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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/20/stories/2002062000780800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Supreme Being is Immeasurable

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JUNE 20

 

.. The essence of the scriptural work, Srimad Bhagavatham, detailing in

particular the incarnation of the Lord in Heaven, appearing as a boy in the

cowherd community, is the demonstration of the deep yearning of an individual

soul to reach God's empire, after getting totally detached from earthly

activities. When the Divine call comes to sever ties with the world, such an

anxious soul will be found ready to shed its ego and approach God to be in His

presence. The epic narrates how the innocent, unlettered maiden approached the

Divine Child, Krishna, unmindful of the time and the nature of duties they were

engaged in and reveals their admirable trait of detachment and readiness to seek

communion with Him. The Lord, who visited this world, was not a mere man but one

whose contact transformed sinners into saints, ignorant as the illumined and

sense-bound beings into spiritual ecstatics. All His human actions during His

stay here were to bless those who were eager to come to Him !

and to show His "Infinity" and Supremacy.

 

The whole episode of Rasa Leela can thus be held as symbolic. Why there is

mention in this scriptural text only about women (Gopis) has been suitably

commented upon by pointing out to the traditional (spiritual) view that all His

creations are only women and He is the only male. Even among these cowherd

maiden not all approached Him immediately. Those who joined Him were fully

evolved souls ready to shed their human frames and proceed to Heaven not to

return. Their action has brought out their attitude of detachment to the body.

In his Bhagavatham discourse, Sri B. Sundar Kumar pointed out how Krishna, the

Supreme Being, who transcends matter is Immeasurable and has the ability to

assume different forms, adopted an individuality only to bestow salvation on the

bonded souls. All those who always fix their mind on Him totally shedding their

ego, through any sentiment (affection, sense of unity or devotion) can attain

Him. As (the child) Krishna played a dulcet tune on His flut!

e, ravishing the hearts of women of the village, they (the latter) hastened to

proceed towards Him. They were under a spell and could not be prevented by any

one. The message of Rasa Leela is the need to discard attachment to the body and

strive to get all ties snapped instantly. The fruits of good deeds and

consequences of sins committed, being exhausted, they gave up their physical

bodies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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