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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/07/09/stories/2002070900600800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

  

 

God's association bestows sanctity

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JULY 9

 

.. Religious tradition considers certain places, rivers and mountains sacred

because of their association with incarnations of the Lord, His consecrated

images and His devotees who have worshipped Him in these places. The sanctity of

River Ganga is a case in point as it was blessed with the touch of the feet of

Lord Vishnu even from its origin. Likewise, the very mention of Yamuna evokes

Lord Krishna's name and His inimitable deeds during His childhood on the banks

of this river. The Bhagavata Purana mentions that the waters of Yamuna parted to

make way for Vasudeva when he wanted to reach the newborn babe Krishna to the

safety of Nandagopa's house in Gokul.

 

This episode has been a perennial source of inspiration for mystics and saints.

Vedanta Desika in his hymn, the Yadavabhyudaya, employs the oft-quoted analogy

of portraying the feet of the Lord as the boat to cross the ocean of worldly

life. He exclaims that Vasudeva instead forded the Yamuna carrying Lord Krishna

(the boat) on his head. The saint-poetess Meera also handles the same analogy in

one of her songs in which she refers to the divine name as the boat, which

enabled her to cross the ocean of worldly bondage.

 

In his discourse, Sri B.Sundar Kumar said Andal, one of the Azhwars of the

Srivaishnava tradition, had extolled Yamuna as pure and great. In the Bhagavata

Purana, Suka describes that Yamuna parted and afforded passage to Vasudeva just

as the ocean did to Rama. The commentarial tradition has given immense scope for

imagination in its interpretation as to how the river attained its greatness.

Yamuna had a misgiving that Ganga was privileged as she was sanctified by the

touch of the Lord's feet and she also yearned to be associated with the Lord.

And, as if to fulfil her wish in His manifestation as Krishna, the Lord as soon

as He was born was taken across the river when she had a chance to serve Him.

How? The waves that arose on both the sides as she parted to make way for

Vasudeva touched Krishna's tiny feet in obeisance like hands do in worship.

Yamuna carried the flowers and fruits that devotees offered to her to the Lord.

She prayed that He should spend His days on her ban!

ks. Perhaps it was in answer to her prayer that the Lord condescended to perform

the divine deeds during His childhood on the banks of the Yamuna. It is no

wonder Yamuna has since the incarnation of Krishna come to be associated with

Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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