Kshira Chora Gopinatha -- Remuna 1

Braje Vasantam Navaneta Chauram,

Brajagananam Vasanaika Charam

Aneka Janmarjita Papa Chauram

Chauragraganyam Purusam Namami

Meaning—Everyone is scared in Gokul, a dangerous thief (chor), has sneaked into Brij secretly, so oh Residents of Gokul ! Be careful. One resident asked what does that dangerous chor steals. Reply goes, He steals clothes of Gopis, while they take bath, also steals butter from their houses when Gopis are not at home. Oh Greatest stealer of the universe! Have Mercy on me. Kindly steal load of sin I have earned in my various births. I salute you oh greatest stealer.

                                              -Shri Vallabhacharya

 

It was Treta Yug. Lord Rama was in exile and went to Chitrakut along with Sita and Lakshmana. Enthralled by the natural beauty of the place, He decided to stay there for some time. One day, it rained heavily and soon it was green all around. The milch cows in the hermitages were grazing. On seeing the cows,Lord Rama smiled.

Sita was eager to know why. Rama explained that the scene indicated his next avatar as Krishna, the cowherd, in Dwapara Yug. Sita wished to see Him in that form. Ramachandra went into the forest and took a piece of stone and inscribed on it the Tribhangi posture of Sri Krishna with the `Murali' in his hands by arrow. He also sculpted the figures of eight sakhis(gopis) at his service.  In the left side there is Lalita , Vishakha, Chitra and Indulekha and in the right side Champaklata, Sudevi, Tungvidya and Rangadevi. Further, near His feet the portrayals of his four dear companions namely Sanandan, Subala, Vidagdha and Madhumangala, with cows (गौचारण लीला), destruction of Chanur and Mustika were added. (To have this beautiful darshan please attend mangala aarti at 5.00 am otherwise the vigraha is covered with dhoti and you can only see His face and hands.)

An elated Sita touched the figures and asked Rama how he drew it. Rama touched the stone with the sharp end of his arrow and the image started bleeding profusely. The vigraha had sprung to life by the divine touch. Sita worshipped this vigraha. After that it was worshiped by Lord Brahma.

  

While returning to Ayodhya, after destroying Ravana and his clan, Rama spent a night in a beautiful place now known as Remuna(This is local belief. Even in Valmiki Ramayan it is stated that while returning from Lanka to Ayodhya through Pushpak plane Lord Ram showed many places to Sita). Sita wanted to have a bath. Rama created a river by discharging seven arrows. Hence the name of the river, Saptasara. Rama returned to Ayodhya. 

The vigraha engraved at Chitrakut was being worshiped by Brahma in Treta Yug, Dwapara Yug and for many years in Kali Yug. During Kali Yug, King Langula Narasimha Dev of Orissa, a staunch Vaishnavite renowned for his charity, set out on a pilgrimage. He arrived at Chitrakut. One day, the royal couple while travelling spotted the vigraha worshipped by Brahma and decided to bring it to Srikshetra. At night the idol appeared in his dream and told that His name was Madanagopal and commanded the king to carry it with him.

Next day, they rechristened the idol as Jay Gopal and carried it with them. On the way, they took rest at Remuna. The Lord expressed his wish to stay at Remuna, since there were a lot of milch cows there. The king devotedly carried out the orders by a royal proclamation. Since Jay Gopal was encircled by eight sakhis and companions the queen named him `Sri Gopinath.' After excavating some tanks at Remuna, the king returned to Puri. 

According to legend, Langula Narasimha Dev lived in the 13th Century A.D. Therefore, it could be understood that the arrival of Lord Gopinath at Remuna took place about 800 years ago. The river Saptasara now exists as a small resource. 

Now the vigraha is known as kheer chora gopinath since He had stolen pot of kheer for His devotee Madhavendra puri.  

Gopinath is worshiped on the altar with Sri 'Madana Mohana', Sri 'Govinda', 'Radha-Rasabihari', and 'Chaitanya Mahaprabhu' with Lord 'Jagannatha' on one side and numerous 'Shalagram-Shilas' on the other side.

Lord Gopinatha, flanked by Sri Govinda and Sri Madana Mohana, is made of black stone. Sri Gopinatha stands in bas-relief. Govinda and Madana Mohana, who were brought from Vrindavana in about 1938 by a devotee named "Chaitanya Dasa Babaji", are free standing.   

The original Gopinath Temple in Orissa was destroyed by the Muslim invasions. The temple was renovated by Sri Rasikananda. Rasikananda is said to have found the idol of the deity in a pond, situated about 4 kilometers from the temple. The idol of Gopinath was hidden in the pond in order to protect it from any harm. Rasikanand Prabhu's samadhi is in the temple. Sripada Madhavendra puri's samadhi is also near the temple.

The temple is about 12 kms from Balasore  in orissa and has facilities for simple accomodation and prasadam, for the visitors.

Amazing facts about Lord Jagannath

Amazing facts about Lord Jagannath





Lord Jagannath is not only considered as a Hindu GOD. His devotees include personalities of all religions, casts
and races. Bhakta Salabeg being Muslim was one among the most eminent devotees of Lord Jagannath, Mohammed Aziz is famous for Lord Jagannath Bhajans. Behind the main temple inside Sri Jagannath Temple Complex, there is another significant small replica of the whole temple. There is a huge Cross installed at the rear of the temple evidence to Lord being visited by Jejus Christ. Budha had been a great devotee of Lord Jagannath, Even Lord Jagannath had been the most admired god for Guru Nanak. The present day God Lord Jagannath originally manifested in Purusottama-kshetra “Nila Kandara” as a giant sapphire gem stoned avatar called “Nilmani” or vigraha named “Neelamdhava”.  Learn more on Origin of Lord Jagannath. Daily 88 types of Bhog are prepared in different phases, on special occasions and during festivals the number of items increases. The Bhogamandapa in Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri was originally a part of the Konark temple complex. It was dismantled and reassembled by the Marathas in the 18th century. Amazing but true. Abadha : the mysterious prasadam of Lord Jagannath has such unique name as it is never served, it is made using earthen soiled pots kept one over the other on an earthen furnace..... amazingly the topmost pot being cooked first and then the next below. Believe it or not. Attack on Lord Jagannath : When Kala pahad attacked .... the brahmapinda or the core saligram stone (considered a sacred stone that is alive) had been removed from the idols beforehand by the priests who had anticipated the attack and had been hidden at Sonpur. Read the complete story here. The Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri and all surrounding structures inside meghanada pacheri are not made at the same time. History shows that the three parts of the temple are also made during three different times by several rulers as per the time demanded. the meghanada pacheri was made by Marhatta rulers to protect the temple against tough see waves. All other miscellaneous temples in the bedha are made during various periods by several rulers. The Jagannath temple kitchen at Puri is reputed to be the largest kitchen in the world, with 400 cooks working around 200 hearths to feed over 10,000 people each day. Garuda Stambha : The 16 sided monolithic pillar measuring 11 meters in height .Originally it was not there at Sri Jagannath Temple Puri. It stood in front of the famous Sun Temple at Konark and in the 18th century Marathas when ruled Orissa they dragged the Garuda Stambha thru sea shore till Puri Jagannath Temple. Present day structure of Sri Janagnnath Temple Puri was not the Original built up. Originally Indradyumna had constructed only the main temple. Kings and rulers in subsequent times added Meghanada Pacheri, Mukha sala, Nata Mandapa and other assets to the Temple Complex. Lord Jagannath was discovered by a clever Brahmin named Vidyapati who was blindfolded to visit the lord's cave in a dense forest but could managed to retrace the path by sprinkling mustard seeds on his way and with the help of king Indradyumna he managed to vanish with the GOD. Chariot Festival at Puri was initially performed with 2 sets of chariots ( A total of 6 Chariots ). As there was a river flowing thru in between Sri Mandira and Mausi maa temple, the first set of chariots were used to bring the lords till the river, then lords had to ferry across the river in three giant wooden boats and aboard the other set of chariots till Mausi maa temple. Amazing but true. Garva Muda, the most mysterious part of the temple is said to have storing the precious jewelleries of the Lord, protected and secured by venomous snakes and hevenly divine souls. Ratna Muda is the top portion of the temple structure.... that has a miraculous magnetic power within which stabilizes and sustains the electro magnetic changes and forces acting upon it due to the geostationary location and erection. About King Indradyumna found a mysterious old Brahmin carpenter who requested responsibility of carving lord's figure on a sandal wood log, but insisted that he would not be disturbed while he was carving the deity. After 7 days and all sounds stopped from the room, king force opened the room to discover the old man missing and GOD half made. Madala Panji.Madala - Panji was recorded in the Telugu Language & preserved in the Manuscript Library in Madras, which speaks about the story regarding image of Nila Madhaba of Udra - desa (Orissa). It seems to have written during 14th century when the king Bhanuder(II) had newly installed the images after destruction made by Kalapahad. The Puranic persons like Narada, Brahma etc. are found to be associated with the story, for which it cannot be taken as a reliable history of the origin of Jagannath. The name of king ‘Indradyumna’, who was supposed to be a worshipper of Vishnu, is not found in Madala - Panji. Therefore, it can be taken as pauranic rather than

Historical Document. : After the death of last independent king Mukundadev, Kalapahad invaded orissa & burnt the sacred wooden deities near river Ganga. After this the Delhi Emperor sent Manasingh to keep tranquil & peace in Utkal, during the region of Bhoi king Ramachandra, who inherited the ‘Gajapati’ title of Orissa. He organized the ‘Navakalebar’ for the second time by newly installing the images made of wood & then called ‘Daru – Brahma’ & most probably he had appointed a ‘Karan’ to write the daily affairs of Lord Jagannath in a ‘Panji’, which was being kept in the shape of ‘Madal’ (Drum) & thus that sacred temple record was called by the name “Madala – Panji”

The story of four thieves

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

                                              

In a village called  Kosi, there lived four friends, who were robbers by profession and they were merciless with their victims and their hearts turned to stone while carrying on with their robberies.

One day One of the four friends located a rich village and they planned to rob the village at night.

They went at night to that village and created terror by killing many people and robbing them, they entered houses by force and took everything valuable they could get.

They got much gold, gold coins,silver coins and precious stones worth a huge fortune. They were very happy with their work and left the village and entered a forest.

In that forest was a huge banyan tree on which a yaksha used to live. These robbers went to that tree to take rest for the night. They kept the loot under the tree and wanted to share it equally and honestly.

One of the robbers suggested that it is better they eat some nice food and then distribute the loot, as they are very hungry after all the days work. So they sent one robber to fetch food from another village.

The robber left to get food for all of them and on the way he got an idea that why should i get only 1/4th share and why not everything and he purchased some poison and mixed in the food he got from the village.

Meanwhile his other three friends also made a plan to kill this friend when he gets the food so that they can share more loot, as one share will be less.

The robber who went to get the food was killed by the other three friends as soon as he came back. As they were very hungry, they decided to have the food and then share the loot.

As soon as they ate the food, they all died as their friend had poisoned the food before bringing it to them.

The yaksha on the tree had been witness to all these dealings of the robbers and he was laughing about the ways of this world.

First of all they were robbers, and they wanted to share the loot honestly and equally and  they got greedy to get more and killed each other and the wealth was lying under the tree with no one to claim it.

so, the yaksha told the moral of the story to some wood cutters who passed by next day, the greed for wealth made these robbers to kill people and still they wanted to be honest with each other, how is it possible. it is not their nature.

The ultimate result of their dark deeds was death for everyone of them, Is it not true about the ways of this world.

Everyone is trying to cheat each other and ultimately death takes it all away. So much loss for getting this human form of life and wasting it away in useless pursuit of  temporary things.

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About Me srikanta sena dasa srikanta sena das, joined a spiritual organisation in india in 1995 and worked in that organisation in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat till 2005. since 2005, he has been working from an ashram started at vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, India. View my complete profile

Blog Archive ▼  2012 (3) ▼  August (3) Donate for annadanam seva. The story of four thieves Hare Krishna Ashram,Vizianagaram,A.P,India.

Prasadam - The power of sacred food

Prasadam:

The Power of Sacred Food

 

By relishing the sacred food of Krishna prasadam, it purifies our heart and protects us from falling into illusion. In this way, the devotee imbibes the spiritual potency of Lord Krishna and becomes cleansed of sinful reactions by eating food that is first offered in sacrifice to God. We thus also become free from reincarnation, the continued cycle of life and death. This process prepares us for entering the spiritual world since the devotees there also relish eating in the company of Krishna.

        Not only do we make advancement, but also all of the plants that are used in the preparations as an offering to God are also purified and reap spiritual benefit. However, we become implicated in karma if we cause the harm of any living being, even plants, if we use them for food without offering them to God. Thus prasadam also becomes the perfect yoga diet.

        Therefore, the cooking, the offering and then the respectful eating or honoring of this spiritualized food all become a part of the joyful process of devotional service to the Lord. Anyone can learn to do this and enjoy the happiness of experiencing prasadam. The Sunday love feast in the Hare Krishna temples is the opportunity in which everyone can participate in this opulence of Lord Krishna. So we invite you to attend as often as you like and make spiritual advancement simply by relishing Krishna prasadam.

On -gita Lord Krishna says, “All that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” So offering what we eat to the Lord is an integral part of bhakti-yoga and makes the food blessed with spiritual potencies. Then such food is called prasadam, or the mercy of the Lord. 

The Lord also describes what He accepts as offerings: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” Thus, we can see that the Lord does not need anything, but if one offers fruits, grains, and vegetarian foods, He will accept it. The Lord does not accept foods like meat, fish or eggs, but only those that are pure and naturally available without harming others. So we offer what Krishna likes, not those items which are distasteful to Him. We also do not use garlic, onions, or mushrooms when we prepare food for Krishna.

        The Lord is fully satisfied in Himself. He is the creator of all so everything is already His. He supplies us with food through nature, but we give thanks to Him by offering it back in a mood of loving devotion. So if His devotee offers something with love, out of His causeless mercy Krishna accepts it. The Lord is never hungry for our food, but for the love and devotion we offer. And then He reciprocates with that love. 

        So on the spiritual path eating food that is first offered to God is the ultimate perfection of a vegetarian diet. The Vedic literature explains that the purpose of human life is reawakening the soul’s original relationship with God, and accepting prasadam is the way to help us reach that goal.

        The food is meant to be cooked with the consciousness of love, knowing that it will be offered to Lord Krishna. In the spiritual world, Radharani cooks for Krishna and She never cooks the same preparation twice. The temple kitchen is understood to belong to Radharani.

        The ingredients are selected with great care and must be fresh, clean and pure vegetarian. Also, in cooking for Krishna we do not taste the preparations while cooking. We leave the first taste for Krishna when it is offered.

        After all the preparations are ready, we take a portion of each one and place it in bowls on a special plate and take it to the altar to offer it to the Deities or pictures of Krishna.

                Then the preparations are presented with special prayers as we ask that God accept our humble offering. The Lord accepts it with the most important part being the love with which it is offered. God does not need to eat, but

love for God which attracts Him to us and to accept our offering. Even if the most sumptuous banquet is offered to God but without devotion and love, Krishna will not be hungry to accept it. It is our love which catches the attention of Lord Krishna who is then inclined to accept our service. 

 

After He glances over and tastes that loving offering of vegetarian preparations, He leaves the remnants for us to honor and relish. Krishna’s potency is absorbed in that food. In this way material substance becomes spiritualized, which then affects our body and mind in a similar way. This is His special mercy for us. Thus, the devotional process becomes an exchange of love between us and God, which includes food. And that food not only nourishes our body, but also purifies our  consciousness.

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai

 

Why be Vegetarian

Why be Vegetarian       

On the spiritual path, there are several reasons why a person is recommended to be vegetarian. One primary reason is that we need to see the spiritual nature within all living beings, and that includes the animals and other creatures as well. Universal brotherhood means nonviolence to both humans and animals. It consists of understanding that animals also have souls. They are alive, conscious, and feel pain. And these are the indications of the presence of consciousness, which is the symptom of the soul. Even the Bible (Genesis 1.21; 1.24; 1.30; 2.7; and in many other places) refers to both animals and people as nefesh chayah, living souls. Those who eat meat, however, because of their desires to eat animals or see them as a source of food for one’s stomach, are not so easily able to understand the spiritual nature of all beings. After all, if you know that all living entities are spiritual in essence, and that all living beings that are conscious show the symptoms of the soul within, then how can you kill them unnecessarily? Any living creature is also the same as we are in the respect that it is also a child of the same father, a part of the same Supreme Being. Thus, the killing of animals shows a great lack in spiritual awareness.

        Many portions of the Vedic literature describe how the Supreme Being is the maintainer of innumerable living entities, humans as well as the animals, and is alive in the heart of every living being. Only those with spiritual consciousness can see the same Supreme Being in His expansion as Supersoul within every creature. To be kind and spiritual toward humans and be a killer or enemy toward animals is not a balanced philosophy, and exhibits one’s spiritual ignorance.

        The next reason for being vegetarian is to consider the amount of fear and suffering that animals experience in the slaughter industry. There are countless stories of how in fear cows cry, scream, and sometimes fall down dead while inside or even before they are taken into the slaughter house. Or how the veins of dead pigs are so big that it shows they have practically exploded from the fear the pig felt and the adrenalin that was produced while it was being led to slaughter. This certainly causes an immense amount of violence to permeate the atmosphere, which goes out and falls back on us in some form. Furthermore, the adrenalin and fear in the animal also produces toxins which then permeate the body of these animals, which meat-eaters ingest. People who consume such things cannot help but be effected by it. It causes tensions within them individually, which then spreads in their relations with others.

        The ancient Vedic text of the Manu-samhita (5.45-8) says, “He who injures innoxious beings from a wish to give himself pleasure never finds happiness, neither living nor dead. He who does not seek to cause the suffering of bonds and death to living creatures, but desires the good of all beings, obtains endless bliss. . . Meat can never be obtained without injury to living creatures, and injury to sentient beings is detrimental to the attainment of heavenly bliss; let him therefore shun the use of meat.”

        The Bible (Romans 14.21) also says, “It is neither good to eat flesh, nor to drink wine.” Another biblical commandment (Exodus 23.5) instructs us to help animals in pain, even if they belong to an enemy.

        The Buddhist scripture (Sutta-Nipata 393) also advises: “Let him not destroy or cause to be destroyed any life at all, or sanction the acts of those who do so. Let him refrain from even hurting any creature, both those that are strong and those that tremble in the world.” It is also said in the Buddhist scripture, the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, “The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great compassion.”

        For Jews, the Talmud (Avodah Zorah 18B) forbids the association with hunters, not to mention engaging in hunting.

        In the New Testament Jesus preferred mercy over sacrifice (Matthew 9.13; 12.7) and was opposed to the buying and selling of animals for sacrifice (Matthew 21.12-14; Mark 11.15; John 2.14-15). One of the missions of Jesus was to do away with animal sacrifice and cruelty to animals (Hebrews 10.5-10).

        We especially find in Isaiah where Jesus scorns the slaughter and bloodshed of humans and animals. He declares (1.15) that God does not hear the prayers of animal killers: “But your iniquities have separated you and your God. And your sins have hid His face from you, so that He does not hear. For your hands are stained with blood. . . Their feet run to evil and they hasten to shed innocent blood. . . they know not the ways of peace.” Isaiah also laments that he saw, “Joy and merrymaking, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine, as you thought, ‘let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” (22.13)

        It is also established in the Bible (Isaiah 66.3), “He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man.” In this regard St. Basil (320-379 A.D.) taught, “The steam of meat darkens the light of the spirit. One can hardly have virtue if one enjoys meat meals and feasts.”

        Thus, we should find alternatives to killing animals to satisfy our appetites, especially when there are plenty of other healthy foods available. Otherwise, there must be reactions to such violence. We cannot expect peace in the world if we go on unnecessarily killing so many millions of animals for meat consumption or through abuse.

        The third factor for being vegetarian is karma. As Newton’s third law of motion relates, for every action there must be an equal and opposite reaction. On the universal scale this is called the law of karma, meaning what goes around comes around. This affects every individual, as well as communities and countries. As the nation sows, so shall it reap. This is something we should take very seriously, especially in our attempt to bring peace, harmony, and unity into the world. If so much violence is produced by the killing of animals, where do you think the reactions to this violence goes? It comes back to us in so many ways, such as the form of neighborhood and   community  crime,   and  on  up  to  world wars. Violence breeds violence. Therefore, this will continue unless we know how to change.

        Isaac Bashevis Singer, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature, asked, “How can we pray to God for mercy if we ourselves have no mercy? How can we speak of rights and justice if we take an innocent creature and shed its blood?” He went on to say, “I personally believe that as long as human beings will go shedding the blood of animals, there will never be any peace.”

                In conclusion, we can mention the March 10, 1966 issue of L’Osservatore della Domenica,  the  Vatican weekly  newspaper,

in which Msgr. Ferdinando Lambruschini wrote: “Man’s conduct with regard to animals should be regulated by right reason, which prohibits the infliction of purposeless pain and suffering on them. To ill treat them, and make them suffer without reason, is an act of deplorable cruelty to be condemned from a Christian point of view. To make them suffer for one’s own pleasure is an exhibition of sadism which every moralist must denounce.” Eating animals for the pleasure of one’s tongue when there are plenty of other foods available certainly fits into this form of sadism. It stands to reason that this is counterproductive to any peace and unity or spiritual progress we wish to make. It is one of the things we need to consider seriously if we want to improve ourselves or the world. So here are a few reasons why a genuinely spiritual person will choose to be vegetarian.

 

BEYOND VEGETARIANISM

 

In the process of bhakti-yoga, devotion goes beyond simple vegetarianism, and food becomes a means of spiritual progress. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says, “All that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” So offering what we eat to the Lord is an integral part of bhakti-yoga and makes the food blessed with spiritual potencies. Then such food is called prasadam, or the mercy of the Lord.

        The Lord also describes what He accepts as offerings: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” Thus, we can see that the Lord accepts fruits, grains, and vegetarian foods. The Lord does not accept foods like meat, fish or eggs, but only those that are pure and naturally available without harming others.

        So on the spiritual path eating food that is first offered to God is the ultimate perfection of a vegetarian diet. The Vedic literature explains that the purpose of human life is reawakening the soul’s original relationship with God, and accepting prasadam is the way to help us reach that goal.

Who is Krishna

 

Who is Sri  Krishna?

Many people may ask, “Who is Krishna?” There are numerous Vedic references that can be used to provide the proper explanations.

        To begin with, it is the Vedic literature that most clearly reveals the nature and identity of the Absolute Truth or Supreme Personality. One such reference is the first and second verses of the Vedanta Sutras. The first verse states simply that “Now one should enquire into the Brahman.” This means that now that you have attained a human body, you should use your intelligence to discover what is really spiritual and what is the Absolute Truth. In no other form of life does the living being have such an opportunity. The second verse begins to explain what is this Absolute Truth: “He from whom everything originates is the Absolute.” Thus, as it refers to “He”, the source of all that exists, the ultimate point of creation is a person.

                The Rig-veda (1.154.4-5) continues: “Him whose three places are filled with sweetness and imperishable joy, who verily alone upholds the threefold, the earth, the heaven, and all living beings. May I attain to His well-loved mansion where men devoted to God are happy. For there springs the well of honey  in Vishnu’s highest step.”

        As explained in the Caitanya-caritamrita (Adi. 2.106), Lord Krishna is the original primeval Lord, the source of all other expansions. All the revealed scriptures accept Sri Krishna as the Supreme Lord. Furthermore (Cc.Adi 2.24-26), it goes on to relate that Lord Krishna Himself is the one undivided Absolute Truth and ultimate reality. He manifests in three features, namely the Brahman (all-pervading spiritual energy), Paramatma (Supersoul in all beings) and Bhagavan (the Supreme Personality). The Svetasvatara Upanishad (5.4) also relates that the Supreme Being, Lord Krishna, is worshipable by everyone, the one adorable God, repository of all goodness, ruler of all creatures, born from the womb [in His pastime of Lord Krishna], for He is eternally present in all living beings [as Supersoul]. Furthermore, it states (3.8), “I have realized this transcendental Personality of Godhead who shines most brilliantly like the sun beyond all darkness. Only by realizing Him one goes beyond the cycle of birth and deaths. Absolutely there is no other means to get God-realization.” 

        The Svetasvatara Upanishad (5.6) further elaborates that Lord Krishna is the topmost of all the gods. “He is the most esoteric aspect hidden in the Upanishads which form the essence of the Vedas. Brahma knows Him as the source of himself as well as the Vedas. The gods like Shiva and the seers of the ancient, like Vamadeva rishi realizing Him, ever became dovetailed in His service and therefore they naturally became immortal.” And in (6.7) it continues: “Let us take our final resort at Him who is the Transcendent and the only adorable Lord of the universe, who is the highest Deity over all the deities, the Supreme Ruler of all rulers–Him let us know as the Paramount Divinity.”

        The GopalaTapani Upanishad, which is about Gopala or Krishna, is quite clear on this point, and naturally has numerous verses that explain the nature of the Absolute Truth and Lord Krishna. A few of such verses include the following: “Brahma with his full awareness emphatically said, ‘Sri Krishna is the Supreme Divinity. (1.3) He who meditates on Sri Krishna, serves Him with unalloyed devotion and [makes His transcendental senses gratified by engaging one’s own spiritual senses in] rendering service to Him–all of them become immortal and attain the perfection of life. (1.10) Sri Krishna is that Supreme Divinity as the Paramount Eternal Reality among all other sentient beings and the Fountain-source of consciousness to all conscious beings. He is the only reality without a second but as a Supersoul dwelling in the cave of the hearts of all beings He rewards them in accordance with their respective actions in life. Those men of intuitive wisdom who serve Him with loving devotion surely attain the highest perfection of life. Whereas those who do not do so never gain this highest beatitude of their lives. (1.22) …  This Sri Krishna who is most dear to you all is the cause of all causes. He is the efficient cause of the creation of the universe as well as the superintending force for propelling the jiva souls. Therefore, although He is the enjoyer as well as the Lord of all sacrifices, He is ever atmarama, self-satisfied.” (2.17)

        So, summarily, as it is explained and concluded in a variety of Vedic texts, Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, as it is said in Sanskrit, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam (Bhagavata Purana 1.3.28), Krishna is the source of all other incarnations and forms of God. He is the ultimate and end of all Truth and philosophical enquiry, the goal or end result of Vedanta. He is the all-attractive personality and source of all pleasure for which we are always hankering. He is the origin from which everything else manifests. He is the unlimited source of all power, wealth, fame, beauty, wisdom, and renunciation. Thus, no one is greater than Him. Since Krishna is the source of all living beings, He is also considered the Supreme Father and source of all worlds. He is shown with a blue or blackish complexion. This represents absolute, pure consciousness, which also is unconditional love. Krishna is the embodiment of love. He is also sat-chit-ananda vigraha, which means the form of eternal knowledge and bliss, for which we are all seeking.

                The reason why the Lord is called “Krishna” is explained in a book known as the Sri Caitanya Upanishad, which is connected with the Atharva-veda. In verse twelve it is explained: “These three names of the Supreme Lord (Hari, Krishna and Rama) may be explained in the following way: (1) ‘Hari’ means ‘He who unties [harati] the knot of material desire in the hearts of the living entities’; (2) ‘Krishna’ is divided into two syllables ‘krish’ and ‘na’. ‘Krish’ means ‘He who attracts the minds of all living entities’, and ‘na’ means ‘the supreme transcendental pleasure’. These two syllables combine to become the name ‘Krishna’; and (3) ‘Rama’ means ‘He who delights [ramayati] all living entities’, and it also means ‘He who is full of transcendental bliss’. The maha-mantra consists of the repetition of these names of the Supreme Lord.” In this way, Krishna’s names represent His character and qualities, which, in this case, means the greatest and all attractive transcendental pleasure. 

So, as we further our investigation of the identity of Sri Krishna in the Vedic literature, we find that they are full of descriptions of Lord Krishna as the Supreme Being. These actually can help us understand the nature of God regardless of

which religion we may affiliate ourselves with. So it is encouraged for anyone to study these Vedic texts to increase one’s understanding of God and spiritual reality.

                If we are expected to understand God, then who better to explain His qualities and characteristics than Himself? So in the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna provides the Self-revelatory truth about His position in His explanations to Arjuna. There are numerous verses in this regard, of which the following are but a few: “And when you have thus learned the truth, you will know that all living beings are but part of Me--and that they are in Me, and are Mine. (4.35) The sages, knowing Me to be the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries. (5.29) Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution.” (7.6)

        “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” (Bg.10:8)

        Going on to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Krishna specifically explains that before, during, and after the creation, there is always Himself that exists. “Brahma it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Supreme Lord.” (Bhag.2.9.33)

                The Brahma-samhita (5.40) explains how the Brahman is but Sri Krishna’s physical brilliance: “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord who is endowed with great power. The glowing effulgence of His transcendental form is the impersonal Brahman, which is absolute, complete and unlimited, and which displays the varieties of countless planets with their different opulences in millions and millions of universes.”

                                From the small amount of Vedic evidence that is supplied herein, it is clear that Lord Krishna’s name, form, pastimes, etc., exist eternally in the spiritual dimension and are never affected by even a tinge of the material energy. Thus, He can appear as often and whenever He likes as He is, or in any form He chooses within this material manifestation. He is completely and totally spiritual for He is the Absolute Truth. As the Vedanta Sutras explain, the Absolute Truth is He from whom all else manifests. Thus, the Absolute Truth is the ultimate Person known as Sri Krishna



HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE  HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE