Gokul Krishna and Kurukshtra Krishna- the two faces of God The Bhagwat Puran that enumerates and explains the avatars of Vishnu vividly describes the delightful childhood of Krishna. Brought up by Yashoda and other women of family, who take delight in daily tasks of child rearing. He is naughty, steals butter, breaks their pitchers but they love him. Krishna rids the Yamuna of Kaliya nag demonstrating not to fear nature but coexist with it. He protects the cows, gardens and lifts the Govardhan to protect cattle and residents from the fury of Indra. The weather God is forced to realize his true identity and begs for forgiveness. With Radha he is the lover, tender caring, defying social norms they harbour tender feelings for each other and become an epitome of love. With her he plays the flute that makes all milkmaids forget their work and flee. He dances in the Maha raas with them all at night in the groves. Krishna stays in the soft realm of heart, women, true loyal friends his mischief is pleasing to their heart and is forgiven. He has symbols of love and nourishment around him, cows, milk, butter and love. He kills Kansa and ends this phase. Akrur fetches the two brothers to Mathura breaking the heart of all his friends he leaves. To his Radha he hands over his murali that symbolises the end of pleasure in his life. In Mahabharata emerges the other face of Krishna, who is forced to follow norms just like the others but to re establish order he has to beat the system. He is in the world of men, the realm of mind, where enemies are not outsiders or demons, they are next of kin. Yet they are more ruthless, scheming and unjust. He moves from nature to urbanization a complex society, from the love of milkmaids to responsibility of 16,106 destitute women he freed from Narakasura. He accepts them as wives besides Rukmani and Satyabhama to save them from social ostracism. In his new world greedy kings fight over land and territory, without bothering about welfare of people. The women are let down by husbands and gambled away, the relatives abuse them. He now rides not cows but horses that symbolise the control of senses. His murali is replaced by the Chakra with which he beheads Shishupal, the cow whip becomes Kaumudi the mace that kills Dntavakra. The milk and butter now replaced by blood and manslaughter. From the loving God of simple people he becomes the punitive God of rotting mankind. In Mahabharata he prevents Draupadi and Subhadra marrying Duryodhan to keep his allegiance clear of an impending war. He plots plans to eliminate Shalva, Jarasandha, Bheeshma, Dronacharya and Karna. He is loved by women in his childhood but cursed by Gandhari to helplessly watch the city of Dwarika engulfed by fire and water. To see destruction of his clan and die alone hit by an arrow on the back. It is said the only misdeed Vishnu did as Ramchandra, was killing Bali unaware. Bali is said to reincarnated as Jara the hunter whose arrow killed Krishna to balance his Karma. When he shows his Vishwa roopam to Arjun and gives the Geeta discourse he says one of the most important shloka and reiterates his promise: Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Glanirva Bhavathi Bharatha, Abhyuthanam Adharmaysya Tadatmanam Srijami Aham. Praritranaya Sadhunam Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam Dharamasansthapnaya Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge. Whenever there is decay of righteousness O! Bharatha, and a rise of unrighteousness then I manifest Myself! For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age. Bhagavad Gita (Chapter IV-7, 8)
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:14:22 +0000
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