It is very difficult to understand and realize the wonderful Divine sports or Leela's of God! The Supreme Being, sporting the guise of an avatar, performs these leelas to entertain Himself and edify others! How can God, described as “ Asabda masparsa marupa mavyayam”--one without sound, without touch, without form and decline suffer sickness or disease like an ordinary mortal? The Almighty, in human form, takes upon Himself certain sickness or disease and pretends to suffer to observe the reactions of his bhakthas! That is the nature of God who has descended as an avatar--” Mayamanusha Vesha”, one who has come down with the illusory form of man! How can Lord Krishna suffer from inconvenience and fever on a particular day in Dwaraka? Sri Rudram declares that the first Doctor is God Himself! “ Prathamo daivyo bhishak” This Divine Doctor not only pretends to suffer but prescribes the medicine that can cure the malady!
On a particular day, in Dwaraka, Krishna suddenly developed high fever and his whole body began shivering terribly! It couldn't be controlled! People were alarmed and didn't know what to do. Something has to be done to bring relief to Vasudeva!! Krishna Himself prescribed the medicine for His fever. It was a medicine that none expected! Krishna said that His fever will be cured if the dust under the feet of his bhaktas is brought and taken with water! People with the Lord were taken aback! Now the ticklish problem was to pinpoint who the great devotee of Krishna was!! They thought that there couldn't be a greater devotee of Krishna than the sage Vedavyasa.They approached and told him about the matter. Vyasa was aghast at the remedy suggested by Krishna! “How can I give that to Krishna to drink with water? Who gave this prescription?” he questioned with surprise and shock. He immediately left for Dwaraka to question Krishna on this. Those who had hopes on Vyasa were terribly disappointed! They had to find another extraordinary devotee to give relief to Krishna laid up with fever!
Uddhava was an exceptional bhakta of Lord Krishna. The went and approached him. the moment he heard of what the remedy was, he swooned! It took a long time for them to bring him back to senses! Uddhava trembled at what they wanted from him! “ How can you come to me expecting that I can give the dust under my feet for Krishna? I will go and demand an answer from Krishna Himself ” cried Uddhava seeing them. So saying Uddhava left for Dwaraka! On reaching Dwaraka, Uddhava was astounded to see Sage Vyasa already there! Krishna, with fever, was seated on his throne! Totally disappointed with Sage Vyasa and Uddhava, the seekers had to find different devotees who could offer their dust under the feet! They spotted sixteen lakh Gopikas and wanted to try their luck by reporting the agony of Krishna suffering from fever. They wanted any great devotee to offer the dust under his feet so that Krishna could mix it with water and drink! It is only then that the Lord would be free from fever totally!
The moment the Gopikas heard the news of the sickness of the Lord, they were sad and depressed. They did not reply or offer any excuse. All of them sat own, took a coconut shell and started to scrape the dust under their feet! They collected the dust and loading it in eight carts despatched it directly to Dwaraka! The carts with “Gopika pada dhuli” arrived with their jingling music to where Krishna was sitting and Vyasa and Uddhava were standing! Both Vyasa and Uddhava were at a loss to understand what was happening! So many carts of ‘Gopika Pada Dhuli’ specially for Lord Krishna! Unable to contain their amazement, Sage Vyasa and Uddhava exclaimed, “ Swami! What is this practice? What is this Divine sport? We fail to understand your leela!” How can mortal man understand what Sage Vyasa and Uddhava could not understand?
“ I know what you are and I also know what type of people the Gopikas are! I will tell you now your state of mind as well as the state of mind of the Gopikas!”, continued Krishna. “You think that I am Paramatma and offering Me the dust under your feet is prohibited and a great sin! You are afraid that you have to suffer in hell if you do so and hence refuse! The Gopikas are also aware of the sin they commit and are afraid of the experience of hell! Despite these inhibitions, they offered their ‘pada dhuli’. Why? The Gopikas are not bothered of their being spoiled; nor they fear hell! If their sufferings and trials and tribulations can cure Krishna of His fever why not the pada dhuli' be sent to Him? They sacrificed themselves so that Krishna may live! That is their way of thinking!,” concluded Lord Krishna. Uddhava was dumbfounded and exclaimed that he had not come across or heard of such self effacing devotion and love as that of the Gopikas! Why does God behave like this during the period of His avatar? It is only to test the devotion of his bhaktas ant to establish the greatness of his true devotee! There are innumerable instances of God testing his bhaktha and declaring the extraordinary bhakthi that the devotee has for the Lord! The story of Kannappa Nayanar is one of the many such stories!
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