KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka-16

 Chaapalya sima chapalaanubhavaika sima no

Chaturya sima chaturaanana silpa sima

Sourabhya sima saklaadhbuta keli sima

Soubhagya sima thadidam vraja bhagya sima!

So long Leela Shuka had wonderful visions of his Krishna in different forms and longed very much for the presence of the Lord before his eyes. How long can he suffer the pangs of separation? He has described the glorious attributes of Krishna in his inimitable slokas. Time now is opportune for the presence of the Lord before the poet! How does the Lord appear before him?  Krishna appears before the poet in dark black color but radiating Divine glow! He captivates all by His beautiful moving looks! His full moon face is capable of making all others happy. His Divine music from the flute is the very source of His leelaas or sport! It is such Krishna that stands before him!

Leela Shuka is not satisfied with the earlier description of the Lord! He wants to reveal some more attributes and qualities of Krishna. Krishna is the last word for all the mischiefs in Vrajasima!  He is the Lord who has the luxury of enjoying the company of Goddess Lakshmi! He is also the master of retort and repartee! Krishna is also incomparable and the last word for the creation of Brahma, the Creator God! Krishna is the repository for all sweet, fragrant perfumes! He is the source of all amazing leelaas and His beauty is incomparable! Krishna is the fortune for all the dwellers of Vrajasima or the village of Gopas and Gopikaas! The poet is besides himself with indescribable bliss and says that such entity Krishna  stands before him!

Krishna became notorious for His mischief during His stay in Gokulam! He, fist and foremost, even as a child, killed the demon Putana sent by Kamsa. When she tried to feed the child with her milk, Krishna, silently, wiped out her life! Yasoda and all others were horrified at the real person of the demon. Krishna's mischiefs in the homes of Gopikas are invaluable and indescribable! He would steal milk and butter from their homes along with his gang, equally mischievous! He would appear so gentle and innocent that none disliked Him! The Bhagavatha purana describes the leelas  of child Krishna in detail. Krishna allowed Himself to be tied sympathizing with his mother Yasoda! He showed His mother the rarest of rare visions -Viswarupa in his small Divine mouth! 

There can be none who resides with greater luxury than Lord Vishnu. Vaikunta is the last word for Supreme luxury and prosperity. It is there the Lord resides with His Spouse Goddess  Lakahmi  in total bliss! Brahma, the Creator is an adept in creating the universe and all creatures, mobile and Immobile! But Krishna is capable of creating better than the Creator Brahma Himself! Krishna mesmerized every one by his astonished leelas! Various Asuras like Baka, Thrunavartha and Sakataasura were despatched to Yamaloka in a trice! People in Gokulam were amazed at the Divine attributes of child Krishna. Krishna is Sringara Swarupa'. Everything about Him is romantic and sweet! It cannot be otherwise.

Among the astounding leelaas of the Lord are the breaking of the two trees out of which came the two  Gandharvas called Nalakubara and Manigriva! They had relief from the curse through child Krishna!  There was a terrible snake, Kaliya by name in the river Yamuna. Those who drank the waters of the river were poisoned to death! Young Krishna decided to solve the problem. He jumped into the river, climbed on to the head of the terrible snake, danced on its different heads and destroyed its arrogance! Kaliya's wives appealed to Krishna to save him and accordingly Krishna ordered Kaliya to leave the river and go elsewhere! Yasoda, Gopas and Gopikas, were relieved at the safety of young Krishna! Another astonishing Leela of young Krishna was the “Rasa Leela” where he took various forms and danced with every Gopika at the same time! Krishna’s life is replete with many astounding miracles and leelas!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka-15

 Maaraswayamnu madhuradyuti mandalamnu

Maadhuryamevanu mano nayanaamrutham nu

Vaanimrujamnu mama jivitha vallabhonu

Baloya mabhyudayathe mama lochanaaya

Leela Shuka has different and distinct visions of his Lord Krishna In his  mind! He is much delighted with those visions and enjoyed them in full. He has faithfully described the figure of Krishna as he saw Him in his mind. But the poet is not satisfied. He expects to see Krishna directly which even the great Yogis and saints cannot think of! Once again he points out the attractive attributes Madana Gopala!  The Lord is blessed with broad chest and eyes. His smile is very captivating. His lips are exceptionally sweet. His music from the flute is delectable. He is the repository of Divine sports!  Leela Shuka wonders and does not know when he will see  that radiant form of Balakrishna!

Looking at this glorious and beautiful form of Balakrishna, the poet is astounded. Various doubts clash in his mind. He feels that Krishna is manifesting Himself specially before his eyes! The poet asks himself “Is this boy Manmatha himself? Or else is He the sweet disc of the full moon? Or else is He the  essence of total Beauty? Is He the Amruta or the nectar of my eyes? Is he the epitome of resourceful speech? Is He the Lord of my Prana or life?”

The exclamations of Leela Shuka are a clear indication of the magnitude of his desire for the sight of Krishna! It is Impossible for him to be away from his Lord! He is near the poet but at the same time far away from him! While the poet enjoys the visions of Krishna in his mind, he is equally disappointed at the absence of the Lord before his eyes! What a greedy desire! How can he realize the form that the greatest devotees, sages and seers are unable to see despite their tapas? But Leela Shuka is propitiating the Lord by his poetry! He wants that Krishnan should be impressed by his poetry and stand before his eyes! The poet's longing for Krishna continued and is an indication that it is not an easy thing to make Krishna come down!

The poet brings in metaphors to drive home his point! He selects all the most beautiful objects in the world to describe  Krishna. Manmatha is considered as the most beautiful God of Love. He dared to disturb the penance of God Sankara and succeeded in making Him romantic and marry Parvathi! But in that attempt he was reduced to ashes! By the Grace of Devi he came back to life but without the body! Thus Manmatha was called “Ananga”- one without angas or parts of body! It is the custom of poets to compare the face to the full moon. Leela Shuka compares Krishna's face to the full moon radiating soft, cool rays and relieving stress and strain!

Full moon is blessed with “ Shodasa kalas—sixteen phases that make him extremely beautiful! Amrita or Divine nectar makes one immortal and is believed to be exceptionally sweet! So anything sweet is compared to Amirta!  This eternal elixir of life came out of the churning of the ocean of milk by Devas and Asuras! The dreadful poison that came out first was gulped down by God Sankara!  After many rare things, finally Dhanvatari, emerged with 'Amirta Kalasa!  When the Asuras seized it, Lord Vishnu, in the guise of bewitching damsel Mohini, distributed it to Devas alone! But two Asuras, Rahu and Ketu, by disguise, partook of Amrita!  Lord Vishnu killed them with His Sudarsana Chakra! Thus they became immortal and are regarded as Devas!

GANAPATHI ADHARVA SIRSHA M

 Ganapathi Adharva Sirsham is a Sanskrit text considered as a late minor Upanishad. It asserts that Ganesha is same as the ultimate reality, Brahman. The text is attached to Adharva Veda. It is also  called “ Adhrva Sirsha”. Earliest mention of the word Ganapathi is found in the hymn 2.23.1 of the Rig Veda. Literally the word Ganapathi means ' Leader of the multitudes'. Adharva Sirsham is listed at No: 89 in the Muktika Canon of 108 Upanishad compiled in the middle of 17th century. Ganapathi Adharva Sirsham forms a part of the Five Adharva Sirsham Upanishads named after the main deities of Sirshas Ganapathi, Narayana, Rudra, Surya and Devi. The meaning of the Mantras is given below:

On bhadram karnebhi……swasthino Bruhaspathir dadhatu: O Devas! Let our ears hear only good things and eyes see good things only! With bodies blessed with strong limbs provided by God, let us praise Him and enjoy the bliss! Let the All knowing Aditya, Indra and all other deities shower their Grace on us! Let Garuda, the punisher of evil and Brihaspathi, the preceptor of  Devas grant us our well being! Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

On Namasthe Ganapathaye……team sakshaadatmasi nityam

We are preparing ourselves to read “Ganapathi Adharva Sirsham” that praises Lord Vinayaka. Adharvana  Maharshi, blessed with the vision of Maha Ganapathi directly,  describes his great experience in the form of slokas for our welfare. It is a well known custom to propitiate Ganapati before we start any activity. Accordingly, Adharvana Maharshi eulogizes Ganapathi in this manner: “ O Ganesha, the Lord of Deva ganas! I offer my obeisance to you! You have appeared as the very first part of the Parabrahman! You are the Creator of the universe. You are also capable of protection and destruction of the universe. You are the Victor in the universe. You are the Eternal and Truthful Atman!

Rutam vach mi: Satyam vacmi:  I speak Rutam only. Speak only the Truth!

Ava twam maam……..sarvatho maam pahi pahi samanthaath.  O Ganesha!  Protect and save me! Protect all those who have heard about your compassion and taken refuge in you.  Protect your disciples and all others. Protect me by warding off all impediments from the East, west, North, South, above and below and other directions during my daily regimen.

Twam vangmayastwam chinmayaha………jnaanamayo vijnaanamayosi

You are ‘chinmaya' in Literature ie you are the Lord of Speech. You are full of bliss. You are full of Brahman. You are the embodiment of Sat chit Ananda- Existence, Awareness and Bliss. There is none second to You. You are the Parabrahman. You are the embodiment of Jnaana and Vijnaana. In other words, You are the repository of all the physical as well as the subtle  aspects of Jnaana or Knowledge!

Sarvam jagadidam……….twam chatwaari vaak padaani

The entire universe has manifested out of you! It is maintained by You!  It merges itself in You! You are the five elements- Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Akaasa or Space! You are the four  types of Speech? You are the Sabda Brahma—Brahman in the form of Sabda or naada or sound!

Twam gunatrayaa titaha………….yetat tava manu swarupam

You transcend the three Gunas—Satwa, Rajas, and Tamas as well as the three stages—wakefulness, dreams and sushipthi or deep sleep! You also transcend the three times- present, past and the future! You always occupy the Moolaadhara Chakra in my body! You are the very embodiment of the three Shakthis—Iccha, Kriya, and Jnaana! Maharshis and Yogis always meditate on you! You personify the creator Brahma, Vishnu the protector and Maheswara the destroyer! You are the Lord  of  the three worlds! Agni, Vayu, Sun and the Moon are under your control! Entire creation rests within You! You are also Omnipresent! 

Gakaarah purva rupam…….On Gam Ganapathaye nanamaha

After describing the qualities and features of Ganapathi, Adharvana Maharshi reveals the mantra  “Ganesa Vidya” that unveils the pure form of Ganapathi! In the pure mantra ‘Gam' , ‘Ga' is the purvarupam ie the first form. ' Akara' is the middle form. Anuswaara or the cipher(0) is the end form! Bindu or full stop is the ‘uttara' or later form! Activating ‘Gam' with the Pranava OM and chanting “Om Gam” shall bring Pranava Swarupa Ganapathi to one's immediate presence! This Ganesa Mantra, in Nichruth Chandas, was obtained by  Ganaka Maharshi!  The devotee should prostrate by chanting “ Om Gam Ganapathi!

Ekadantaya vidmahe……….prachodayaath

I meditate on Ganesa who has one tusk and curved trunk! Let that Lord grant me the fortune of Jnaana and brighten my intellect!

Ekadantam chaturhastham……………sa yogi yoginaam varaha.

The form of Ganapathi and how to meditate on Him is explained in this mantra. The one tusked and four armed Ganapathi has pasa or rope in one hand and 'ankusa'  in the  other hand. In the other two hands He sports ' abhaya' and ' varada' mudras!  He has the flag of the mouse, is of red color, pot bellied,  and has winnow shaped large ears! Dressed in red attire, He is smeared with red sandal paste! Bhakthas worship Him with red flowers! He is compassionate towards His devotees! He is the cause of creation! He is eternal and the embodiment of the Parabrahman! He was present long before creation! One who meditates on such form of Ganesa is the greatest of all yogis!

Namo vraata pataye…………varada’ murthaye namaha.

O Ganesa, the Lord of all Devas and the Pramatha ganas(devotees of Shiva) my pranams to You! You are pot bellied, have only one tusk, remover of all obstacles and the son of Parameswara. O Vinayaka! You satisfy the desires of Your devotees! We prostrate before You!

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KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka--14

 Madhura madhara bimbe manjulam mandahaase

Sisira mamruta vaakye sitalam drushti pathe

Vipula maruna netre visrutam venu naade

Marakatha mani nilam baala maaloka yenu !

Krishna is totally lost in the blssful experience of his own Divine music from the flute! Leela Shuka considers the Lord as his close relative and wonders why Krishna is not responding to his request to save him. Yet He is praised as an ocean of compassion! The poet is desperate and is totally at a loss. He does not know when the Lord will hear his appeal!

“Krishna is the very embodiment of causeless compassion and love. He sports childhood during all difficult situations! His long and broad eyes are capable of seeing everything in the universe. Is Krishna contemplating whether I deserve His  look.  When will the Lord cast His glance on me” feels Leela Shuka! 

Feeling dejected and disappointed at the casual attitude of Krishna, the poet cannot prevent himself from describing the glorious form of Krishna that presents itself before his mental vision. “ Am I perceiving the Lord in front of me?” Leela Shuka wonders. He describes the beautiful form of Krishna graphically. “Krishna’s lips (adharam) are red like the ' bimba' fruit! A sweet smile flits across those lips  captivating the hearts of all in the universe! Krishna's words are delectable and cool like Amruta or nectar from heaven! Similarly, Krishna's looks are extremely cool even as they are slightly red! The music of His flute is wafting in the air! With all these attributes Bala Gopala stands before me in the  black color of  “Marakatha Mani” otherwise called as “ Indraneela” precious stone!”.

On account of Madanagopala mantra upadesa Leela Suka has attained a spiritual elevation! His meditation and total surrender unto the lotus feet of Krishna is highly commendable! It is because of this unwavering devotion that he is in a position to visualize the Divine form of Krishna in his mental vision! In every sloka of his Krishna Karnamruta we get a wonderful description of Krishna and His attributes. To the poet every aspect of the Lord is sweet and pleasant! His face, the smile, lips, radiance, body smeared fully with the Vermillion on the breasts of the Gopikas, the lotus feet that make fun of the real lotus and the exceptionally beautiful peacock feather on His head are  picturesquely described by the poet!  There is no doubt that Leela Shuka is in a position to drink deep the Divine Beauty and enjoy the rare bliss coming out of it! It is the rare privilege of a great and exceptional Bhaktha!

Q

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka--13

 Moulis chandraka bhushana marakata Stambhabhi raamam vapur

Vaktram chitra vimugdha haasa madhuram baale vilole drusau

Vachas saisava seetala madagaja slaaghyaa vilaasa sthitir

Mandam Manda mayeka yesha Mathura vidhi mitho gaahathe !

Krishna presents Himself in different forms and every form is so beautiful and glorious that Leela Shuka loses himself in visualizing him in his mental vision! Krishna is the savior of those in difficulties and troubles. Did he not run to save  Gajendra when he totally surrendered himself to the Lord? He didn’t inform His own spouse Lakshmi or arm Himself with Sudarsana Chakra and Sankha Panchjanya! Similarly  Krishna came to the rescue of Draupadi when she was being disrobed by Dussasana in the court of Dhritarashtra in the presence of the Pandavas and the great Bhishma pitaamaha and others!  Krishna dazzles  differently at every second and Leela Shuka visualizes the Lord as Balakrishna or Krishna in His childhood!

Leela Shuka employs an innovative method in describing his vision of Krishna! Krishna is entering one of the streets of the city of Mathura! Observing Krishna enter the street, one lady talks to another lady. “Did you see the  person beautifully decked with peacock feathers in His locks of hair? I hope you haven’t missed His astonishing and captivating smile on His handsome face! Didn’t you notice  His ever changing looks and the interesting romantic talk due to His boyhood are really engaging!

Is He not moving majestically like an arrogant elephant in a playful manner? Slowly but surely He is entering the city of Mathura! Didn’t you observe Him? Who is He?  See Him again!.” Instead of describing Krishna and His charm directly and personally, Leela Shuka makes two ladies observe the indescribable beauty of Krishna entering the street of Mathura. Readers may think that The poet is too much obsessed with Krishna and hence he is always exaggerating the beauty of Krishna. The opinion of two ladies, who have not seen Krishna at all, is brought out clearly and frankly by the poet!

The opinion of the common man is usually taken as the correct opinion or assessment! There cannot be any partiality or exaggeration in opinion. The two ladies observe Krishna from a distance and note the special attributes of the Lord. They describe one by one the beautiful and glorious qualities of Krishna and his gait. The face of KRISNA is so attractive as the pillars of Indraneela precious stone! His smile is  incomparable and exceptional! Krishna walks along the street slowly and majestically like the elephant. Every movement of the Lord is fit enough to be praised and admired!

The poet's love for Krishna is highly spiritual and insatiable! He visualizes the Lord in various forms and stages, as a child, boy, and in his youth! He describes the attributes of the Lord as he sees Him in his mental vision. There is no limit to the ecstasy and beatitude that Leela Shuka experiences!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka--12

 Kusumasara sara samara kupitha mada Gopi 

Kucha kalasa ghasruna rasadurasi Deve

Madalulitha mrudu hasitha mushitha sasi shobha

Muhuradhika mukha Kamala madhri Mani liyye!

Krishna has appeared in the mental vision of  Leela Shuka! Every second the poet sees his Lord in a different form and posture!  He forgets himself and feels that he has merged himself into the Divine form! Krishna is visulized as playing on His flute moving his fingers deftly and producing different swaras! The delectable music is something like the rain of Divine Amrita mesmerizing the hearts of listeners. The lower lips of Krishna--'adhara' form themselves into sweet smile and steal the hearts of all! The poet is besides himself with ecstasy at this wonderful sight and loses himself in the Supreme!

The scene shifts immediately and Krishna is visualized in a different form and posture in this sloka! Krishna is perceived as playing with Gopikas! They are playing by showering flowers at one another! In this vigorous, pleasant sport, unfortunately the Gopikas lose and are unable to cope with the movements of Krishna! Evidently they are very angry and furious at their discomfiture! Krishna, with his chest totally smeared with Vermillion from the heavy golden pot like breasts of Gopikas,  sports a delicate captivating smile!  Into that  beautiful radiance of the Lord Leela Shuka  loses himself experiencing indescribable bliss!

Krishna is always associated with Sringara rasa! Jayadeva, the Bengali poet glorifies the Love between Radha and Madhava in his Gita Govinda Kavya. The ardent love and passion of Radha for her paramour Krishna, her pangs and suffering for the sight of Krishna are beautifully described in the Astapadis of the poet. Krishna is a Sringara Nayaka! Once again the Bhagavatha purana exults in narrating the Divine sports or leelas of the Lord in His childhood and youth. The Rasa Leela episode where Krishna dances with every Gopika, is not only astonishing but has spiritual significance!!

The background of poet Leela Shuka has an influence on the various visions that he sees in his mind! The poet himself was great lover of Chintamani for whom he was ready to swim across the Krishna!  Not only this, he was granted the powerful Madanagopala mantra by his Guru! Chastened by the counseling of Chintamani, he opened his spiritual eye and started a new life! Chintamani had admonished Leela Shuka by saying that if he had shown a part of his passion and lust for her on Krishna, he would have saved himself! The turning point in his life came after this rare but significant advice!

Tendencies or Vasanas in individuals will not disappear easily! They remain dormant in the person and raise their heads off and on! Though the poet has taken to the life spiritual advancement, he cannot extricate himself from the romantic and erotic sensations that bound him to material life!  Madana Gopala, KRISHNA, as indescribably beautiful as Manmatha, God of Love, fires his poetic imagination  and hence his erotic descriptions of Krishna along with other interesting and excellent sketches in his slokas! There is nothing wrong in these descriptions since they are suffused with pure love and devotion to Krishna! The very fact that he wants to merge in to the radiant form of Krishna absolves him of any other intention! The purpose of human existence is to merge into the Absolute—Jivatma losing itself into the Paramatma!!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka--11

He Deva He Dayita He Jagadeka bndho

He Krishna He Chapala He Karunaika sindho

He Naatha He Ramana He Nayanaabhirama

Ha Ha kadaanubhavithasi padam drusor me!

Krishna stands in front of the mind's eye of Leela Shuka! How is Krishna’s present form?   The Gopikas , with their broad lotus eyes that are every unsteady, are drenching  the front figure of Krishna! They look like offering harati for the Lord! Krishna is an ocean of compassion. His Divine music emanating from the flute is reverberating in the entire area. The lilting and soft music of Krishna’s diamond anklets  along with the delectable music of the flute has reached the ears of Leela Shuka and he is directly enjoying it!

Why is Krishna not appearing before him directly? Leela Shuka has a number of doubts. What can be reason for this refusal to present Himself before the poet? He imagines different reasons for the deliberate delay of Krishna. There is an interesting question and answer session between Leela Shuka and his Lord Krishna! He is very unhappy and disappointed and appeals to the Lord. “ When will you appear before my eyes, my Lord?” questions the poet. “ I am the unmanifest Supreme! How can I stand before you?” is the imagined answer from Krishna! The poet continues, “You can manifest Yourself at will and what is your loss in doing so?” replies Leela Shuka.

Leela Shuka imagines the answer from Krishna. “ Though I can manifest Myself, I will not appear before you because you are not eligible for My Love” replies Krishna!  “Am I not Your Darling, my Lord? How is it that you declares that I am ineligible for Your Love?” questions the poet. Krishna replies, “ Even if you are eligible for My Love, I will appear before someone else but not before you!” Leela Shuka says that Krishna is a ' Chapala'—unsteady and likely to join any side! Therefore it is very likely that He shall appear before him surely! Not only this, Krishna is the embodiment of compassion which is greater than his ' Chapala' or unsteadiness!

Leela Shuka's doubts do not stop there! He imagines Krishna saying, “I may be the ocean of Compassion—‘Daya  samudra’ but what is your special relationship to me that I should appear before you?” A little disheartened, Leela Shuka asserts, “Are You not my Lord – ‘Naatha' which is my special relationship with You?  It is customary for a Lover of many women to bestow his special attention on  a particular woman of his choice! But Krishna is the poet's “Ramana”—and as such has to treat all His women equally! The poet says that since Krishna is his 'Ramana' He should present Himself before him! He shall enjoy in is mind, the rare company of his Lord Krishna! At the end of the sloka the poet wonders when “ Nayanaabhiraama”—Feast for the eyes, Krishna shall stand before him!

The sloka is very interesting because of the imagined dialogue between the Bhaktha, Leela Shuka, and the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna! The devotee is lovelorn and languid and anxious for the darshan of his chosen God. But God is not ready to appear before him! This reluctance on the part of Krishna worries the poet and many doubts arise in his mind. He raises those doubts and imagines the answers and explanations from Krishna! He is in a pathetic state of mind and appeals for the immediate presence of Krishna. The devotee has a special relationship with God. But God tests him to find out his imperturbable faith. It is not easy to have the darshan of God. As Sri RamaKrishna points out, one has to weep sincerely for the presence of God! The anxiety to see God should be similar to that of a person  who is drowned in water and who tries to come out by some means or other!  Leela Shuka's search for God is truly sincere and purely devotional!