Tag: Vasudeva

  • Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum Bhishma Stuti, Janmashtami

    Krishna Janmastami for 2013, falls on Wednesday, the 28 August.

    Krishna, forgetting his Vow, bears Arms against Bhishma.
    Krishna, forgetting his Vow, bears Arms against Bhishma.

    Bhishma is the Grandsire of  all Hindus.

    He is so revered that Hindus perform the Tharpana, which is performed  by one for his ancestors, for him ,though Bhishma never married for He wanted his father’s offspring by his second wife to ascend the throne.

    As he has done what is impossible for a Man( Being a Naishtika Brahmachari, that is not allowing semen to fall ), Devavrata was rechristened Bhishma(one who does the impossible).

    Lord Krishna has(d)the highest regard for Bhishma.

    It was mutual.

    During  the Mahabharata War,  as Bhishma lay dying, Krishna takes the Pandavas to Bhishma’s death-bed and asks Bhishma to advise Yudhisthir   on Dharma.

    Bhishma  says,

    ‘Krishna, You are Dharma,

    Why do you ask me to do this?

    You can do it by yourself’

    (Throughout the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna addresses Bhishma as ‘Grandfather!)

    Krishna replies.

    ‘Dharma , when spoken by The One who has practiced, is strengthened”

    This, mind you, from Krishna!

    Let me paraphrase one essential sloka form Bhishma Stuti, Bhishma’s prayer of Krishna as addressed to Duryodhana -Bhishma Parva 67/24)

    Vasudeva is is the Devata among all the Devatas.

    He is the Embodiment of Dharma.

    He fulfills everyone’s desires.

    He id the best among everyone.

    He is the Creator.

    He is the Action and its performer.

    He is the Yagya, Yagya Performer and its results.

    He is Lord unto Himself.

    He is in the present, past and the Future.

    He created Prajapathi(Fater of all).

    He is the austerity of the Seers.

    He is the Dawn, Dusk , the time when day Day meets Night and night meets the Day, Day and  Night.

    He is the Infinite.

    He is also Finite.

    He supports the World,Vishnu.

    He is Brahma,Rudra,

    He is the Sadguna Brahman.

    He is the Father.He is the parent of all.

    He is Vamana and Narasimha.

    He is the Grand sire of the Universe.

    He is easily accessible.

    He resides in the heart of the Seers, Hrishikesa.

    In whom Krishna is pleased,he will get everything.

    If one is afraid and takes refuge in Him, he need not Fear.

    One who loves Krishna, will transcend desires.

    The Bhishma Stuti.

    This great prayer occurs in the Mahabharatha. The Grand old man old man of Mahabharatha is Bheeshma, the son of King Santhanu and the grand father of Pandavas and Kouravas. He joined the war on the side of hte Kauravas because he was bound by an oath he had given his father. Lord Krishna who refused to participate in the war took an oath that he would not take part in the war but be a charioteer to Arjuna. He also took an oath that he will never raise any weapon during the war. Bheeshma who is a great devotee of Krishna and also a great warrior took an oath that he will make Lord Krishna take up his weapon. So he went on sending sharp arrows at Arjuna and Lord Krishna. At a particular time Lord Krishna felt that Arjuna is loosing the war against Bheeshma. So unable to bear this he picked up a chariot wheel from the ground and jumped at Bheeshma. Bheeshma explains this in this prayer as done due to his love towards his great devotee.

    Ithi mathir Upakalpithaa vithrushnaa,
    Bhagawathe sathwatha pungave vibhoomni,
    Swasukhamupagathe kwichidwiharthu,
    Prakruthimupeeyushiyad bhava pravahaa., 1

    That Brhamam which is sunk within itself,
    Some times, with an interest to play,
    Takes some form of nature leading.
    To the effulgent tide of Samsara,
    And I believe it has taken the form,
    Of this great one of the clan of Yadus,
    And I submit it to him, my self,
    Without any interests or desires.

    Tribhuvana kamanam, thamala varnam,
    Ravi kara gowrambharam Dhandaane,
    Vapuralakakulavruthaana naabhjam,
    Vijya sakhe rathirasthu metanavadhya., 2

    Oh friend of Arjuna, let my mind,
    Attach without any expectations to you,
    Who is prettiest in all three worlds,
    Who is blue coloured like Thamala,
    Who wears dresses that are yellow,
    Similar to the shine of the early sun,
    And who has a pretty lotus like face,
    That is hidden by the pretty tresses,
    Which flow from the top of his forehead.

    Yudhi thuragarajo vidhumra vishya,
    Khachaluleetha srama varyalam kruthasye,
    Mama nisithasasairvibhidhyamana,
    Thwachi vilasad kavachetasthu Krishna athma., 3

    Let my mind and soul rest in that Krishna,
    Who is covered by the dust raised by hooves of horses,
    Whose hair uncontrollably moves here and there,
    Whose lotus like face is covered by sweat of exertion,
    Whose body has been pierced by my sharp arrows,
    And whose armour shines with the spread of blood.

    Sapadi sakhivaco nisamya madhye,
    Nija parayor balayo radham nivesya,
    Sthithavathi para sainikayurakshana,
    Hruthavathi Partha sakhe rather mamasthu., 4

    Let my heart firmly stay with the friend of Arjuna,
    Who positioned the chariot in between armies,
    As per the request made by Arjuna.
    And killed all the enemies just by his glance.

    Vyava hitha prathanaamukham nireekshya,
    Swajanavadha dwimukhadya dosha budhya,
    Kumathimaharadathma vidhyayaa,
    Scharanarathi paramasya thasya me asthu., 5

    Let my mind rest firmly on the divine one,
    Who taught the science of soul to Arjuna,
    Whose deluded mind lead him to take recourse,
    To the argument that he would be killing his own people.

    Swanigama mapahaya math prathigna,
    Mruthamadhi karthumavaplutho radhastha,
    Drutha radhacharanotabhyachalad gur-
    Haririva hanthumibham gadothareeyam., 6

    Not caring for his oath but trying to make my oath right,
    He took a decision to kill me and jumped from the Charriot,
    Like a Lion rushing to kill an elephant, along with his Chakra,
    Making the earth shake unknowingly and slipped his upper cloth down.

    Sithavishakhahatho visirna damsa,
    Kshathaja pariplutha aatha thayino may,
    Prasabhamabhisasara madwadhartham,
    SA bhavathu may Bhagawan gather Mukunda., 7

    His armour being punctured by my sharp arrows,
    And with his bleeding wounds, he jumped to kill me,
    As he tried to protect a devotee.
    And make the oath of another devotee come true
    Showing his partiality to his devotees twice,
    And let that Lord Mukunda be my refuge.

    Vijaya radha kutumba aathathoithre,
    Dyatha haya rasminee thachreye kshaneeye,
    Bhagawathi rathirasthu may mu moorsho-,
    Ryahamiva nireekshya hathaa gathaa swaroopam., 8

    Vowing to protect the chariot and family of Arjuna,
    And holding in his hand the whip to control the horses,
    Is the God who steals the mind of onlookers,
    And the one who grants them a place in his heaven,
    To all those who see him and die there.

    Lalitha gathi vilasavadhguhaasa-,
    Pranaya nireekshana kalpi thoru maanaa,
    Krutha manu krutha vathya unmaa daandhaa,
    Prakruthi magan kila yasya gopa vadhwa., 9

    For have not the gopa maidens, blinded by love,
    Towards him, who has vary pretty gait,
    Very bewitching smile and movements,
    That indicates love towards them,
    Show the great respect to him,
    And reached the salvation of his heaven.

    Muni gana nrupa varya sangulteantha-,
    Sadasee Yudhishtra raja soya yeshaam,
    Arhanamupapeda eekshaneeyo,
    Mama drusi gochara yesha aaviraathma., 10

    In the Rajasooya performed by Yudishtra,
    In the assembly of great kings and sages,
    You were worshipped by the entire world,
    And your coming under my sight,
    Is indeed a matter of great luck to me.

    Thami mama hamajam sareerabhaajaam,
    Hrudhi hrudhi dheesthitha mathma kalpithaanaam,
    Prathi drusamiva naika dharkamevam,
    Samadhi gatho ta smidhoothabhedha moham., 11

    After divesting myself of my ignorance due to desire and differentiation,
    I have now realized that Lord Krishna shines in the heart of all beings,
    Similar to the Sun who is spread in the eyes of all beings of earth,
    But appears as different to each according to his experience,
    And having realized this truth, I have attained fulfillment.”

    Source:

    Was Krishna Born To Devaki?

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/12/27/was-lord-krishna-born-to-devaki/

     

    http://srikrishnaradha.com/bhismastuti-krishna-premi/

  • Was Lord Krishna Born to Devaki?

    Most of us are under the impression that Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva.

    Vivid descriptions are known to us about the Birth of Lord Krishna in the prison of Kamsa in the dead of the night on Ahstami Thithi,Rohini Nakshtra to an extent that even Krishna’s date of Birth has been determined.

    Lord Vishnu is said to be Brahma Swarupam and is Beyond Birth ,Death and is Indescribable(Avyakthan)

    While going through the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 49 (read the Gita daily, a Chapter a Day first thing in the morning for the past 10 years-every day I get new insights  and new doubts!)

    When I read the 7th Sloka where Krishna uses the word ‘srujaami’ meaning ‘reveal’ while describing how he is born time and again, I had this doubt.

    How come, then, He was said to be born of Devaki?

    The use of the word ‘srujaami’ means revealing and not born  and I know the Bhagavad Gita is very careful in choosing words.

    Lord Krishna is Born
    Lord Krishna’s Birth

    So I started checking Srimad  Bhagavatham which describes the birth of Lord Krishna in detail.

    To my surprise I found that Lord Krishna was not born to Devaki as mortals would from the Womb for He is Ayonijan(One who does not stay in the Womb)

    This is what the Bhagavatham says of Lord Krishna’s Birth,

    ” Thereafter, at the auspicious time for the appearance of the Lord, the entire universe was surcharged with all the qualities of goodness, beauty and peace. The constellation Rohiṇī appeared, as did stars like Aśvinī. The sun, the moon and the other stars and planets were very peaceful. All directions appeared extremely pleasing, and the beautiful stars twinkled in the cloudless sky. Decorated with towns, villages, mines and pasturing grounds, the earth seemed all-auspicious. The rivers flowed with clear water, and the lakes and vast reservoirs, full of lilies and lotuses, were extraordinarily beautiful. In the trees and green plants, full of flowers and leaves, pleasing to the eyes, birds like cuckoos and swarms of bees began chanting with sweet voices for the sake of the demigods. A pure breeze began to blow, pleasing the sense of touch and bearing the aroma of flowers, and when the brāhmaṇas engaging in ritualistic ceremonies ignited their fires according to Vedic principles, the fires burned steadily, undisturbed by the breeze. Thus when the birthless Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was about to appear, the saints and brāhmaṇas, who had always been disturbed by demons like Kaḿsa and his men, felt peace within the core of their hearts, and kettledrums simultaneously vibrated from the upper planetary system..

    Vasudeva then saw the newborn child, who had very wonderful lotuslike eyes and who bore in His four hands the four weapons śańkhacakragadā andpadma. On His chest was the mark of Śrīvatsa and on His neck the brilliant Kaustubha gem. Dressed in yellow, His body blackish like a dense cloud, His scattered hair fully grown, and His helmet and earrings sparkling uncommonly with the valuable gem Vaidūrya, the child, decorated with a brilliant belt, armlets, bangles and other ornaments, appeared very wonderful.

    Madhusūdana, because of Your appearance, I am becoming more and more anxious in fear of Kaḿsa. Therefore, please arrange for that sinful Kaḿsa to be unable to understand that You have taken birth from my womb.

    SB 10.3.40: After you received that benediction and I disappeared, you engaged yourselves in sex to have a son like Me, and I fulfilled your desire.

    SB 10.3.41: Since I found no one else as highly elevated as you in simplicity and other qualities of good character, I appeared in this world as Pṛśnigarbha, or one who is celebrated as having taken birth from Pṛśni.

    SB 10.3.42: In the next millennium, I again appeared from the two of you, who appeared as My mother, Aditi, and My father, Kaśyapa. I was known as Upendra, and because of being a dwarf, I was also known as Vāmana.

    SB 10.3.43: O supremely chaste mother, I, the same personality, have now appeared of you both as your son for the third time. Take My words as the truth.

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