The Art of Surrendering like the Flute

Krishna Janmashtami falls on Sept 4, 2026, the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha (dark half) of the lunar month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar. Krishna, in the Dwapara Yuga, embodied Shanti and Prema. Before him, in the Treta Yuga, Rama embodied Sathya and Dharma. When the atrocities of the demons had reached a high, and there was disorder everywhere, many devotees prayed for the Lord to incarnate. Krishna took birth to establish order and reassure his devotees that he listened to their prayers. Krishna's advent signified the dispelling of darkness and the removal of troubles of many a devout soul.

In various discourses, Sri Sathya Sai Baba explained the three meanings of ‘Krishna’. The first is: ‘Krishyati iti Krishnah’, meaning ‘the one who cultivates is Krishna’. Krishna is likened to a farmer who cultivates the hearts of devotees after removing the weeds of bad qualities, irrigating them with the water of love, ploughing them by teaching spiritual practices and finally sowing the seeds of devotion!

The second is ‘Karshati iti Krishnah’, meaning ‘the one who attracts is Krishna’. Krishna is beautiful and enchanting. His beauty is bewitching. His speech is nectarine; His Divine leelas are exponentially saturated with love. His soft and sweet words calm the hearts full of hatred and make them rejoice in the sweetness of his love. No one can resist his attraction.

The third is: ‘Kushyati iti Krishna’, meaning ‘the one who is always in a state of bliss’. Despite the turmoils and hardships he underwent in his earthly sojourn, Krishna was always in a state of bliss. And he continues to bestow bliss on His devotees through the numerous Krishna leelas told in the Bhagavata Puran and the Bhagavad Gita.

My grandfather, Sh. Nandlal Punchhi was a Krishna Bhakt. He was adept at playing the Bansuri and kept it in his pocket, just like men keep a pen. He played it for the love of Krishna; it was his way of praying, connecting and relaxing. Many knew him as ‘Bansuri Wale Bauji’. His last flute lies framed and displayed in my brother’s home, as a beautiful memory of a man who lived his life in the awareness of Krishna.

One day he played the bansuri for 5-6 hours while sitting in front of Krishna’s picture. Tears streamed down his eyes as an incessant outpouring of love. He then told my grandmother that he was going to bed early and she should not disturb him. And he passed on … he never woke up.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba often said that one of the most important things we can learn from the life of Krishna is to surrender like the flute. The flute/bansuri is just a reed. It undergoes the painful process of being hollowed out by an artisan. Holes are made with precision for the notes to flow in rhythm. When a flautist breathes air into a flute, it comes alive! It is hollow. It has no ego. It has no voice or sound of its own. It just lets the master speak through it. We too should become like a flute! Let us speak only what the Lord wants to convey through us. Let not a single wasteful word be uttered. This is the lesson!

Krishna needed/wanted nothing. He sought nothing; no personal gratification. He killed Kansa and crowned the aged Ugrasena as king. He played a huge role in the Mahabharata war to help the Pandavas get what was rightfully theirs. He was completely selfless. The Gopikas and the cowherds were dearest to Him because they loved him selflessly. Radha was dearer to Him than all His queens. Because Radha was the epitome of selflessness, she had no strings attached. She only wanted to offer her love to Krishna. She did not even expect Him to love her in return! Because she said that her love for Krishna was enough to sustain her in this life!!!

Constant remembrance of the Lord is a lifeline. My mother-in-law always said, “Jai Bansi Wale!” Everyone finds time to celebrate birthdays of family and friends; this time, do find time to partake of the bliss of celebrating the birthday of the beautiful Lord on Krishna Janmashtami.

This piece is published in the Indian Express on Janmashtami day 04.09.2026.

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