattle along with Baladev and plays various sports therein. Even Goddess Lakshmi worships His Lotus-feet.”
– (S.B.10.44.13)
While explaining this verse from Srimad- Bhâgavatam, Sri Jiva has stated –
“When someone says – ‘The hills are present’, we are given to understand that the hills are always there. In the same way, the word ‘anchati‘ means that Sri Krishna is always present in Gokul. The women of Mathurâ have spoken these very true words, by the mercy of Sri Bhagavân alone. Otherwise, how could they have said that – ‘Krishna is wandering in Vraja’, when they are seeing that He has come to Mathurâ. This means that, they have expressed the Supreme truth that He sports eternally in Sri Vrindâvan during the unmanifested pastimes.” – (K.S. 114)
Sri Padma purân says –
“One who has not drunk the water of the Yamunaa, wherein Sri Krishna, the enemy of Kamsa, plays with His cattle and the Gopis, is very unfortunate indeed!”
Sri Skandapurân says –
“Sri Krishna and Balarâm, surrounded by the cowherd boys, play eternally in Vrindâvan along with the calves.”
The present tense used in both these verses proves that Sri Krishna is eternally present in Vrindâvan. Sri Lilâshuk is saying – That very same Vrindâvan-Vihâri is my Shikshâ-Guru (the master who imparts instructions).”
Who is ‘Shikshâ-Guru’?
“Shikshâ-Guru is the embodiment of Sri Krishna. He is present in two forms
(1) ‘Antaryâmi‘ – (the One who dwells in our heart) and
(2) A great devotee.”
– (C.C. Âdi.1.28)
(Sri Uddhav told Sri Krishna) -“O Lord! You are present externally in the form of a preceptor, and internally as ‘Antaryâmi‘. A devotee has so many bad qualities, for example, material desires. They are unfavourable for devotion. In these two forms, You destroy all these anarthas. Hence the wise men are exulted when they think what favour You have bestowed on them (by destroying their anarthas such as material desires). They feel that they will never be able to repay Your debt even if they were to live as long as Brahmâ.”
– (S.B. 11.29.6)
In Sri Gitâ, Sri Krishna has told Arjun –
“Those whose hearts are ever surrendered unto Me, and who lovingly offer devotional service to Me, I offer all such devotees an intelligence by which they can obtain Me”. – (B.G.10.10)
The above statement proves that Sri Krishna is present in all of us as Antaryâmi Who imparts instructions.
Sri Krishna has told Uddhav-
“Know Sri Gurudev as My embodiment. Never ever disrespect him by considering him to be a mere human, since all demi-gods reside in the body of Sri Gurudev.”
“The scriptures prove that Sri Guru is the form of Sri Krishna. Krishna bestows mercy on His devotees in the form of Guru.”
– (C.C. Âdi.1.27)
Sri Krishna is considered the Guru in Vrajadhâm
Sri Kavirâj Goswâmi has quoted the following verse from Bhakti-Rasâmrita-Sindhu, in his Sâranga – Rangadâ purport –
“How to whisper into each other’s ears, how to flatter the messenger (so that they agree to carry messages), how to cheat one’s husband deftly, how to proceed towards a flower-grove in the dead of night, how to act deaf when the elders give good advice and how to keep one’s ears alert for the music of the flute? O Krishna! The fair sex of Vraja are recently studying these arts from a school where Your budding youth happens to be the Guru.”
Navakishor6 Sri Krishna is the Primeval Guru of all these arts that the adolescent girls of Vraja are learning! Sri Lilâshuk has realised all these sweetness of Sri Krishna. Hence he says – “The One Whose crown is adorned with peacock feathers is my Shikshâ-Guru”. In this very same Karnâmritam, he has recited another verse –
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“O Dev, You are my love, You are my desire, You are my Guru Who dispenses knowledge, You are my wealth, You are my life, You are the goal of my life, You are my God, I have no one but You.” – (K.K.104). |
In this verse also, he refers to Sri Krishna as Shikshâ-Guru (Who dispenses knowledge).
What does the poet mean by ‘shikhi-pinchha-mouli’?’
By the words ‘shikhi-pinchha-mouli‘ – the One Who wears a crown of peacock-feathers – he has expressed the wonderful sweetness of Sri Krishna. While explaining these words, Srila Kavirâj Goswâmi has reminded us of the verse in Srimad-Bhâgavatam that extols the sweetness of Sri Krishna in the following manner-
“When Sri Krishna appeared to the damsels of Vraja, His lotus-face radiated a soft smile, He was decked in a golden yellow cloth, He wore a vana-mâlâ around His neck and He was the very embodiment of Madan-Mohan7!”
– [S.B. 10.32.2].
(Sri Uddhav told Vidurji)- “That form8 of Lord Krishna was for the purpose of His pastimes in this world. He had manifested that form in order to exhibit the power of His Yogmâyâ. Even He was wonder struck by His Own beauty. Even Lady Fortune covets it. His body is so beautiful that it needs no ornament to beautify it; instead it beautifies the ornaments it wears.”
– [S.B. 3.2.12].
(to be continued)
1 worshipped Deity
2 the Son of Nanda Mahârâj
3 One Who sports in Sri Vrindâvan
4 Please note the present continuous tense which indicates that although Sri Krishna is in Mathurâ He is still in Vrajadhâm.
5 garland of wild flowers
6 The One with eternal budding youth, Sri Krishna
7 the One Who enchants the Love-god
8 the sweet form of Lord Krishna as expressed in Vrajadhâm