Yamuna is said to have been the 4th wife of Krishna.
Krishna also married Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha, by abducting her from her wedding on her request.
According to Bhagavata Purana, Krishna married with 16,108 wives of which eight were chief—including Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati.
Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravrinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra and Lakshana were the 8 principal wives in this order.
He loved Rukmini the most and she was His 1st wife, His main consort - the Patrani. As the incarnation of the enlightened Lakshmi, Rukmini bore all the qualities of a divine consort in human form.
Rukmini was the daughter of Bhishmaka, king of Vidarbha, who had decided to marry her off to a prince named Shishupala from... the kingdom of Chedi and was against her marrying Krishna.
Rukmini having fallen deeply in love with Krishna sent a message to Him to come and rescue her. Krishna abducted Rukmini from the wedding ceremony and married her in Dwaraka.
Showing posts with label krishna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label krishna. Show all posts
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Krishna and Kaliya
It is a universal law: If we have ego, we will suffer. If we are arrogant, again, we will suffer till we are forced to surrender. The subduing of Kaliya the serpent by Krishna illustrates this.
The tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagvatam recounts the Kaliya daman lila performed by Krishna. Kaliya was a venomous serpent that lived in the Yamuna river. One summer Krishna's cowherd friends fainted and died when they drank water from the Yamuna. Kaliya had contaminated the river so much that vapour from the river was lethal enough to kill birds flying across.
When Krishna saw his transcendental companions die, he jumped into the river and agitated the water like a large thunderous elephant. Kaliya was filled with amrsyama-nah (intolerance and rage) at the presence of the trespasser. He took Krishna captive in his coils and raised his 101 heads. Krishna allowed him to do so for a while as he stayed still. Everyone standing on the banks of the river was very afraid and anxious except Balaram who was quietly smiling in full know-ledge of Krishna's potential.
As Krishna observed his mother Yashoda faint on the banks, he quickly began to expand his form to proportions beyond Kaliya's control. Kaliya lost his grip on Krishna and the Lord, standing on Kaliya's head, began to dance. With every rise and fall of his rhythmic steps, the serpent became more and more bewildered and overpowered. Weakened and powerless, Kaliya was now at Krishna's mercy. It was the prayer of Kaliya's pious wives, the nagapatnis, that saved him from annihilation. As a helpless and battered Kaliya began to chant prayers to Krishna, he promised to surrender at the Lord's feet. Krishna granted the transformed Kaliya forgiveness.
Kaliya symbolises many aspects of Kaliyug. Kaliya is black, the colour symbolising demoniac characteristics very similar to the inherent nature of contemporary man who is devious, proud, arrogant and envious. Kaliya imagines himself to be invincible, like many of us do today as we glow in the deceptive light of our false ego. Kaliya is also materially attached. He thinks he is the king of the Yamuna lake. We think we are masters of the universe.
Kaliya's body is slimy and slippery, very like his personality. An opportunist, he tries every trick to bite Krishna. Kaliya is a control freak. He is ignorant and tamasic to the core. He has a terrible temper and spews venom incessantly. Kaliya had so many heads that it is impossible for him to have any clarity of thought - they are symbols of confusion.
If the above characteristics sound too far-fetched to be a part of our ethos, think again. Each one of us has these negativities whether we accept them or not. To rise above them, to become pure, you need to surrender unto the creator like Kaliya did. Because real peace and happiness can be experienced only when one is pure, not when one is contaminated. And we have contaminated our existence by constantly drinking the poison of materialistic existence. And that poison kills our propensity to be happy.
Every time we speak an unnecessary word, or do something to take us towards more materialism, we are actually behaving like a serpent spewing venom. Our ego and pride are stumbling blocks on our path to spiritual progress. Subduing our innate sense of arrogance by unconditionally surrendering to the creator is the only way to experience bliss.
The story of Krishna and Kaliya the Snake is the story of how, ultimately, good triumphs over evil.
(courtesy :http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Krishna_and_Kaliya/id/50383)
The tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagvatam recounts the Kaliya daman lila performed by Krishna. Kaliya was a venomous serpent that lived in the Yamuna river. One summer Krishna's cowherd friends fainted and died when they drank water from the Yamuna. Kaliya had contaminated the river so much that vapour from the river was lethal enough to kill birds flying across.
When Krishna saw his transcendental companions die, he jumped into the river and agitated the water like a large thunderous elephant. Kaliya was filled with amrsyama-nah (intolerance and rage) at the presence of the trespasser. He took Krishna captive in his coils and raised his 101 heads. Krishna allowed him to do so for a while as he stayed still. Everyone standing on the banks of the river was very afraid and anxious except Balaram who was quietly smiling in full know-ledge of Krishna's potential.
As Krishna observed his mother Yashoda faint on the banks, he quickly began to expand his form to proportions beyond Kaliya's control. Kaliya lost his grip on Krishna and the Lord, standing on Kaliya's head, began to dance. With every rise and fall of his rhythmic steps, the serpent became more and more bewildered and overpowered. Weakened and powerless, Kaliya was now at Krishna's mercy. It was the prayer of Kaliya's pious wives, the nagapatnis, that saved him from annihilation. As a helpless and battered Kaliya began to chant prayers to Krishna, he promised to surrender at the Lord's feet. Krishna granted the transformed Kaliya forgiveness.
Kaliya symbolises many aspects of Kaliyug. Kaliya is black, the colour symbolising demoniac characteristics very similar to the inherent nature of contemporary man who is devious, proud, arrogant and envious. Kaliya imagines himself to be invincible, like many of us do today as we glow in the deceptive light of our false ego. Kaliya is also materially attached. He thinks he is the king of the Yamuna lake. We think we are masters of the universe.
Kaliya's body is slimy and slippery, very like his personality. An opportunist, he tries every trick to bite Krishna. Kaliya is a control freak. He is ignorant and tamasic to the core. He has a terrible temper and spews venom incessantly. Kaliya had so many heads that it is impossible for him to have any clarity of thought - they are symbols of confusion.
If the above characteristics sound too far-fetched to be a part of our ethos, think again. Each one of us has these negativities whether we accept them or not. To rise above them, to become pure, you need to surrender unto the creator like Kaliya did. Because real peace and happiness can be experienced only when one is pure, not when one is contaminated. And we have contaminated our existence by constantly drinking the poison of materialistic existence. And that poison kills our propensity to be happy.
Every time we speak an unnecessary word, or do something to take us towards more materialism, we are actually behaving like a serpent spewing venom. Our ego and pride are stumbling blocks on our path to spiritual progress. Subduing our innate sense of arrogance by unconditionally surrendering to the creator is the only way to experience bliss.
The story of Krishna and Kaliya the Snake is the story of how, ultimately, good triumphs over evil.
(courtesy :http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Krishna_and_Kaliya/id/50383)
Monday, December 21, 2009
Mathura on the banks of yamuna
Mathura on the banks of yamuna is reputed to be the birthplace of Krishna at the centre of Vraja, called Krishnajanmabhoomi, literary 'Krishna's birth place'.
The Keshav Dev temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna's legendary birthplace (an underground prison). As per the epic Mahabharata and per Bhagavata Purana, Mathura was the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kamsa the maternal uncle of Krishna.
The Keshav Dev temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna's legendary birthplace (an underground prison). As per the epic Mahabharata and per Bhagavata Purana, Mathura was the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kamsa the maternal uncle of Krishna.
Vrindavan on the banks of river yamuna
Among many holy places throughout the India, Vrindavan is the most secret of all of them.
It is located 135km south of Delhi and 55km north of Agra, just off the Delhi-Agra Road. It is 12 km or a 25 minute auto-rickshaw ride from Mathura.
It is the heart of grater area called Braja-Mandala, the place of Lord Krisna's pastimes on this Earth 5000 years ago.
The area of present day Vrindavan is actually the place of Krisna's rasa-lila pastime. There is a parikram-road around the town and some devotees are respectfully circumambulating Vrindavan every day.
Temples, shrines, ashrams, chipped walls, shops and bazaars - this is how the ancient town looks today.
Vrindavan is said to have 5000 temples and shrines of all different dimensions. One can walk around the town in about 2 hours, but to go through all streets and see all the altars may possibly take even years. Seven of the temples are most important.
Madanmohan of Sanatana Goswami.
Govindaji of Rupa Goswami.
Radha-Gopinath of Madhu Pandit Goswami.
Radha-Damodar of Jiva Goswami.
Radha-Syamasundar of Syamanada Pandit Goswami.
Radharaman of Gopal Bhatta Goswami.
Radha-Gokulananda of Lokanath Goswami.
Madanmohan means “one who can even enchant Cupid.” The Deity of Madanmohan (formerly Madan-Gopal) was made for Krisna's great grandson Vajranabha and for many years it was lost...
Advaita Acarya discovered the original Deity of Madanmohan (Krisna) in Mahavan-Gokul and served Him here at the base of an old "vat" tree. Before His departure for Navadvip He entrusted the Deity to brahmana Chaubhe in Mathura. Years later Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Sanatana Goswami to Vrindavan to discover lost places of Krisna's pastimes and write books about devotional service
(courtesy http://www.vaisnava.cz/clanek_en.php3?no=180)
It is located 135km south of Delhi and 55km north of Agra, just off the Delhi-Agra Road. It is 12 km or a 25 minute auto-rickshaw ride from Mathura.
It is the heart of grater area called Braja-Mandala, the place of Lord Krisna's pastimes on this Earth 5000 years ago.
The area of present day Vrindavan is actually the place of Krisna's rasa-lila pastime. There is a parikram-road around the town and some devotees are respectfully circumambulating Vrindavan every day.
Temples, shrines, ashrams, chipped walls, shops and bazaars - this is how the ancient town looks today.
Vrindavan is said to have 5000 temples and shrines of all different dimensions. One can walk around the town in about 2 hours, but to go through all streets and see all the altars may possibly take even years. Seven of the temples are most important.
Madanmohan of Sanatana Goswami.
Govindaji of Rupa Goswami.
Radha-Gopinath of Madhu Pandit Goswami.
Radha-Damodar of Jiva Goswami.
Radha-Syamasundar of Syamanada Pandit Goswami.
Radharaman of Gopal Bhatta Goswami.
Radha-Gokulananda of Lokanath Goswami.
Madanmohan means “one who can even enchant Cupid.” The Deity of Madanmohan (formerly Madan-Gopal) was made for Krisna's great grandson Vajranabha and for many years it was lost...
Advaita Acarya discovered the original Deity of Madanmohan (Krisna) in Mahavan-Gokul and served Him here at the base of an old "vat" tree. Before His departure for Navadvip He entrusted the Deity to brahmana Chaubhe in Mathura. Years later Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Sanatana Goswami to Vrindavan to discover lost places of Krisna's pastimes and write books about devotional service
(courtesy http://www.vaisnava.cz/clanek_en.php3?no=180)
Bath in river yamuna
A bath in yamuna at vrindavan is said to be one hundred times more purifying than a bath in the Ganges. The reason being that even though the Ganges was once touched by the feet of Lord Vishnu, it was the Yamuna where Lord Krishna himself played and swam with his cowherd boyfriends.
He also sported in its waters with the beautiful gopi damsels of Vraja.The traditional bathing place of most pilgrims is at Kesi ghata, where Lord Krishna bathed after killing the Kesi demon.
He also sported in its waters with the beautiful gopi damsels of Vraja.The traditional bathing place of most pilgrims is at Kesi ghata, where Lord Krishna bathed after killing the Kesi demon.
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