the jagadguru krishn

The JAGADGURU

Sanskrit is a divine language that issued from the seven centres of spinal axis during samadhi. Guru is a word of Sanskrit language. The letters 'GU' in Sanskrit signify gunas or attributes. The letters 'RU' signify Rup or form. Guru is the noun, which signifies that person who can transport one's consciousness beyond the realms of attributes and forms. This stage of evolution is attainable only during deep samadhi when one becomes unaware of one's corporeal existence and feels oneness with light, bliss and peace. The letters 'GU' also refers to the darkness and letters 'RU' refer also to light. Thus guru is the embodiment of energy that removes darkness from mind and fills it with the light of wisdom. Guru is therefore, not a person but a degree of state of spiritual evolution.

Lord Srikrishn was a yogi who is honoured by yogis till date. His bhaktas love him but yogis learn from him the art of living and meditation. Lord Srikrishn is a guru to all in all subjects. He has been ascribed as Illuminator of wisdom to all. Yogis address him as, -'Lord Srikrishnam vande jagadgurum' (Salutations to Lord Srikrishn who is the Guru of the World).

He has answered all queries raised by anyone ever. He adopted various forms to various persons and quenched their thirst of knowledge and enlightenment in the past. He acted as guru to Arjun, Yuddhisthir, Uddhav, and Draupadi, Kunti and all his wives and lovers. In Golok he enlightened Lord Brahma, Lord Shiv and Radha. As a quiz master who creates the quiz, alone does not get confused while solving the riddle, so is Lord Srikrishn alone who never gets confused in any situation. All others possessing a corporeal form get confused at one point or another.

Enlightening Arjun

Lord Srikrishn enlightened his cousin Arjun in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This discourse is known as Bhagvad Gita. Lord Srikrishn himself has accepted that Gita is his heart. He says that he sustains creation by practicing the wisdom enshrined in Bhagvad Gita. Whoever reads and practices it definitely receives wisdom and peace. Several persons and great spiritual leaders have written several treatises on this holy book. People find its interpretations according to their own level of evolution. But the fact is that everyone gets what one seeks in it.

Lord Srikrishn told him that no wise man ever grieves for any body's death for no one actually ever dies. As one changes clothes so does soul change bodies in its eternal journey. As god is eternal so are all souls. None can actually kill anybody. One must always fight for righteousness only. One who practices righteousness goes to superior worlds after shedding this body. The cause of permanent happiness is practice of righteousness under all circumstances. Lord Srikrishn imparted this wisdom in seven hundred verses enshrined in Bhagvad Gita. In the end he assured that one must renounce all confusions and just take shelter in him. He promised to redeem all such devotees himself." Give up all theories and take shelter into me. Grieve not, I shall redeem you from all the sins."(Verse 66 chapter XVIII) is his final word to all human beings.

consoling Ganga

Bhishm  imparted all his wisdom to the Pandav before leaving his mortal coil. He then withdrew life force consciously. Everyone saw that as he withdrew life force the concerned body part spontaneously shed the arrow stuck in it and healed instantly. Being a sublime uurdhvreta yogi, he focused on the top of his head and left the body through Lord Brahmarandhra. Dhritarashtr and the Pandav performed his last rites and went to river Ganga to offer oblations to him. Goddess Ganga who had given birth to great Bhishm after marrying his father king Shantanu appeared from the river. She lamented the death of her extraordinary son and called upon the Kaurav, -"Dear Sons! Listen to me. Bhishm possessed attributes of an ideal king. His mind was pure and he took birth in a pious family. He respected elders and served his father. Even Lord Parashuram failed to defeat him in the battle yet Shikhandi killed him. What an irony… is this! My heart is  just a piece of stone that is why it is not bursting up even after feeling such anguish. Ala!...One who had no equal in bravery on this earth was slain by Shikhandi! How come my bosom is bearing this unbearable burden?" Lamented mother Ganga.

Lord Srikrishn saw her wailing bitterly like an ordinary mother. He went near her and said, -"O the Benevolent one! Have patience and give up sorrow. Your son Grandfather Bhishm has gone to a matchless loka. Do not doubt it. He was the great magnificent Vasu. Because of the curse received from sage Vasishth he was born as a man. You should not grieve for him. He fought valiantly in the battlefield behoving a true Kshatriya. Shikhandi did not kill him. Arjun killed him. Goddess! Your son when equipped with bow and arrow could not be killed even by the king of deities Indra. He has renounced his body willfully and gone to a divine world.  All deities put together could not kill your mighty son. You should therefore, not grieve for him at all.  He has attained the status of Vasus. Renounce anxiety for him now." On learning from Lord Srikrishn that Arjun killed Bhishm goddess Ganga felt relieved and became quiet.

APPEASING YUdDHISTHIR

All the great warriors had died except the Pandav and one Kaurav named Yuyutsu who was the son of Dhritarashtr from his second wife. The remorseful Yuddhisthir performed last rites to appease the departed souls. Yet he felt uncomfortable. Discussions with Ved Vyas and Lord Srikrishn failed to appease his grieving heart. Lord Srikrishn then addressed him further, -“Dharmaraj! Wickedity is the abode of death and simplicity is the ladder that takes one to God. Realization of this fact alone is wisdom. Rest is all trash. Presently you have to fight with your own mind. Be prepared for that. While performing all worldly duties, practice yog by interiorizing your mind and attain God. Relations and weapons have no role in this fight. If you fail to conquer your mind in this fight, then who knows what will happen to you? All beings keep coming and going in this world. Realize this and follow the path practiced by your ancestors. Renunciation of external comforts does not ensure spiritual success. Two letters-‘mum’ that means ‘mine’ alone cause death while three letters-'Na mum’ which means ‘not mine’ cause salvation across the ocean of this world. Feeling of attachment causes death and renunciation of this feeling causes immortalization of individual soul. One who does not feel attached to things even after attaining the entire wealth of the world, what can harm him? One who lives in the forest but mentally remains attached to things is definitely trapped in the clutches of death. Introspect the enemies present within and outside. One who gives up attachment to mundane objects becomes fearless. One, whose mind is attached to desires, is not respected. No action takes place without desires and desires erupt from mind. Wise Men give up desires believing them to be the cause of suffering. Yogi destroys desires and practices yog, which is the path to attain liberation. In fact, renunciation of desires is dharm and seed of liberation. Wiseman refer to ancient Kaam-gita in this regard. Desire says, -‘No man can destroy me without following the path of non-attachment and yog. When a man tries to kill me by taking shelter in astras, I appear as pride in him. When one tries to kill me by performing sacrifices, I appear in his heart just as pious souls take birth in decent families. When one tries to kill me by studying Vedas and scriptures, then I dwell in him as soul manifests it in various stationary bodies. When one tries to kill me patiently then I get mingled in his thoughts so subtly that he fails to recognize me. When one tries to kill me through tapa then I appear in his tapa itself. When one tries to kill me to attain liberation then I laugh and dance in joy. I am imperishable for all beings and dwell ever in one or the other form’. King, realising this you should perform auspicious sacrifices that will ensure you glory in this world and exalted state after death.” On hearing the wisdom from the lips of Lord Srikrishn, Yuddhisthir gradually gave up anxiety and busied himself in auspicious sacrifices. He worshipped deities and Brahmans and attained peace and glory.

Pacifyng radha

It was the full moon day in the month of Vaisakh. On this day Ganesh is worshipped to remove obstacles. Radha reached Siddhashram (Siddhapur in Gujarat) where sage Kapil had enlightened his mother Devahuti. She worshipped Ganesh and offered him articles to please. Ganesh was delighted and said, -“Mother of Universe! Your gesture is merely to teach the masses. You are ever one and the same with the Lord of Universe. All women are your reflections. Whatever you have offered to me should be given to Brahmans for this will bring fruition many times.” Radha did accordingly. A servant of Lord Shiv saw this and rushed to report it to deities and goddesses who had gathered there on the occasion. Lord Srikrishn with his family had also arrived there. All worshipped Ganesh. Goddess Parvati embraced Radha and said, - “O the abode of auspices! What should I ask you? You have been absolved of the curse given by Sridama. Both of us feel one with each other. You have worshipped son Ganesh first. You and Lord Srikrishn will always remain one with each other. Attain him now. Make yourself up and ravish with him, I bless.” Gopis bedecked Radha. All were surprised to see the entire ashram suffused with a bright glow.  Lord Srikrishn sensed the surprise resting on all faces and said, -“Cursed by Sridama, Radha had lost her lustre. Bereaved in the fire of separation, she lost all her wisdom. She has regained her lustre after expiry of the curse. It is her aura that has illumined the ashram. Her lustre equals to the brightness of billions of moons put together and brings bliss to all.” All deities and goddesses bowed before Radha. Lord Brahma, Lord Shiv and Shesh praised her. Wives of Lord Srikrishn including Rukmani were nonplussed to see this. Satyabhama felt inert and gave up pride of being the most beloved wife of Lord Srikrishn.

After the celebrations, Lord Srikrishn left for Dwarka with his one form and stayed with Radha in his cowherd form.

 Radha saw him after hundred years. Aggrieved, she said, -“Lord! It is futile to ask for the wellbeing of that who is the cause and manifestation of all well beings. Still I must ask, as is the tradition. O Lover of Rukmani! Lord of Satyabhama! Is everything all right with you? You uprooted the Parijaat tree to please Satyabhama and gave it to her. I have heard so. She performed punyak vrat with that and gave you away in Dakshina. You are not in the reach of even Lord Brahma, Lord Shiv and Shesh. How could she exercise such control over you? As compared to others, you fear her more, also. Love of Rukmani adds to your glory. Your devotion and fear to fortunate Satya is also heard around. O Beloved of Jambavati! Tell me honestly, of all those whose love is the most intense to you? Who is best skilled in expression of her love? Presence of fathomless love between husband and wife is rarest in three spheres. A seeker of sandal can recognize the sandal by its smell, not the donkey that transports it. One who is not fully knowable even to Vedas, Lord Brahma, Lord Shiv, and yogis, how can the women know him? Rise in fortune, glory and love is rare but women soil it in a moment. Fall is unavoidable after reaching the peak. I cursed your devotee Sridama and so cursed back by him the calamity of separation from you befell upon me. Vedas and saints say that Lord Srikrishn is under Radha but it does not seem to hold well. You defeated Lord Shiv, cut off the arms of Banasur, and brought home his daughter with Aniruddh. What did Rukmani say then? You love all equally. Did that gesture add to your glory?

In the battle between Kaurav and Pandav, you got kings and Kaurav killed to help the Pandav. Where is the equanimity of God? You became the charioteer for son of Indra- Arjun. What did puritan Bhishm said to you? All your devotees kept quiet. They did not utter a single word. You are the one described in Vedas as cause and creator of Universe. You stooped to become the charioteer of a man! Earlier you mated with the aged and deformed Kubja. Why did you kill your uncle Kans? You said you would come back but did not turn up.” Thus uttering words of grievances Radha broke into tears and swooned. Her gopis saw this and ran to hold her. “O Lord Srikrishn! What have you done? You have killed our Radha. Revive her!” they exclaimed and Lord Srikrishn revived Radha merely by his sight. Lord Srikrishn then consoled her, -“Radhe! Listen. I would impart to you the precious spiritual wisdom, learning which even a shepherd becomes enlightened. I am master of all since beginning, not to talk of women like Rukmani and others. I manifest myself as cause and effect everywhere. I am self-illumined, soul of all and present in all. As when one eats the other does not get satisfied, so when one form dies the other form does not perish. I dwell in Golok and Vrindavan as cowherd surrounded by cows and cowherds and as calm Lord Vishnu in Vaikunthalok served by Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati. I dwell as Narayan in Kshirsagar and as sage Narayan on earth. I am the lord of Siddhas and siddha Kapil. I dwell as husband of Rukmani, Satyabhama and other queens in Dwarka. Arjun is sage Nar who did great tapasya at Pushkar in the past because of which I became his charioteer. You are my consort in Golok and Gokul. You dwell as Lakshmi and Saraswati in Vaikunthalok. You manifest yourself as wife of Dharm named Shanti and wife of Kapil named Bharati on earth. You were Sita, the wife of Ram and Draupadi is your shadow. You dwell as Rukmani in Dwarka who is Goddess Lakshmi issued only from you. As you manifest yourself in innumerable forms being the mother of nature so do I dwell in innumerable forms being the soul of all. You are the Prakriti and I am the Purush. All forms are manifestation of only us. I have described you this all. O the Mother and Goddess of Universe! Pardon me for all my offences.” Thus eloquence of Lord Srikrishn appeased and delighted Radha and her maids. Bemused Radha welcomed her soul mate with fathomless affection now.

Preaching Uddhav

Uddhav saw Lord Srikrishn advising all to go to Prabhas Kshetra to appease the deities to avert the destruction being sensed by elders and Brahmans in Dwarka. He knew that Lord Srikrishn was god incarnate and capable of disparaging the curse given by Brahmans to his sons. Yet he did not so and accepted verdict of time calmly, with aloofness. Sons of Lord Srikrishn had gone to Brahmans with disguising Samb as a pregnant lady and asked them what shall be born to her. The Brahmans cursed that an iron club shall be born of him that would terminate their clan. After sometime an iron club dropped from the body of Samb. Boys crushed it and threw into the sea. From this crushing developed a razor sharp shrub,- ereka, which became instrumental in killing Yadav in Prabhaskshetra. Even Lord Srikrishna breathed his last when hit by an arrow made of a piece or iron left after crushing of the same club.

Uddhav had been a close friend of Lord Srikrishn since his childhood in Mathura. Unable to bear separation from Lord Srikrishn, he bowed before him to express his anguish. Lord Srikrishn patted him and serenely said, -"I had come to earth at the request of Lord Brahma. I have unburdened the earth and soon shall go back. The sea would take back his land on the seventh day of my leaving. Kaliyug would then rule all over. You should also desert this land. People in Kaliyug would be corrupt and devoid of virtues. You should remain seated in equanimity and be a free man. Whatever is experienced through sense organs is perishable. It is as unreal as dream. A man who does not have peace in heart alone considers the world real. You should withdraw all your sense organs from their subjects, curb the tendencies of heart, and feel that the entire world is an extension of your own self. Your soul is one with the god. Realize that you alone are the souls of all. Thus you would become liberated for you would see only yourself in everybody. Such a realized person remains one with me under all circumstances and frees oneself from the clutches of repeated birth and death. Brahm alone is the seer and scene both. Lord Brahma emerges from me and creates Bhu, Bhuvar, Swarg lokas and its guardian deities. Deities dwell in Swargalok, ghosts in Bhuvarlok, and men in Bhulok. Above these three lokas are the lokas of yogis named Maharlok, Tapalok, Janalok, Satyalok etc. Asuras and serpents dwell in seven lokas beneath the earth named Atal, Vital, Sutal, Talatal, Mahatal, Rasatal and Patal. The sannayasi and yogis go to Mahar, Tapa, Jan and Satyalokas and my devotees go to Golok after death. The entire creation is made of combination of Prakriti and Purush. Prakriti creates three gunas,- Sata, Rajas and Tamas. Purush is the soul that is immanent and Prakriti is its wrapping. You should not see the world as distinct from god but see and realize that god alone is present in and around you in various forms." Uddhav was not yet satisfied. Lord Srikrishn further explained, -"There is no end to external rituals. People attain me through three ways-Vedic, Tantric and Mixed ways. One should follow whatever path appeals to one. One should neither adhere to nor condemn rituals. One should practice only equanimity. The world does not have any real existence. It appears real to ignorant masses. Only soul is permanent. The world is ever changing and has emerged from soul only." Lord Srikrishn imparted Lord Brahmavidya to Uddhav elaborately who shed tears of gratitude to learn of his greatness. Lord Srikrishn advised him to go to Badrika ashram and ponder over the wisdom imparted to him to remain in blissful state.

The Diplomat

Lord Srikrishn acted as a messenger of the Pandav and tried his best to persuade Duryodhan to give the Pandav just five villages to live. However, maddened Kaurav did not heed the sagacious advice of Lord Srikrishn. He just wanted to fight and kill them. Ultimately both of the parties agreed to enter the fray. Lord Srikrishn selected Kurukshetra for fighting the war.

Helping the enemies together

Arjun and Duryodhan both reached Dwarka to seek help from Lord Srikrishn who was asleep in his bed. Duryodhan reached first and stood near his head. Arjun reached after him. He found Duryodhan standing near the head of Lord Srikrishn. He therefore, stood quietly near the feet of Lord Srikrishn. Both of them awaited the king of Dwarka to awake and grace them. Such is the plan of cosmic creator, which empowers good and evil alike to see their fight for his amusement. Both of them were arch-enemies. Both of them were apprehensive as to whom would Lord Srikrishn extend his help? Lord Srikrishn had a mammoth army, known as ‘Narayani Sena’. One longed for his army and the other for his mere companionship. Well aware of their states of mind and intention, Lord Srikrishn finally woke up. He saw Arjun t and asked his purpose of visit. Duryodhan was apprehensive lest Lord Srikrishn should promise his army to Arjun. He said, -“O, king of Dwarka! You know that we are going to fight against the Pandav. You will have to help us in the war.  You share same kind of relationship with Arjun and us. You are friend of both the parties. Moreover, I came to your place first. Gentlemen help him who goes to them first. You should therefore, follow the line followed by gentlemen.” “Fine.’ said Lord Srikrishn. “ No doubt you have reached here first but I saw Arjun first. I therefore, would help both of you. I have ten billion soldiers. All of them are strong and skilled like me. On one side would remain I and on the other they all. However, I neither would fight nor would pick up arms. Arjun, you being the younger have the right to ask for help first. Opt for, whatever you please.” Duryodhan craved for the mammoth army. Lord Srikrishn made him to wait. Arjun loved only Lord Srikrishn. He knew that his presence alone was sufficient to win the war. “O Keshav! I choose you. Let the army go to Duryodhan.” He said calmly. Duryodhan was overwhelmed. The mighty army of Lord Srikrishn was inevitably at his disposal. He nonetheless concealed his jubilation and said with false pretence, -“O Lord Srikrishn. Let the wish of Arjun be fulfilled.  For being the younger, he deserves his choice first. I shall accept your army.” Duryodhan was so happy that he left them alone and rushed back to his palace, exalted. Lord Srikrishn and Arjun were left alone. Lord Srikrishn smiled towards Arjun and asked, -“Arjun! Why did you choose me when you know that I am not going to take part in the battle?” Arjun looked at him with beseeching eyes. “O Lord Srikrishn! I have been contemplating for long that you should become my charioteer in the fray. I have spent several nights brooding over this. Please fulfill my wish.” Lord Srikrishn embraced him and smiled heartily. He knew that one who chooses him becomes the conqueror of world for he transcends all temptations of sense pleasures and egoistic tendencies. He becomes stoically blasé under all circumstances.

He said, -"Fine. Your wish would be fulfilled. I shall be your charioteer. Arjun was highly relieved to hear the assurance of his great saviour Lord Srikrishn. He went back to Yuddhisthir happily.