THE SWEETHEART OF LORD SRIKRISHN

As professed by Lord Srikrishn in Lord Brahmavaivart Puran, Radha is the power that rules over him. Lord Srikrishn dotes on her and waits upon her, out of love and reverence. Lord Srikrishn professes his incompleteness without her. She is his inspiration and intense desire. He cannot escape her charm.

Aroused by the etherised beauty and charm of Radha an ebullient Lord Srikrishn once ravished with desirous Radha in Viridian’s Raasmandala. Steeped in divine romance and rapture, oblivious of time and space they remained merged into each other till one Lord Brahma expires. Lord Srikrishn fulfilled all wishes of Radha and observing an auspicious moment ejaculated tremendously into her womb. Radha swooned out of rapture. Billions of human years later Radha delivered a luminescent mass of light and energy. A desolate Radha abandoned the mass in water for she could not bear her separation from Lord Srikrishn even for a moment to experience the motherhood.

Lord Srikrishn abhorred her unmotherly cruelty and cursed her, -"You, the cruel one! You have discarded your offspring. Henceforth, you and Goddesses born of you shall remain childless forever".

Later on Goddess, Saraswati emerged from the tip of Radha's tongue. Afterwards Radha created Lakshmi from her left half. Lord Srikrishn also created Lord Vishnu from his left half. Both of the Goddesses - Lakshmi and Saraswati felt drawn to the inescapable charm of Lord Srikrishn. Lord Srikrishn, well aware of their love and attraction to him, dared not to allow them to dwell in Golok, as Radha would not approve of it. He therefore, asked them to go to Vaikunthalok and assured them of being their husband there as Lord Vishnu.  Thus, in Vaikunthalok he accepted Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ganga as his beloved wives. Lakshmi and Saraswati remained childless as cursed by Lord Srikrishn.

Birth of Mahaviraat

The mass of light and energy discarded by Radha remained in water till the lifetime of Lord Brahma and then got divided into two halves. In its centre was a child surrounded by the bright aura of millions of suns, being abandoned by parents, crying with hunger. He was the grossest mass. Being the heaviest and the largest in mass, he was called Mahaviraat. He had the power one sixteenth of his father Lord Srikrishn. He is also called Maha Vishnu. The number of pores in his body equals the number of Brahmandas (galaxies) in cosmos. Each Brahmanda has one Lord Brahma, one Lord Vishnu and one Mahesh.

When hungry Mahaviraat cried for God, a light appeared in front of him in which he saw his gracious father Lord Srikrishn. The infant smiled to see the resplendent and glorious form of his guardian. Lord Srikrishn threw an affable glance at the nascent boy and blessed him-"Son you will be enlightened like me. Be the shelter of innumerable Brahmandas without being afflicted with hunger and thirst. You will be free from desire, fear, disease, death, suffering and old age." Lord Srikrishn whispered the mantra "Ohm Lord Srikrishnaye Swaha" thrice in his right ear that Mahaviraat chants all the time. Whatever is offered to Lord Vishnu by his devotees, one part of the offering goes to Lord Vishnu and fifteen parts go to "Mahaviraat." Lord Srikrishn asked him to seek another blessing. "Bestow upon me your unflinching divine love (bhakti). A human being, who does not practice devotion to Lord Srikrishn merely, wastes human life." The toddler said with profound faith and unflinching conviction. "Be it so," said Lord Srikrishn. "You will never perish. From your navel shall emerge Lord Brahma who will create Lord Shiv from his forehead. You will be ever blessed with the vision of both of us ..I and your beautiful mother... dwelling in my heart, in meditation." Lord Srikrishn said and blessed the baby with his gracious smile. Thus having empowered and energized the abode of billions of galaxies, Lord Srikrishn disappeared.

Mahaviraat remains in blissful meditation without being afflicted with hunger, thirst, sleep, disease etc. as blessed by father Lord Srikrishn. The seers who do not believe in the celestial form of Lord Srikrishn and Radha and consider the creation, as having emerged from vacuum, which is reservoir of perennial energy, perceive the existence of him as mahat tattva. In their belief the Purusha (Spirit) and Prakriti (Nature), together constitute all objects animate as well as inanimate in the entire cosmos.

Plight of a polygamous Lord Vishnu

Lord Lord Vishnu, the prototype of Lord Srikrishn lived with his three chaste wives Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ganga blissfully in Vaikunthalok. Adored by them, he enjoyed their love and respect, alike. Goddess Ganga is the bestower of divine wisdom that liberates the soul from the cycles of death and rebirth. Goddess Saraswati is the bestower of speech, arts and sciences. Goddess Lakshmi is the custodian of wealth and is a devout consort of Lord Vishnu.

Once it so happened that enamoured Goddess Ganga was gloating at the handsome countenance of her husband with a smile. Lord Vishnu also looked absorbed in her charm. Love is an energy, which devours and drenches the persons to an extent that others fail to understand and often become furiously jealous of the lovers. Goddess Saraswati spotted the duo and too felt jealous of Lord Vishnu’s inclination to Goddess Ganga. Goddess Lakshmi however, being calm and submissive, did not mind it. She tried to persuade Goddess Saraswati also that she should not envy Lord Vishnu’s loving sport with Goddess Ganga. But Goddess Saraswati failed to digest it. Being hurt, she said, –“ A husband who is righteous treats all his wives equally but one who is wicked behaves otherwise. Lord! I know that you shower more love over Goddess Ganga. She therefore, feels blessed. Goddess Lakshmi also enjoys the same fortune but you neglect me. Ganga is close to Lakshmi so Lakshmi does not mind it. It is only me who is neglected and unfortunate. What shall I do now? Life of a woman who is deprived of the love of her husband is futile. People who worship you as Lord of World and essence of wisdom are ignorant as they do not understand Vedas.” Her hurt ego unleashed arrows of scathing allegations against husband Lord Vishnu and her co wives.

Hearing such uttering of Goddess Saraswati, Lord Vishnu thought for a while and then without responding, moved out. Such indifferent attitude of Lord Vishnu infuriated Goddess Saraswati further. Ablaze with wrath, she targeted Goddess Ganga-“Shameless! Brazen! Are you so proud of your husband? Do you want to show off your conjugal bliss? I will shatter your pride in front of Lord Vishnu today. Let me see how your husband can stop me.” Uttering such cacophonous words, she tried to grab Ganga by hair but for the intervention of Goddess Lakshmi. Unable to contain her wrath, she shouted at Lakshmi-“You will take the forms of tree and river, doubt not. For even though seeing the wrong doings here, you remained inert as a tree.” Lakshmi still did not say anything. She held Goddess Saraswati by hand and stood there quietly in a bid to calm her down.

Goddess Ganga then, however entered the fray and told Goddess Lakshmi, -“Dear! Spare this envious virago. Let me see what she does. She is the Goddess of speech but is so quarrelsome. Let us test her strength today. Let the world also learn of it.” Saying so Goddess Ganga also cursed Goddess Saraswati, -“One who has cursed Goddess Lakshmi in anger, will turn into a river on earth and receive the share of others sins in Kaliyug.”

As ordained, Goddess Saraswati also cursed back Goddess Ganga -“You too will go to earth and receive share of sins of earthlings.” Meanwhile Lord Vishnu accompanied by his chaste Paarshads, reached there. Sombre Lord Vishnu embraced Goddess Saraswati, trembling in fury and tried to calm her down affectionately. Cajoled by husband Lord Vishnu, she attained poise and peace. The fire of jealousy that had engulfed the wife was blown out by the shower of Lord Vishnu's comforting embrace.

Omniscient Lord Vishnu then addressed his wives-“My dear auspicious Lakshmi! You go to earth and take birth as daughter of king Dharmadhwaj. You will be the wife of demon Shankhchood who is my partial incarnation and then will also assume the form of tree as preordained. Later on, you will join me back and will be worshipped on earth as plant of Tulasi. As cursed by Saraswati, you will flow as river Padmavati on earth. Ganga! You too will flow as river on earth as cursed by Saraswati….

King Bhagirath has performed great penance to take you there and you have to go there to purify sinners. Goddess! You will be called Bhagirathi there and join my partial incarnation sea and then also be the wife of king Shantanu, as ordained by me.

Saraswati! You too will reap the fruit of creating quarrel with your co wives by going to earth. Be the wife of Lord Brahma afterwards. Ganga too should go to Lord Shiv after this. Only Lakshmi will live here as she is calm, devoted and auspicious. Women born of her aura will be like her. Keeping three wives, three servants, three houses, and three brothers is inauspicious and against Vedas. A householder whose wife rules over him faces failure in all walks of life. One whose wife is harsh of tongue, unchaste and quarrelsome should better go to woods as there at least he can get fruits and water which he may be deprived of in his own home. Saraswati! The pain caused by disease and poison is lighter then the pain one gets from the uttering of a cruel wife. Stay of co wives at one place is also not good. Man gets happiness by becoming the husband of only one woman, not many. So Ganga, you go to Lord Shiv and Saraswati you go to Lord Brahma after this. One who owns a chaste wife enjoys heavenly joys on earth.” Saying so, Lord Vishnu wore a stoic silence.

The three Goddesses broke into tears. The outcome of their quarrel could be so lethal, they had not foreseen. They held one another by hands and cried. Goddess Saraswati said in regret, -“Lord! Please tell me how can I be exonerated from this sin? I shall give up my body after taking birth on earth. Fall is indeed unavoidable after attaining the pinnacle.”

Goddess Ganga implored, -“Lord! Why have you deserted me? I too shall give up body so that you too face the consequences... of killing me, so. A man who deserts his innocent wife goes to hell, may that.. be even you ......- the Lord of world.”

Goddess Lakshmi said, -“Lord! You are the incarnation of wisdom. It is indeed surprising that you got flared up. Be pleased with all of us. A husband who is gentle is always forgiving. How long will I have to remain on earth and when shall I join you? When shall Goddess Ganga and Goddess Saraswati come back to you? Goddess Lakshmi was so moved with the aftermath that she held Lord Vishnu’ feet with her hair and began to sob.

Seeing his demure and large hearted wife pining for co-wives, Lord Vishnu shed his sternness to his wives. A pleased Lord Vishnu embraced Goddess Lakshmi and consoled her-“O Queen of Goddesses! I accept your entreaties and will also keep my words. I will restore equal status of you all. Goddess Saraswati will partially go to earth, partially go to Lord Brahma’s abode and stay with me in her full form. Goddess Ganga may also go to earth in her partial form and stay here in her full form. She will pass through the crown of Lord Shiv and attain higher purity there. O, Born of lotus! You too will go to earth only in partial forms and after five thousand years of kaliyug all of you will be liberated from the forms of river and join me here. My devotees’ holy dip will purge you of the sins accrued from the bathing of sinners.”

Goddess Lakshmi smiled to hear the final verdict of Lord of her heart. Bemused Lord Vishnu then narrated to his beloved wives secrets of attaining higher levels of consciousness on earth.