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Contextualising Krishna Lila 23 April 2017_Organiser Dummy.qxd 4/13/2017 9:11 PM Page 32 Contextualising Krishna Lila To say about young Lord Krishna of hardly eight years of age, playing with Gopis, is sexual in nature, is just profanity which only an uncultured, perverted and distorted mind can think of n Neera Misra such educated senior legal professional person suggested that Government t is often said about Bharat that it must create an anti-Krishna brigade! lived at various civilisational levels What a fantastic example of an ‘edu- at the same time. In our country cated’ person’s pathetic ignorance of Ithat is ‘India’, there are people who his own country’s cultural and spiritual know that they do not know, those who ethos. Then comes a prominent writer know that they know, but critical is the on Mahabharata, who first proudly (on course the popular cinema and theatre category of those who are not aware Television) takes Panchala region of too. To know how misplaced, wrong that they do not know, but yet convince Central Uttar Pradesh to Punjab, and and hurting these comments are, we go others that they know. This last group now suggests names from to the primary source of Krishna Lila is normally found among section of the Mahabharata to name the anti-eve and Ras Lila of Sri Krishna, the educated professional group and is teasing brigade. All this reinforces the Bhagavata Purana itself, and the Vedic quite vocal. It causes the biggest dam- belief that a sizable educated class has philosophy of attaining moksha, salva- age to our nation by its public display either no knowledge, or is deliberately tion, via any of the three means, name- of half baked knowledge. Thoughtless insensitive to our culture, history and ly, Knowledge (Gyan), Action (Karma) uttering on politics, law or general spirituality, especially of the Vedic and and Devotion (Bhakti). matters can be ignored, but their com- Mahabharata period, the relevance of From the Mahabharata and the ments on sensitive matters of faith, Bhagwat Gita and ancient Bhagavad Gita we learn about Krishna hurting religious beliefs, cannot, and Sanskrit texts. as friend, teacher and diplomat, but the must not be ignored. The reference of Sri Krishna was tenth part of Bhagavata Purana tells Coming to specifics, as the govern- made because, as per their understand- us about Krishna as a child. We know ment of Uttar Pradesh started in ing, Sri Krishna was a great eve teaser, about his miracles, divinity and play- earnest to find solutions to the ‘teasing thereby ‘advocating anti-Krishna fulness with his friend Radha and the and harassment’ faced by young girls, Brigade’. Their knowledge comes from Gopis. It shows Krishna simply engag- they formed a special police force to their distorted ideas of the stories of ing in lilas, or divine and intimate play instill a sense of fear among eve the Krishna Lila and Ras Lila, that with his devotees. It presents this inti- teasers, and security among our girls have been depicted in various forms of mate relationship with God as the high- and young women. In this context, one arts, songs, dances, paintings, and of est goal of human existence. This tenth section of Bhagavata Purana, dedicat- Romeo loved just one lady, while Krishna ed to Sri Krishna, is responsible for the widespread popularity of the was a legendary eve teaser. Would Bhagavata Purana, as also, unfortu- Adityanath have the guts to call his vigi- nately, the great misrepresentations, lantes anti Krishna squads misinterpretations and misperceptions —Prashant Bhushan said in a tweet on that have crept up in the last thousand April 2, 2017 odd years. Much damage was also 40 Organiser n April 23, 2017 23 April 2017_Organiser Dummy.qxd 4/13/2017 9:11 PM Page 33 INSIGHT Krishna comes after the great spiri- tual churnings of Sat Yuga and Treta Yuga. He is Vishnu himself, revealing his divine nature even as a child. He grew up as an evolved soul who per- ceive the decline in dharma and spiritu- ality. In Mahabharata we see him treat Draupadi as his equal ‘intellectual’ friend, we see him encourage his own sister Subhadra to marry her beloved Arjuna. Radha was his childhood soul- mate. Radha and Krishna are embodi- ments of deep platonic love and respect. Gopis were all mates whom he used to inspire to feel as equal in soci- ety. Many scholars, however, view the Bhagavata Purana as a remarkably early literary work that questions and discusses social and gender norms in the 5th to 10th-century Bharat. There is an interesting story on how He chal- lenged Kamdev to prove that his rela- tionship is anything other than platon- ic. Kamdev lost. To suggest a young done by Jaydev’s Geet Govinda of the term refers to an episode of the Krishna of hardly eight years of age, 1170 CE, version wherein he brings in devotional text in the Bhagavata playing with Gopis, is sexual in nature, the ‘eroticism, in a child’s playfulness Purana, in which the divine and is just profanity which only an and attachment for his fellow beings, youthful Krishna meets the young girls unevolved, materialistic and distorted irrespective of gender bias, showing of his hometown, Vrindavana, and mind can think of. Dragging Lord the poets lack of intellectual dances in divine joy. Krishna had thou- Krishna’s name into mundane material- sublimation and spiritual insight. It sands of Gopis who were attracted to istic actions is great disrespect to Sri was such distortions that influence the him from his childhood, with whom he Krishna’s worshippers. minds of people who do not have that used to play, dance and also teased The Vedas teach us that the true higher level of consciousness, experi- them. His dearest Gopi was Radha. As nature of all living beings is the soul, ence and divinity. The brutal attack on per Swami Sivanada, in Rasakreeda which will leave the temporary life on traditional ancient religious beliefs and Gopis love for Krishna was not a phys- earth, to ultimately go back to the destruction of places of worship in and ical passion. It was supreme love. For creator, the Brahama. Krishna also around Mathura also reinforced the them Lord Krishna was the living God. reveals his ‘Vishwarupa’ to Arjuna. Bhakti Movement, for salvation via He was the moving image of the Bhakti (spiritual devotion) is the way to Bhakti or devotion. The Supreme God Supreme Lord. Their faith was intense. connect with God. Krishna Lila and Ras mingles with humans through Krishna When they thought of Lord Krishna Lila are tales of Supreme Being and Lila and Ras Lila, and shows them they forgot their worldly activities. his Bhakts. the divine path. They were merged in the love of The song of the Gopis (Gopi Gitam) Bhagavata Purana includes the Krishna. Lord Krishna attracted their in Bhagavata Purana (Skanda most enduring images and stories of hearts from His very boyhood. He was X,Chapter 31) bears ample proof that Krishna: the mischievous child who a very beautiful child. He was beauty Gopis regarded Sri Krishna as the steals butter; the God as a child who incarnate. Supreme Lord. Ras Lilas are organised holds the entire universe within him- One has to reach a certain level of during Holi and Janmaashtami, estab- self; the boy who can slay demons and intellectual and spiritual insight to lishes its spiritual nature. While the Gita move an entire mountain with one fin- interpret and understand the Sanskrit is intellectual Bhakti, Bhagavata Purana ger; the cowherd who is the love of all texts of ancient India. The ancient is emotional Bhakti, where Krishna’s the gopis, who are attracted by his Vedas evolved through meditation, Divinity attains full brilliance. spiritual music, follow him to attain teaches us to discipline the mind, body ( The writer is chairperson of Draupadi divine ecstasy. This is his ‘Râslila’ and and senses. Dream Trust) April 23 , 2017 n Organiser 41.
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