Surrender To Krishna

Of all the avatars taken by Lord Vishnu, Krishna avatar is the most interesting, complex and controversial. What is the meaning of the word Krishna? It means "dark colored". Another meaning is "one who attracts the other". "Karshatiti krishnaha" His bewitching smile and personality enchanted one and all irrespective of their age and qualification.The Azwars, the mystics of the South, were totally dedicated to the various forms of the Lord like Krishna, Rama & Venkateswara. In their hymns or ' pasurams' they unpacked their soul and expressed their Bhakti or love for the Lord. One after the other,these Azwars,poured out their love and glorified the Divine Sports or leelas and lost themselves in mystic contemplation of His attributes. One among such renowned Azwars is Kulasekhara Azwar! He ruled the Chera kingdom, won many battles, conquered many territories & killed many people! But at a particular stage he was disgusted with the materialistic life he was leading. His intense & latent Bhakti for the lord flowered and he came into the stream of God consciousness!

       In his scholarly magnum opus " Mukunda mala" he describes the divinity and glory of Lord krishna. He surrenders himself to the Lord and says that there is nothing else you can do except surrender yourself to His Will if you want to escape from the endless cycle of samsara! Every thing is Krishna for him, walking,talking, eating, smelling, hearing and many others! This God given sareera- body, its every organ or part must be diverted to the service of the Lord! He says in this sloka,

       "Jihve! kirtaya kesavam muraripum cheto! bhaja Sridharam panidwanda! samarch yachuta katha srotradwaya! twam srunu Krishnam lokaya lochanadwaya! Harer gachanghri yugmalayam jighra ghrana! Mukunda pada thulasim murdhan! namadhokshajam"He addresses the tongue and says," oh Tongue! always sing the glories of Kesava and the enemy of Mura the demon! Oh Manas! worship the Lord of Lakshmi! Oh Hands! offer archana to Achyutha! Oh Ears! listen to HIS stories! OH Eyes!  feast upon His holy form! Oh Legs! Walk to HIS temple! Oh Nose! smell the Tulsi leaves at HIS feet! Oh Head! prostrate at the feet of Adhokshaja!" We use the body and its parts for different and useless activities and waste our energy! The Azwar emphasizes the significance of our devotion and total dedication of our activity to God!

        Devoton to God or Bhakti will not come suddenly or by magic! It has to be cultivated from childhood and in the company of many devotees.It is foolish to think that we can cultivate Bhakti in the later stages of life. Kulasekhara Azwar himself puts it very beautifully in his Mukunda Mala; "Oh Krishna! I have at the outset rested my Royal Swan of my Manas in the cage of your Lotus Feet! It is because, at the terminal stage of my life, I cannot utter your Name as my throat will be stfled by phlegm, wind and bile!" "Krishna! twadiya pada pankaja panjarante adyaiva me visathu manasa raja hamsaha  Pranaprayana samaye kapha vata pithaihi kantavarodhana vidhim smaranam kuthasthe!" Let us follow in the footsteps of these great devotees!!