How to attain Krishna?

“Krishna literally means dark. That is why the dark phase of the moon is called Krishna paksha in the Hindu calendar. His other name, Ghana Shyama, has a similar meaning: dark as a rain-bearing cloud. He was born during the varsha ritu.

Krishna killed Kamsa, his maternal uncle, to end his sinful rule. Later, he became Arjuna's charioteer, and counsellor during Mahabharata war. Bhagavad Gita, His sermon delivered to Arjuna, before the commencement of the war, is a neat summary of the Vedic principles for a righteous life.

Krishna emerged as the most enchanting avatar of Vishnu during the Bhakti movement, and deeply influenced literature, painting, dance, and music.” [i]

Navadha Bhakti[ii]

Srimad Bhagavatam (07.05.23) describes navadha bhakti, the nine ways of offering prayers:

sravanam kirtanam vishnoh smaranam pada-sevanam

archanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam

The nine ways are: 1. Sravana (hearing), 2. Kirtana (chanting), 3. Smarana (remembrance, meditation), 4. Pada sevana (worshipping His lotus-feet), 5. Archana (ritualistic worship, as in a temple), 6. Vandana (offering prayers), 7. Dasya (becoming His servant), 8. Sakhya (becoming His best friend), and 9. Atma-nivedana (surrendering all that one has).

How to attain Krishna?[iii]

Vaishnavism provides for a variety of ways of attaining Krishna, the Supreme Godhead- total surrender, nama japa, Leela smarana, Krishna Katha shravana, etc. Each devotee also chooses, as per her own preference and predilection, an equation with Krishna, a specific relation with the Godhead. Krishna could be Vishnu, the Paramatma, Bala Gopal, the little adorable child, Rasa Bihari Krishna Nagar, the lover extra-ordinary, a sakha, friend, guide, and counsellor, as he was to Arjuna and the Pandavas.

According to the equation, the devotee would assume or acquire a bhava or mood, to be Yashoda, Radha, Arjuna, or even Krishna. Mirabai had become so immersed in Krishna that she had become Radha. Chaitanya became Krishna, and Jagannath Das (who composed the iconic Odia Bhagavata) became Radha. In that heightened state of devotion and consciousness, the devotee no longer perceives any distinction or duality between the God and herself. There is total merger and oneness. Such devotion or bhakti is the simplest way to attain Krishna, according to Vaishnavism.

Gita Govinda

Gita Govinda by Jayadeva is among the finest Sanskrit kavyas, and possibly the best in shringara rasa, celebrating the celestial love between Krishna and Radha. This lyrical poem inspired a genre of miniature paintings aspiring to capture a glimpse of that divine love and convey visually what the kavi had done through words.

There is an interesting story about how Jayadeva completed his kavya. Some readers have read this story in my previous blog: Invisible Poet.[iv]

Pichwai: Nathdwara style of painting

During the later part of the 17^th century, the idol of ShriGovardhanNath Ji was brought from Govardhan mountain of Braj bhumi, installed in Rajputana, to be thereafter worshipped as ShriNath Ji of Nathdwara.

Pichwai, a local tradition of a hanging a ceremonial piece of painted cloth behind the idol created a new school of painting- the Nathdwara style of painting.

I was privileged to receive a complimentary copy of ‘Pichwai: Nathdwara Chitrashaili par Ekagra’ Edited by Narmada Prasad Upadhyay (an erudite scholar and a much-awarded author), and L.N. Tiwari. Though brief, this monograph provides an excellent introduction to the beautiful Nathdwara style of painting.[v]

(Krishna-Janma; Nathdwara style of Painting; Source: Pichwai, Edited by N.P. Upadhyay & L.N. Tiwari)

ShriKrishnashtakam

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, ShriKrishnashtakam is one of my favourite bhajans. For the Sanskrit lyrics, my English translation of the bhajan, and references to a few excellent renditions; you may check the link below.[vi]

Happy Janmashtami!

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[i] Extract from this blogger’s book: O Krishna, O Son! Yashoda’s Sublime Song of Sorrow; First published in 2021, Fourth Edition in 2022. The book is available at Amazon, Kindle, and Flipkart.

 

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Link for my blog: Invisible Poet: https://pkdash-author.blogspot.com/2023/03/invisible-poet.html

 

[v] This monograph is published by Vraj Sanskruti Shodh Sansthan, Vrindaban, Mathura, email: bcrivrindavan@gmail.com

 

[vi] ShriKrishnashtakam:  https://pkdash-author.blogspot.com/2023/09/shrikrishnashtakam.html