Krishna : The teacher, philosopher and much more

“One gradually attains tranquillity of mind by keeping the mind fully absorbed in the Self by means of a well-trained intellect, and thinking of nothing else.”

I was always fascinated by two of the Indian Gods Shiva and Krishna . In the pantheon of 33 million known gods and Goddesses these two stand out for their take on life.

I have read a lot to know more about this Mysterious Dark limbed God  to know him not as a deity but as a guru ( teacher).

I found this video very interesting.  Krishna is not a myth,  He existed and there are proofs.

Krishna the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu is not just a divine entity but a whole consciousness.” Krishna is the only person in the history of human consciousness who is tremendously in love with life, with the poetry of life, with the music of life, with  dance of life. He is not at all life-negative, he is very affirmative. And he accepts life as it is; he does not put god and the world as opposites.” When I read Bhagvad Gita or The song Divine  it transformed  my way of life. We , who do not see Krishna just as a God , see his as a yogi, a philosopher and a teacher. He is the greatest scientist and engineer .

Sri Krishna says: “The whole cosmic order is under Me. By My will it is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end.” [Bg. 9.8]

The supreme being, the omnipresent creator .

Krishna says: “The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me.” [Bg. 15.12]

As  children we celebrate the birth of Krishna as janamashtami in out neighborhood. It was a creative  community event where everyone got involved from small children to elders. The idea behind it was to encourage creativity and pass on the philosophy of krishna in the most simple way. Love, Brotherhood, compassion and unity and harmony. Krishna is not a person he is an existence, a thought.

In Bhagavad-gita Krishna says, gam avisya ca bhutani dharayamy aham ojasa: “I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit.” [Bg. 15.13]

Krishna is adored in three different ways: vatsalya bhava, madhura bhava and sakhya bhava.

Radha adored Him in madhura bhava. Yashoda and Nanda worshipped Him in vatsalya bhava, and the cowherds with all the sincerity and  loving heart  adored Him in sakhya bhava, as a friend.

Krishna’s form is symbolic.  Deep blue is the colour of eternity.  It is the colour of the sky, and of the deep ocean.  Yellow is the colour of the earth.  A deep blue god-image enclosed in yellow clothes symbolises the spirit clothed in the body.  Krishna is a symbol of the body and spirit, a symbol of each one of us  in our enlightened form.  When we become aware of our true self, we realise that there is no difference between us and Krishna.

There is  significance of the flute and the peacock feather  that Krishna wears.

According to Sufi Inayat Khan, “Krishna is pictured in Hindu Symbology with a crown of peacock feathers, playing the flute. Krishna is the idea of divine love, the god of love. And the divine love expresses itself by entering in man and filling his whole being. Therefore, the flute is the human heart, a heart which is made hollow, which becomes a flute for the god of love to play. When the heart is not empty, in other words when there is no scope in the heart, there is no place for love. Rumi, the great poet of Persia, explains the idea more clearly.

He says the pains and sorrows the soul experiences through life are holes made in a reed flute, and it is by making these holes that the player makes out of a reed a flute. Which means, the heart of man is first a reed, and the suffering and pain it goes through make it a flute, which can then be used by God as the instrument to produce the music that he constantly wishes to produce. But every reed is not a flute, and so every heart is not His instrument. As the reeds need to be made into flutes, so the human heart can be turned into an instrument and can be offered to the God of love. It is the human heart which becomes the harp of the angels, it is the human heart which is the lute of Orpheus.

Peacock’s feathers have in all ages been considered as a sign of beauty, as a sign of knowledge because they are in the form of an eye. It is by keen observation that man acquires knowledge. Knowledge without love is lifeless. The knowledge of the head and the love of the heart  expresses the divine message fully so with the flute the crown of peacock’s feathers makes the symbol complete.” [ LINK]

Osho’s book on Krishna gives us a completely different angle to Lord Krishna’s philosophy and life.

Excerpt from “Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy” by Osho:

Krishna is so unique. He is not at all serious or sad. By and large, the chief characteristic of a religious person has been that he is somber, serious and sad-looking . In the long line of such sages it is Krishna alone who comes dancing, singing and laughing.

Every religion, up to now, has divided life into two parts, and while they accept one part they deny the other. Krishna alone accepts the whole of life. And he accepts it not in any selected dimension but in all its dimensions.

Krishna is against repression. He alone does not choose he accepts life unconditionally. He does not shun love; being a man he does not run away from women. As one who has known and experienced God, he alone does not turn his face from war. He is full of love and compassion, and yet he has the courage to accepts and fight a war. His heart is utterly non-violent, yet he plunges into the fire and fury of violence when it becomes unavoidable. He accepts the nectar, and yet he is not afraid of the poison.

We describe the life of Krishna as his leela, his play-acting, because Krishna is not serious at all. Krishna’s life accepts no limitations and this freedom, this vastness of Krishna stems from his experience of self-knowledge. It is the ultimate fruit of his enlightenment.

There is no such point in the cosmos where nature ends and God begins. It is nature itself that, through a subtle process of dissolution, turns into God, and it is God Himself  Who, through a subtle process of manifestation, turns into nature. Nature is manifest God, and God is unmanifest nature and that is what adwait means, what the principle of One without the other means. We can understand Krishna only if we clearly understand this concept of adwait, that only One is – One without the other.

I liked what Sri Sri Ravishankar ‘s talk on the symbolism of Krishna .

Krishna’s entire being, his clothes, 108 names, his clothing, ornaments and all his lilas from the time of  his birth till the end are filled with symbolism and each aspect of his life and teaching has  a great significance.

The two texts that I love reading and which in one way or other left a deep impact on my life are ShrimadBhagvat Gita or The Song Divine and Jaidev’sGeetGovinda .

You can listen to the entire Song Divine online HERE or Here

It is a science of self realization and deep inner knowledge.

Krishna makes an extraordinary statement on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, one no other man of enlightenment has ever made. He tells Arjuna, “I will continue to come whenever the world is in trouble. I will continue to come whenever religion declines and disintegrates.”

Osho explains this :

Krishna has no problem in coming each time He is needed. He will remain himself in every situation – in love and attachment, in anger and hostility. Nothing will disturb his emptiness, his calm. He will find no difficulty whatsoever is coming and going. His emptiness is positive and complete, alive and dynamic.

Know more about Geet Govinda HERE

‘Geet Govinda’ written in the 12th century is a symbolic representation of the love of Krishna – Radha revived through the ‘Bhakti’ cults of devotion to the God of happiness. This is  song of love and devotion. A musical offering to Lord Jagannath ( Krishna). This epic poem had a major influence on Patta paintings of Rajasthan  and became a prop for Odissi dance and found a unique place for itself in world literature and music.

Gitagovindam is a lyrical poetry in twelve chapters, sub-divided into twenty four  divisions called Prabandh.Geet Govinda is written in Shringar Rasa (erotica)

I wrote Love Song For my Krishna inspired by the  Geet Govinda.

For me Krishna is not just a supreme consciousness, he is a way of life. One thing that I gathered from whatever little I have read of Krishna is complete acceptance , to be one with the universe and the supreme being. I am not a religious person but I believe in what Krishna preached . Celebrating life and death with all its  facets. Throughout Geeta Krishna reminds Arjuna Who He is and every time I read it this is what I ask myself. Who am I ? What is my purpose of life ? It helps me introspect. It is not a religious book for me but  a life long spiritual learning  experience.

One can go on writing about the man and his philosophy, his teachings and way of life but all I can say is, to surrender unconditionally to Him as a disciple is the ultimate joy.

I am not his devotee I am  his student.

(All images are courtesy Google images and copyrights credited to rightful owners )

Temples Of Khajuraho

A visit to Khajuraho takes one into the land of super consciousness. It is a journey everyone should take. The temples of Khajuraho have the most erotic, sensuous, and graphic, sculptures that can not be found anywhere else in the world. The facade-walls, windows, pillar brackets, and ceilings are intricately carved with figures from mythology and history. All the figures are perfectly proportioned though they are not masculine like the Greek sculptures.

The innocent depiction of love and sex and the celebration of women are the main theme of these sculptures. Various facets and moods of women, her beauty, seductiveness, compassion, love, desire and innocence is depicted beautifully in each sculpture. Each temple depicts the creative energy of ‘Shakti’ who is considered to be the feminine counterpart of Shiva and all the other Gods of the Hindu Pantheon. There are about sixteen types of female figures engaged in various activities like tying anklets, looking into the mirror, carrying a baby, writing a letter etc.

The female nudity is considered as a potent fertility charm. The Jain, Buddhist and Hindu religious sect all believe in the fertility cult and erotic symbolism can be seen in their art forms everywhere. Here in Khjuraho, it is more evident and open. Fertility has a deeper meaning than just procreation. It means happiness, wealth, prosperity, and auspiciousness.

I learned some important lessons of life and developed a new way to look at the most common thing everyone talks about-Sex. Through these sculptures immerges a deep sense of energy that changes one’s outlook towards sex and meditations, religion and worship. In my opinion each town must have one such temple so that people can rise above the beliefs and norms that they have set about sex. This will also end the suppression of sex which has made the society so ugly.

During the construction of these magnificent temples the artisan lived in a society free from inhibitions and they were also secular craftsmen. All the activities of human life were celebrated and one can see the love for life in every sculpture here. They got their inspiration from the world they lived in.

The origin of the name Khajuraho comes from the ‘Khajur’ or the Date Palm tree which is found in abundance in this region. It was the first capital of the Chandela rulers in the 10th to the 14th centuries. The Chandelas believed in the Tantras which called for a person to work inward from the erotic to the pure spiritualism. One can see the presence of both the Tantra and the puranic elements here.

There are different theories about why these temples have erotic sculptures on the outer walls and none inside the temple. Some people believe it to be the depiction of ‘Kamasutra’ while others think they were created as a part of educating the masses about sex but I disagree because there is much more to these sculptures that sex. One can find dancing couples, musicians, potters, farmers and other folks along with deities etched in stone. Only 10% of the Stone carvings at Khajuraho temples contain sexual themes. If we examine these temples carefully then there is more of a celebration here than education.

I was overwhelmed by the joie de vivre that can be seen in sheer abundance here. To me these temples are the finest examples of India’s glorious past. There is also a story about the Brahmin woman falling in love with the moon God and getting pregnant by him. The baby boy born to that woman founded the Chadela Empire, the creators of these awesome temples.

Osho’s explanation on this matter seems absolutely correct to me. He says, “These temples have, on the outer side, beautiful women, beautiful men, and all in love postures. Inside there are no love postures. Inside you will find the empty, not even a statue of God. The idea is that unless you pass through your sexuality with full awareness, in all its phases, in all its dimensions — unless you come to a point when sex has no meaning for you-only then you enter the temple. Otherwise you are outside the temple, your interest is there.”

Osho’s Quote is from his book ‘From Unconsciousness to Consciousness’ (Book Title)

The temples depict the energy which transforms sexual to super consciousness, from lowest to highest form. There is a serene calm on the faces of the men and women engaged in various sexual positions as shown in the sculptures. The idea was not to suppress sex but to use that energy to reach the ultimate level of consciousness.

Meditating in front of those sculptures frees one of any sexual desires and with that purity of mind, body and soul one goes into the temple. This was a path to Nirvana, a path of renunciation or ‘Moksha’, to leave the visual and sensuous pleasures and move ahead without attachments, desires and regrets. I feel that the logic was to show people a correct way of life through the enjoyment of ‘arth’ (material wealth) and ‘Kaam’ (sexual pleasures) while perusing the ‘Dharma’ (Duty) while on the way to enlightenment.

The temple town of Khajuraho in the state of Madhya Pradesh is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is famous for its remarkably intriguing erotic sculptures. This celebration of the carnal which weaves beautifully with the austere Jain religion is just amazing example of the level of super consciousness of people living at those times. Many of these temples are based on Hindu religion. These temples were built over 1,000 years ago. The unsurpassable stark beauty, grandeur, and art of these ancient temples leave one in awe of those who created them.

Khajuraho temples are set in an archeological park with mowed lawns and landscaped gardens which is very different from its original setting of semi desert like environment and palm trees which gave the place its name.

The intricate detailing and artistry of the sculptures is worth noticing. Each temple has a distinct layout and features although there are some common factors also. They are architectural delights made of granite and sand stones built on high platforms. All the temples have a sanctum sanctorum or ‘garbha griha’. The temples are constructed in famous ‘Nagada’ style of architecture dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The famous western group of temples which are entirely based on Hindu religion are the most exquisite among all. The figures have a unified design and a harmonious rhythm in them. The horizontal bands of carvings are in perfect alignment with the vertically towering main structure. All of them follow the strict convention of ‘shilpashatra’ (the epic text of sculptures) and temple art. There are cult icons, surrounding figures, ‘Apsara’ or the ‘Sursundaris’ (celestial beauties) and the erotic couples. There are many auspicious and luck bringing motifs.

There are relief panels depicting the king at court, the royal hunt, domestic scenes marching armies, dance processions, teacher and students, traders with camels, and sculptors at work etc among others. Nandi (Lord Shiva’s Bull), mythical animals, elephants and wild boars are some of the animals which are carved on the outer walls.

Some of the finest temples are that of Kandhariya Mahadev, the Chitragupta Temple that is dedicated to the Sun God, the Vishwanath Temple which has a three-headed image of Brahma (the Creator of the Universe) and the superbly decorated Lakshmana Temple.
The eastern group depicts the marvelous Adinath Temple whose lavishly embellished sculptures mesmerizes you the moment you set eyes on them and the Parsvanath Temple which is the largest Jain temple here.

The temples of Khajuraho originally consisted of eighty five temples of which only twenty two exist today. They are stunning examples of art and architecture of that period. Each temple is different from the other.

As I watched the beautifully chiseled faces of those human beings etched in time, a sense of calm began to seep in. Somehow one feels like withdrawing into complete silence and close the eyes to all that is momentary.

*( Image and material researched from  Google images/ search results. Full credit to the photographer. )*

Indivine post .Vote here

In pursuit of the query “Who am I?”

The pursuit of the query “Who am I ?” destroys all other thoughts. I ask myself relentlessly this question over and over again. Who am I? What is my role in the bigger scheme of things? Where is the life leading me? Is it the right path I have chosen or let’s say have I given any direction to my life as yet or is it simply flowing without any aim , any course?

I look within and find a storm rising. A disturbance .. something is not right. I need to go inward and seek the answer.

If I am not the five senses and the body, if I am not the mind and not the doer , who am I ? I meditate on this and still find no clue, but I am reduced to nothing. everything falls apart. The “I ” , the “ego” drops dead. leaving behind a void. All illusions vanish. Everything seems fake.

I let the thoughts freeze .. silence follows. A deep rooted silence. I try to make the mind come out of the illusion of self, of the world around me. It hurts. The mind pushes me to either close or open my eyes ( I meditate with half closed eyes). It persuades me to go flow with the world we have created to satisfy our “self”. The tussle intensifies within. I am pulled away by an inner force.

I want to remove myself, even from myself. Why is it that I can not be complete within? Why do I need someone to copliment me or complete me? What does it take to break away from bonds that tie you in the shackles of expectations, hope, pain, guilt, love, desire, anger, envy, rage, jealousy, and much more?

I try to set free the things and events that hold me captive but in vain. The mind overpowers and even though there is realization , I am unable to act. Giving in to the viciousness of my mind.
Why is it that even after knowing how to discern, I give importance to things, events, people who mean so little in the journey called life.

I am lonely when I want to be alone. there is a difference. It is an obstacle in my path of self realization.

I let emotions rule, even now. Even After some years of self control I still give in. Give in to circumstances which should not affect me.

Where is all the learning going? Why I feel a sense of guilt when one part of me mocks at the other for my actions.
what pulls me ? what force? is it greater than the one I need to pursue or is it that I am not yet ready? I feel I am creating stop overs. Places from where I can return if I get scared or feel lost. The absolute faith in the divine and unknown is still lacking.

The question remains unanswered .. the desire to renounce is growing. To uncling, to let go, to set free .. to move forward by taking an inner journey ..let us see how I am able to achieve it.. till then the relentless pursuit is on.

Day 2 : Heart Vs. Mind

It was a crazy day today with so much happening at one time that I just went bonkers. I was not sure I will be able to sit and write a post today but something was bothering me from within. A trapped creativity and some thoughts which are better out than in.

The devious mind was overpowering the love filled heart and forcing it to change the course. The poor heart was getting drained by the already filled emotions and then the continuous nagging by the mind.

I decided to leave things to the universe and let the heart rule over the brain ..once more.

I know my inner voice is my personal source of wisdom. So I decided to march to my own drum beats and listen to my gut instincts. The devious mind tried to persuade me to follow it’s dictates but I knew that my happiness and inner joy lay in following the heart. For it is said it is better to love and fail than never to love at all.

To some this may sound foolish but I have seen that when you don’t let the mind rule your heart then you take the best decisions of your life. Guilt free, conscious decisions.

“The heart is always right– if there’s a
question of choosing between the mind and
the heart– because mind is a creation of
the society. It has been educated. You
have been given it by the society, not by
existence. The heart is unpolluted.” Osho

***

“Falling in love you remain a child; rising in love
you mature. By and by love becomes not a
relationship, it becomes a state of your being. Not
that you are in love – now you are love” Osho

*****
“Be thankful for what has been given to you – and life is giving you so much that your thankfulness is always going to fall short.”Osho

Today was also a day to thank the person behind all my creativity. I feel that a heartfelt thank you is must, it is important to show your gratitude for the good that has come your way through someone. I got this opportunity today and poured out all that was buried deep in my heart. With moist eyes and chocked throat I said what I wanted to for so long.

The heart feels good. I have done my bit. Never leave for another day what you so much long to say to someone, for that another day may never come and then the pain is beyond comparison.

Tagore has put it so beautifully and I quote :

From Fruit Gathering

XLVI

The time is past when I could repay her for all that I received.

Her night has found its morning and thou hast taken her to thy arms: and to thee I bring my gratitude and my gifts that were for her.

For all hurts and offenses to her I come to thee for forgiveness.

I offer to thy service those flowers of my love that remained in bud when she waited for them to open.

*******

I am glad I did what I did today for if I leave the earth tomorrow I will have no regrets.. And I am glad I wrote this post for it cleansed me of all the tiredness of the day.

Think about this and try to incorporate it in your life. Stay connected to your inner and to the universe.

Post 2 for June NaBloPoMo