Article sent from The Hindu on indiaserver.com

[Guest guest]

=============================================================

This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( chandran )

=============================================================

Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Extreme compassion of Lord Krishna

 

CHENNAI, AUG 11. One among the mistakes committed by a few highly

placed men is to entertain a belief that God can be pleased by an

extravagant display of wealth and power in their possession. They

fail to realise that He can be approached by devotees by their

genuine prayers and acknowledging the several methods shown by

Him to reach Him. It is for each individual to thank Him for the

opportunities so provided and pursue the path of his choice. No

doubt, it is not possible to repay the debt of gratitude for

God's benevolent gestures but certainly his devotion will gladden

His heart.

 

Scriptures describe the countless auspicious qualities of God and

one among them is His affability. He will be ready to carry out

any task when a devotee needs it. An episode mentions how a

cobbler was suddenly asked to stitch 100 pairs of footwears

overnight and deliver them next morning, failing which he would

have to face the consequences. Lord Panduranga visited the poor

man's dwelling and even as he was immersed in his prayers,

completed this stupendous task. How can anyone describe God's

mercy?

 

The Mahabharatham refers to the extreme compassion of Lord

Krishna by accepting to be an envoy of Pandavas, who relied on

Him totally and try to bring about peace through parleys with

their opponents. To receive Him and hoping to win Him over to

their side, the Kauravas had made elaborate arrangements with all

fanfare. Each one, even the grandsire Bhishma who was aware of

His identity, claimed that the respective mansions belonged to

them whereas Vidhura alone said ``It is yours''. Krishna stayed

with him demonstrating how God is not concerned with wealth,

status, caste or other considerations of a devotee. Arrogant

Duryodhana, proud of his position, failed to recognise what

powers God possessed. At one stage when Krishna was due to arrive

at the assembly hall to plead on behalf of the Pandavas, the

wicked man even ordered that no one should get up and show

reverence to the ``cowherd representative.''

 

In her discourse, Srimathi Jaya Srinivasan referred to

Duryodhana's complaint to Krishna as to why He was indifferent to

his hospitality when there was no enmity between them. Krishna's

reply was stunning: ``I am the soul of the Pandavas but you have

been hating them without reason for the last so many years and

are inimical to them. They are dear to Me. So, the food which you

offer to Me is that of an enemy. It should not be eaten. Your

lunch is not welcome to Me and I have hence chosen to eat with

Vidhura who is dear to Me.''

 

Copyrights: 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.

 

Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly

prohibited without the consent of The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.