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

 

God, accessible to His devotees

 

CHENNAI, APRIL 20. The purpose of the incarnations of the

Almighty has been described in the scriptures as protection of

Dharma whenever it is on the wane. But each incarnation is unique

and gives an inkling into the mystery of the relationship of the

Lord with His creation, especially with His devotees. The

uniqueness of His manifestation as Krishna has been underscored

by the preceptors and saints as the expression of His quality of

easy accessibility, for the sake of His devotees. The Almighty

who is the Lord of the entire creation took birth as a human

being and was brought up by His foster parents in the simple and

rustic cowherd community of Gokul.

 

The Azhwars, the mystic-saints, have portrayed Lord Krishna as

the darling of these simple folks, especially the manner in which

He endeared Himself to one and all as the butter-thief given to

pranks, whom no one could resist. Tiruppan Azhwar in his hymn

Amalanadipiran describes His irresistible appeal, ``The dark-hued

Lord is the one who came as a cowherd-lad and stole butter. He is

the Lord of gods and the Lord of Arangam also. He has stolen my

heart. After seeing my Lord of ambrosial delight, my eyes will

not see another.''

 

In her discourse, Smt. Sudha Seshayyan said that a poet had

highlighted that Lord Krishna for the sake of punishing those who

dishonoured His devotee, a woman in distress resorted to a great

battle, to show that He never forgets even a small act of

devotion or help. When Draupadi was dragged to the assembly where

elders were present after her husband had lost everything in the

game of dice no one including her five valiant husbands could

come to her rescue when Dussasana started disrobing her.

 

Helpless she appealed to the Lord, ``I have heard that when a

great danger threatens us nothing can help us, nothing except

complete surrender to the Lord. He will help me.'' She made no

attempts to protect herself and prayed, ``Krishna, Vasudeva, they

say that You are the last refuge of the helpless. You are

everything to me. They say You are everywhere, that You are

present where Your devotee sings Your praises. You must be here.

I surrender myself to You. It is up to You to save me.''

 

Draupadi's honour was saved and an interpretation is given by

scholars of an incident related in the Bhagavata Purana about a

timely help she had rendered to Lord Krishna during the stay of

the Pandavas in the forest for which He was grateful to her.

Needless to add that Lord Krishna stood by the Pandavas, His

devotees, throughout their lives.

 

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