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!!
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!!
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