GOD AS FRIENDj

GOD AS FRIEND

Bhakthi or devotion is defined as unalloyed and pure Love for the Lord! The devotee has different ways or methods to worship or meditate on the Supreme Reality. Bhagavata Purana demarcates nine varieties of  bhakthi that are prominent among the various bhaktas.It is not compulsory that God should be meditated upon in one particular way! The nine types bhakthi are: Sravanam- hearing the stories of God and his glory, Kirtana- singing his glory, Smarana- remembering His  greatness and glory, Padasevana- worshipping His lotus feet, Archana- worshipping Him, Vandana- bowing down to Him, Dasya - being obedient like a servant, Sakhya- being intimate like a friend and finally Atma- Nivedanam- total surrender unto His lotus feet! Bhakthas have realized the Divinity through all these nine types of devotion! A few emotional and ecstatic  states are also experienced by great devotees. They are Santha bhava, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya, and Madhura Bhavas.

Foremost example of Sakhya or friendship with the Divine is the Pandava warrior, Arjuna. There is a link between Nara that is Arjuna and Narayana who is Krishna. Arjuna not only looked upon Krishna as a friend but as God also. Stationed in the midst of the two armies on the famous battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is assailed by remorse and many doubts and refuses to fight! He is tormented at the thought of killing his own kith and kin, his gurus,and the grand old man Bhishma. He is  despondent and moved by 'mamakara or attachment! He has no interest in eating a bloody meal.  He is ready to beg rather than kill all his relations and rule the empty kingdom. His whole body trembles and he lays down his famous bow Gandiva,and the quiver of arrows and turns to the Lord to clear his doubts! Like a true friend, the Lord disabuses his mind and points out that it is his duty to kill his enemies as they, by all counts, are evil and deserve to be killed. This is the beginning of the Bhagavad-Gita. Arjuna asks searching questions on Karma, bhakthi, jnana, and various other aspects of life and like a preceptor, the Lord, explains and even grants him the vision of His ‘Viratswarupa’--the Cosmic Form. Can you ever imagine the Supreme Lord serve as the Sarathi--the driver of the chariot for an ordinary mortal though of royal origin? It is because of Arjuna’s inordinate bhakthi that has bound the Lord to his devotee. The Mahabharatha is replete with incidents to prove that

a friend in need is a friend in deed.

It is because of this Divine friendship that Draupadi’s chastity was protected while all the five brothers were mute spectators along with Bhisma and others. Arjuna married Subhadra, Krishna’s sister and thus he became the Lord’s brother in law! It was the presence of the Lord by the side of the Pandavas that saved them finally. During the course of the war, Arjuna's son Abhimanyu tore into the ‘ padma vyuha’ and fought fiercely. He was surrounded by the Kaurava warriors all at once and mercilessly killed! It was one Jayadratha that was responsible for Abhimanyu’s death. Infuriated at this, Arjuna vowed that he would kill him by the next twenty four hours. But the Kauravas, having known this, protected Jayadratha and did not allow him to come out until the sun set the next day! The battle continued and Arjuna was on the look out for his target! But Jayadratha was not to be seen! Arjuna was disappointed and was becoming desperate. Time was running out and he did not know what to do. The Lord was a silent witness to all the conflicts in the heart of his dear friend Arjuna!  The sun was about to set but not fully. That was the time that Krishna decided to help his friend.What can prevent when God wills it? Krishna sent his Chakra to hide the Sun to create  feeling that the Sun has set! Seeing the false sunset, the Kauravas were very happy that Arjuna had failed and that he would immolate himself according to the vow he has taken. Jayadratha came out in glee. Krishna bade Arjuna to aim and shoot even as he took back the Chakra and the Sun came out brightly. Arjuna caught the golden opportunity and beheaded Jayadratha! This is an illustration of the deep friendship between the bhaktha and God!

Krishna has been a friend, philosopher and guide not only to Arjuna personally but to the Pandavas as a whole as they were all righteous and protected Dharma. He volunteered to go as a messenger to the court of Dhritarashtra to prevent war. He saved the life of the only heir of the Pandavas, Parikshit in the womb of Abhimanyu’s wife Uttara! Aswattama had shot a terrible arrow to kill the child in the womb! The Lord once again showered his Grace on Arjuna, sent his Chakra to protect the!! foetus and saved the child who ruled the country after the Pandavas.To be neutral Krishna did not participate in war. When Duryodhana and Arjuna came to request help, cunningly he offered his army to the former and preferred to be the driver of the chariot of Arjuna! Foolish Duryodhana was more than happy as he thought that Krishna by himself would not be of much use.

When, in the last, Karna was grounded and the wheels of his chariot caved in and he remained unarmed Arjuna hesitated to  kill him. But it was krishna who goaded Arjuna to kill Karna! He reminded Arjuna how Karna and others conspired to kill Abhimanyu in the ‘ padma vyuha’. Arjuna could not have survived without the grace of his friend and guide Lord Krishna! The effect of the terrible sastras aimed at Arjuna by Bhishma, Drona Karna and others was so great that the chariot of Arjuna would have burst into flames! Arjuna got down from the chariot first, soon after the war. The moment Krishna came  down, the chariot burst into flames to the surprise and shock of all! Arjuna was saved by Krishna from the Nagastra that was sure to take his life. He pressed the chariot down a little to miss its aim. Thus at every step in life the Divine hand does not leave the bhaktha in the lurch. On the other hand it protects its friend and devotee all through his difficulties and troubles! Arjuna is really a blessed friend recognized by the Lord and what more can be expected better than this in life?