Manmohana Krishna

Having been born in India, who doesn’t have a connect with Krishna? The beautiful Manmohana, Chitchora, Maakhanchora, Nandkishora … has a place in every heart!

I have memories of my grandfather, a Krishna bhakt, who was named Nandlal, more popularly known as ‘Bansuri Wale Bauji’, playing the flute, being immersed in love for Krishna, whom he called ‘Mera Murali Manohar’. He named my father Madanmohan, and even changed my mother’s name to Meera! He would go to Vrindavan to play Holi every year and would keep a bansuri in his pocket always. One late-evening he played his Bansuri for hours. His eyes streamed with tears of pure love. He then, lay down and while pulling a blanket over himself, called out to my Dadi saying, “Shrimati, I am going. Don’t call me now.” He slept, never to wake up again!

My mother-in-law would say Jai Bansiwale as her good morning, good night, bye-bye, greeting at all times.

I have been an avid reader of the Amar Chitra Katha comics. I remember reading the titles, Krishna, Mirabai, Draupadi, The Mahabharata War, The Pandavas Princes and many more, where Krishna would make a pivotal appearance. It always intrigued me that Krishna’s  life was besieged with problems, yet He would always be smiling, spreading love, consoling, cajoling, helping, counselling ...

Krishna was born in a prison after six of his brothers had been mauled to death by Kansa. Within minutes of his birth, his father Vasudev’s chains fell off and all the guards went into deep sleep. Vasudeva, as instructed by a voice, placed the newborn baby in a basket and carried Him on his head across the Yamuna to Gokul. The river parted to give him way! At Gokul; Yashodha the wife of Nanda, had given birth to a girl. Vasudeva put his baby boy next to the sleeping Yashodha and brought the baby girl back with him, to the prison. When Kansa took hold of the baby girl who was none other than Yogamaya, she flew off to the Heavens, while announcing to Kansa that the one who would kill Him, had already been born!

So Krishna was born to one set of parents, but was raised by another. His uncle Kansa sent many a demon to kill him while he was still a baby, in the cradle. After many such attempts, Krishna in his teenage, finally killed Kansa. He then set free his parents Devki and Vasudeva. He also set free Ugrasen, the father of Kansa, who was wallowing in the prison.

Just as the chains of Vasudeva and Devki, fell apart when Krishna was born; when the Lord in any form, enters our hearts, all unwanted ties and barriers snap away. All chains of ego, attachment, greed, jealousy and vices too, break away.

The birth of Krishna is celebrated the world over as Janmashtami. It falls on Ashtami or the 8^th day in the Krishna Paksha (dark half), in the month of Bhadrapada. There are celebrations in temples and homes.

A swinging cradle is decorated with flowers and an idol of Krishna called Laddu Gopal is seated in the cradle. Sometimes a small child dressed up as Krishna and made to sit in the cradle. Butter, Sweets and savouries are offered to Krishna on this day. They are called Chappan Bhog. This means that at least 56 different delicacies are offered as a birthday treat to Lord Krishna.

They say the child Krishna was naughty and witty. He played many a mischief with his friends the gwalabaalas and the gopikas. His mother Yasodha was often at her wits end, tackling his naughtiness and listening to complaints about him stealing butter from the houses of the gopikas. But despite all that, Krishna was the darling of the entire Gokul village.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba would often talk about Krishna. At one instance He said, “Lord Sri Krishna wore a necklace of green beads; a nose ring of pearl, and on his right ear a ring of pearls. He wore no shirt or coat; just yellow silk round his waist and a turban wound around the head. The peacock feather that is described by poets and sages was not always worn. It was stuck into the turban occasionally. Peacocks abounded in Brindavan and are in plenty even today. On his bare chest there was a mole that could be clearly seen, a mark of all Avatars.”

Baba further explained that Krishna wore silver bangles on His wrists. But the Kankans that Krishna wore were not mere bangles or kankans. They had a profound significance. Krishna had taken 3 vows, and the Kankans were symbolic of his determination to fulfil them. They are as mentioned by Him in the Gita:

1.     धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे Dharma Samsthapanarthaya Sambhavami Yuge Yuge - I shall incarnate in every age  to revive Dharma.

2.     योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् Yogakshemam Vahamyaham - I shall bear the burden of ensuring peace and prosperity of all who rely on Me.

3.     मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः Mokshayishyami Maa Sucha - I shall save all those who surrender wholeheartedly to Me and I shall liberate them from the cycle of birth and death.

The life of Krishna gave a profound message to the world. He sought nothing for Himself. He gave everything away to others. After slaying Kansa, he installed Ugrasena, Kansa’s father, on the throne. He did not grab the Kingdom. He befriended the Pandavas, defeated the Kauravas and crowned Yudhishthira as the emperor. He was completely selfless. All he sought was love! That is why the gopikas and the cowherds were dearest to Him. And that is why Radha was dearer to Him than all the queens … because Radha was selfless and only wanted to give love. She did not even ask Him for His love in return! She said that she loved Him completely ... and that love was enough to sustain her in this life!!!

Krishna was an eternal friend to Arjuna. Krishna recited the Bhagwad Gita to Arjuna at the battlefield of Kurukshetra, and humanity still benefits from it. It is not humanly possible to count the number of books that have been written about Krishna, or the number of bhajans, songs and skits that centre around His life. The number of temples built for him, the world over, is also uncountable. He is imbued in our culture and ethos. I recently heard a child recite a really cute version of the age old poem, ‘Johnny, Johnny. Yes Papa … ’ It goes like this, “Krishna, Krishna! Yes, Maiya. Eating mud? No, Maiya. Telling lies? No, Maiya. Open your mouth. Ha ha ha!”

It is said that Krishna told Arjuna,

“Tuh karta wo hai, Jo tu chahta hai,

To hota woh hai, Jo Mein chahta hoon.

 Tu kar wo, Jo Mein chahta hoon,

To hoga wo, Jo tu chahta Hai!!!”

Meaning: Krishna tells Arjuna, "You keep doing what you want;  but what really happens is what I want. If you start doing what I want; then what will happen is what you want!

On Janmashtami day, let us make a resolve to do what the Lord wants and see the magic unfurl!

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