KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka--5

Pallavaaruna paani pankaja sangi venu ravaakulam

Pullapaatala paatali parivaadi paada saroruham

Ullasan madhuraadhara dyuti manjari sarasaananam

Vallavi kuchakumbha kumkuma pankilam Prabhu maasraye.

Leela Shuka’s is not the old Bilwamangala now! There is a wonderful transformation in his life. He has metamorphosed himself into a pious and spiritual personality! His obsession and lust for Chintamani  is no longer there. His Guru Somagiri has saved him from falling once again into the rut of material life. Somagiri has given Leela Shuka the great and powerful Madanagopala mantra that has completely changed his track in life. He is now obsessed with spiritual sadhana and wants to elevate himself further. His poetry and fancy should always be hovering over the tempting and alluring figure of Madanagopala, His different forms, movements, associations, His dazzling beauty, adornments as well as the astonishing Divine sports! There cannot be anything else in his poetry and imagination. Thus in every sloka of his Krishna Karnamruta we find his fancy running riot in describing his chosen deity, Krishna, as a child, a boy and one who is in youth! Different thoughts come to the poet as he sees the brilliant vision of Krishna decked with jewels and adornments and surrounded and admired by the Gopikas. Even as he perceives those exceptional and rare sights in his mind's eye, he puts them into his immortal sweet poetry.

The poet says that Krishna is overwhelmed with amorous feelings. He is endowed with attractive face and is fascinated by the side glances of Gopikas.  Let that entity adorned with beautiful peacock feathers be the life breath of my poetry says the poet. In other words, he praises  Krishna and wishes Him well! In this sloka, Krishna  appears with tender feet playing on the flute with His delicate hands. His soft lips , while playing on the flute, radiate on His face like a bunch of flowers.

Looking at His irresistible beauty, the Gopikas become lovelorn and languid! Unable to resist their feelings of love, they reach and embrace Him! Krishna is pleasantly shocked at this action of Gopikas. On account of this sudden action of Gopikas, Krishna's entire body is smeared with  Vermillion from the breasts of Gopikas!! The poet seeks refuge in such Krishna who never fails his bhakthas.

The description of the poet indicates the Sringara rasa that signifies the Avatar of Krishna. The devotee has his poetic license in describing Krishna's situation like that! The vision that the poet has in his mind is faithfully described in this sloka. The close association of Krishna and the Gopikas should not be considered as materialistic or worldly!

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KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka-4

Barhottamsa vilasi kunthala bharam maadhurya magnaanam

Pronmilan navayauvanam pravilasad venu pranaadaamrutam

Aapina sthana kutmalaabhirabhito gopibhi raaradhitam

Jyotischetasinas chakasthi  jagata mekaabhi raamaadbhutaam.

Leela Shuka doesn’t consider Krishna as an ordinary lad! To him Krishna is the embodiment of Supreme Reality or Brahman. It is this form that has to be fixed and worshipped in the sadhaka's mind. There is no other way for the Sadhaka to escape from the cycle of Samsara and that of birth and death. It is im possible to describe the wonderful beauty of his chosen Lord. With extraordinary mobile and attractive eyes and electrifying looks He is moving about the sand dunes of the Yamuna river. His blue color and ethereal beauty kindle sexual feelings in others! He is being observed by His spouse Sri Devi or Mahalakshmi.

The poet desires to worship such an exceptional Lord and sits in deep meditation or Dhyana. Touched and pleased by the Bhaktha’s pure devotion, Krishna appears in a vision at which the poet is overwhelmed with indescribable joy and wonder. His poetic zeal immediately tries to commemorate the Lord's presence in his heart and he attempts to portray the Divine beauty of Balakrishna in his inimitable style.

Krishna’s locks of hair are beautifully decorated with peacock feathers! His face is beautiful beyond description. His figure is brisk with signs of upcoming youthfulness! The music that emanates from His flute is sweet and melodious like amruta or Divine nectar! The Gopikas on hearing the delectable music experience an onrush of feeling in their breasts, surround Lord Krishna and serve Him to satisfy their desires! Entire world is amazed at this enchanting vision full of radiance!

The Bhagavata purana describes the heavenly beauty of child Krishna and his Divine sports in NandaGokulam. The Gopikas were harassed by young Krishna in many ways but mesmerized by His celestial beauty they could not or Him! They complain to mother Yasoda but Krishna knows how to wriggle out of any tight corner! Among the Azwars, Sri Kulasekhara Azwar, in his “Mukundamala”  glorifies the Divine attributes of Lord Krishn

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka 3

Chathuraika nidhana Seema chapalaapaanga chataa mantharam

Lavanyamruthaveechi laalitha drusam Lakshmi kataksha dhrutam

Kalindi pulinaanangana pranayanath kaamaavathaaraankuram

Balam neelamamivayam madhurima swaaraajya maaraadhnumaha.

Leela Shukà exults in describing the glorious attributes of his darling Krishna in every sloka of Krishna Karnamruta. Spellbound at the celestial beauty of child Krishna, in his imagination, he attempts to portray the physical beauty of Balakrishna. Is  Krishna an ordinary boy moving about the Vraja bhoomi or Gokulam? It is sheer ignorance or avidya to consider Him thus. He may create an illusion or Maya in the minds of others. It is only his ardent devotees, those who have fixed Him in their hearts that can see through his Maya and realize Him. In the earlier sloka the poet has recognized young Krishna as none other than the Supreme Brahman. It is this Supreme Reality that one has to worship in order to free himself from the cycle of Samsara and the inevitable birth and death! How to worship the Brahman that has no form? The Upanishads describe the Supreme Brahman in various ways.” Asabda masparsya marupa mavyayam.” It has no sound, no touch, no form and no decay. To the poet there is no difficulty what so ever. To him Krishna is the very embodiment of  Parabrahman and it is his=_= duty to worship him as a Sadhaka.

Now, having decided to continue his upasana of the Brahman, Leela Shuka attempts to describe the form of Krishna as he visualizes the Lord in his mind's eye. Krishna’s beautiful eyes are indescribable and unparalled. They are extremely mobile! Their looks are magnetic and have the effect of lightning! The radiance of His eyes is remarkable! He is moving about the sand dunes of the Yamuna with the color of blue diamond  creating voluptuous feelings in others! His spouse Sri Devi or Goddess Lakshmi looks at Him with love! Krishna's personality and ethereal beauty as a boy is so enchanting that it creates belief in all who see Him.

 “ Lakhmi kataakshadhrutam” means one who has the support and grace of Goddess Lakshmi.
“ Kaamaavathaaraankuram” means the cause for arrival of Manmatha, God of Love
The poet is obsessed with Lord Krishna in blue color and His arresting beauty!

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KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka 2

 Asthi swassstharuñi karaagra vigalath kalpa prasunaplutham

Vasthu prasthutha venunada lahari Nirvana nirvyakulam

Srastha srastha niruddhani vivila sadgopi sahasravrutam

Hasthanyastha nathapavarga makhilodaram kisorakruti

Krishna KARNAMRUTA is a classic in Sanskrit which means Amruta or nectar for the ears of readers. Leela Shuka, the poet conjures up the glorious and wonderful visions of the Supreme Brahman, Lord Sri Krishna, his chosen deity. Like Adi Sankara who glorifies the various attributes of Goddess Sri Mata in his ‘Soundarya Lahari', Leela Shuka exults in his description of Krishna according to the flight of his fancy and imagination. Chintamani has done yeoman service to him by admonishing him and diverting his attention from physical satisfaction of the senses to the bliss of enjoying the sweet visions of Krishna in his mind. His preceptor Somagiri too has played a major role in granting the Madanagopala mantra. All his evil thoughts and feelings have evaporated and he feels fresh with spiritual fervour and a burning desire to realize the Supreme Brahman in Sri Krishna. He considers Chintamani, Somagiri and Sri Krishna as the greatest influences in his transformation from material to spiritual life. Accessibility of the Lord and His attributes as the Brahman are embodied in the exceptionally beautiful form of the Lord as a ‘Gopa.’

Leela Shuka's fancy runs riot and in his mind he perceives his beloved Lord Krishna playing on the flute and enchanting the entire universe by its indescribable melody. The people and the world have lost themselves in the mellifluous notes of Divine music. Not only this, the Lord too has totally forgotten Himself! Heavenly damsels , in their love for the Lord, have been raining flowers from the Kalpa Vruksha- the wish fulfilling tree! Even so, the Gopikas- ladies from Gokulam,  love lorn and languid, find their sarees loosening themselves and try hard to tighten them.

In this manner, Sri Krishna has granted the bliss of heaven to the common people! He has taken the form of a child or boy who is extremely accessible to the entire society. At the same time He exhibits His celestial grounding and establishes that He is the Parabrahman in the form of Child Krishna  moving about “Vrepalle” or Gokulam!

The poet reminds us that though the Lord is accessible to all in the form of a Child, He is none other than the Supreme Brahman who can never be described as this or that by any one. Words fail to describe Him and Manas too fails miserably to gauge Him. “yato vacho nivartante aprapya manasa saha.” The Gopis, in their DIVINE love for the Lord were totally oblivious of what was happening to them. Their devotion to Krishna was so great that they didn’t know that their sarees' knots were loosening! When the devotee is truly fixed in God he is totally ignorant of what happens to him bodily. All material worldly attachments shall detach themselves voluntarily! Focus is on the Lord and nothing else matters!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA--Sloka1

Chintamani Somagirid gururme siksha guruscha Bhagawan sikhipincha moulihi
Yat pada kalpataru pallava sekhareshu lilaswayamvara rasam labhathe Jaya srihi

Poet Leela Suukha begins his work with the first sloka as mangala sloka so that his work may progress without any hindrance or impediments. Chintamani mantra from his guru Somagiri has been very effective and useful in applying his mind to do good things. His lady love Chintamani too is really very great for diverting his attention from sex and lust to the thought of God. Not less great is his Guru Somagiri who satisfied all his wishes and gave him the upadesa of Madana Gopala mantra  that would lead to realization of God. Because of their grace, his heart is immersed in doing good deeds and avoiding bad things in life.

The greatest Guru,  worshipped by all as Brahman is Lord Sri Krishna Himself blessed with the SIX Gunas that prove that He is the Brahman. These six Gunas that are special are 1 Jnana or Knowledge 2 Virya 3 vairagya or detachment 4 Iswarya or prosperity 5 Yasas and 6 Sri or riches. It is because of the saulabhya or accessibility of Lord Sri Krishna with His peacock feathers and other adornments as well as His “Gopa Vesha” that people like the poet Leela Shuka are carrying on their existence.

Lord Krishna's lotus feet are like the tender and soft shoots of Kalpa Vruksha or wish fulfilling tree! Therefore Jayalakshmi, voluntarily has taken refuge in them! The poet says that success is assured for any one who seeks refuge in those lotus feet! Generally girls are attracted to the personality and adornments of men.  So Jayalakshmi has chosen the one with the peacock feathers and other ornaments! The poet says that Chintamani, his Guru Somagiri and Lord Krishna are the greatest factors in his life for the way they have influenced him and his life!

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LEELA SHUKA- KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA

Inscrutable are the ways of God! We can never understand what God has in store for us. The poor man suddenly becomes a millionaire while the rich person turns a pauper! The agnostic and the atheist suddenly believe in God and mend their ways. These transformations are very intriguing and we are unable to reconcile ourselves with these sudden changes in the lives of individuals. It is God who decides the destinies of individuals and leads them to the destination which  he has already fixed.  Who ever thought that a highway robber and thief would metamorphose in to a very great saint and the first ever poet who brought into being the Ramayana? Sage Narada accosted the robber, and taking pity on him, wanted to know whether he knew the magnitude of the sin he was commenting. He wanted to know whether his spouse would share the sin he was commenting. The robber was in a dilemma, went home, and put the question to his wife. He was shocked to know that his wife disowned all responsibility and said that he has to bear the consequence of his sinful actions. The robber felt remorseful and requested the Sage to save him from his cruel actions. There upon Sage Narada gave him the RAMA mantra and asked him to chant it with faith. The robber could not pronounce the word RAMA and started chanting MARA which through incessant chanting sounded RAMA! After intense tapas for a number of years Creator Brahma presented himself before the robber, blessed and directed him to write the story of Rama—the Ramayana! Since he had come out of the anthills that formed during the long period of his severe penance, he was called Valmiki—one who has come out of the anthills!

Did the robber, in his wildest imagination, ever think of this amazing transformation? It is God's will that he should be the first poet and the author of “ Adi Kavya”- the Ramayana. There have been instances where the Providence has changed the course of lives of his devotees addicted to love and lust! The life of  Sri Thondar adippodi Azwar is a brilliant illustration of God's benign grace. It changed the course of his life from insatiable passion and lust for a woman to deep insurmountable passion and love for God. There was no turning back for the Azwar later in his life. The life of Bilwamangala Swamy, the author of KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA, a work in Sanskrit is yet another example of the will of God that altered the destiny of his life. Bilwamangala is believed to be the contemporary of Swami Desican—AD 1268-1369. By tradition he belonged to Saivate family but later became a devotee of Krishna. He belongs to the tradition of devotees of Krishna like Narayana Nambudri and other scholars.  Bilwamangala is besides with joy in describing the Divine sports of his beloved deity Krishna. As he resembles Sage Shuka who glorifies the Divine leelas of Bhagawan Krishna in the Bhagavata purana,  Bilwamangala came to be called  Leela Shuka!

 Like Thodaradippodi Azwar and the great blessed saint Arunagirinathar,  Bilwamangala was attracted to sex and lust in his early life! He could not overcome the temptation that challenged him in the name of Chintamani, a devadasi-a talented singer and dancer. His father had died and it was the last day of mourning for his death. But Bilwamangala's obsession for Chintamani did not allow him to pay his last respects to his own father! He resided near the river Krishna and pined for a meeting with his paramour Chintamani. River Krishna was in spate but he never cared for it. He dared the raging Krishna and tried to cross it with the support of a dead body! Meeting Chintamani was so important for him that he never bothered about what support he had taken. As he reached her residence he found the gates of her home closed. But his passion for her was too much to be controlled. He has to gain entry in to her residence somehow. A snake had inserted half its body inside a crevice in the wall. Bilwamangala caught its tail mistaking it for a rope! He scaled the wall and fell into the compound fully exhausted and unconscious.

Attendants of Chintamani informed her about the pathetic arrival of Bilwamangala. She was shocked and surprised at the terrible risk he had taken in order to meet her. She felt sad and sorry for the way her attraction and infatuation had changed Bilwamangala to care for nothing except her presence and love. She felt a sense of shame for what had happened to her Bilwamangala. She felt extremely guilty of the role she had played in the life of Bilwamangala. She wanted to make amends for the immoral life that she has been leading and playing with the feelings and emotions of people. She immediately resolved to give up her role as an enticer of men and take to normal and pious life! She wanted to  inspire Bilwamangala to greater heights rather than allow him to be at the mercy of woman. She came to him and said, “How anxious you are to meet me! Had you possessed the same eagerness for Bhagawan, then how wonderful it would have been! From tomorrow I shall forsake everything and perform Sri Krishna Bhajan.”  Bilwamangala was amazed at the sudden transformation of Chintamani. He  never thought of such a thing to happen! The opportune moment for his transformation too had come!

Awakening had taken place and he wanted to catch the golden opportunity and proceed further. His love for Krishna and his beloved Radha was kindled. He remembered how Chintamani teased him about his scholarship in vyakarana, nataka and alankara sastras. This was the turning point in his life. He paid obeisance to Chintamani, approached Somagiri his Guru and obtained the upadesa of Madana Gopala mantra. He thanked Lord Krishna for showing the true destiny of his life and immersed himself in devotional service to Lord Krishna. He started his masterpiece KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA, a Divine text overflowing with Prem rasa. Being the supreme lover of God, Leela Shuka presents a beautiful picture of Ras lamentations, musings and conversations arising in the delightful heart of a sadhak. It is a burning example of how Bhagawan's  excellences can submerge one steeped in sense gratification. Krishna Bhakthi is so glorious. It can float us in the ocean of bliss and create so many delightful waves of Ras realization! KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA thus is a veritable nectar to the ears of readers!!