In the previous episode, we had witnessed the significance of a “Guru” or the “Spiritual Master”, and what is His / Her role to play in connecting Bhagawan with His ardent devotees. Especially during this present Kali Yuga, the easiest way to attain Bhagawan is to surrender ourselves to a “Guru” or a “Mahatma” or a “Spiritual Master”. This is why we have this “Sampradhaaya” (Tradition) as part of our Sanaatana Dharma to offer our prayers at the divine lotus feet of the “Guru”, before even going in front of Bhagawan. In fact, even in the Ramayana, we’ve witnessed how Hanuman served the purpose of a “Guru”, isn’t it? We should recollect here, how Bhagawan Rama sends Hanuman to Mother Sita in Sri Lanka, and the reason behind it. Hanuman as an “Aachaarya” highlights the significance of the “Paramatma” (Bhagawan Rama) to the “Jeevatma” (Mother Sita), and in turn obtains the message of suffering and yearning from the “Jeevatma”, comes back and conveys this to the “Paramatma”. This is the crux of the entire “Sundara Kanda” of the Valmiki Ramayana. Thus, the concept of the “Guru” is clearly brought about by Valmiki Bhagawan and it is for all of us to see.
In similar lines, we have witnessed (and witnessing today also) several “Aachaaryas” and “Gurus” in this Kali Yuga. Starting from Bhagawad Ramanujaachaarya, Sage Adi Shankara Bhagawad Paada to Sage Madhvaachaarya to Shirdi Sai Baba, to modern day saints such as Kaanchi Paramaachaarya, Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Maa Anandamayi, etc. each “Mahatma” has their own unique purpose and significance of incarnating in this world. Thus, we should understand here that there is no comparison between each “Mahatma”. Every Mahatma is unique and it is upto us to choose our spiritual path under any of them as per our preference.
Moving on thus, let us come back to Bhagawan Bala-Krishna and let us witness what is He going to do next. As Bhagawan Krishna is trying to steal the butter from other residences of Gokula, it is now time for Him to try His luck at His own house. Normally, Mother Yashoda had a practice – She prepares the butter from the fresh curd every morning, transfers the freshly-prepared butter into a mud put (Uri), ties the pot with a rope and hangs it at a height, which Bhagawan Bala-Krishna couldn’t reach out to! However, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna’s normal practice was to somehow put His hand inside the pot and eat off all the butter when Mother Yashoda is away to fend the cows at the cowshed. Annoyed by this each passing day, Mother Yashoda tries hard to keep the butter pot out of Bhagawan Bala-Krishna’s reach, but somehow, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna is smart enough to steal it and eat it off! This was happening continuously for few days, and on one occasion, Mother Yashoda tried to control Bhagawan Bala-Krishna by scolding Him and warning Him of some punishments if He touched the butter pot again. But Bhagwan Bala-Krishna is not going to budge for all these gimmicks and threats! He’s going to do what He’s expert in doing!
One day, Mother Yashoda ties the butter pot with sixteen ropes, closely knit together, and hangs it at a certain height, which seems to be unreachable for Bhagawan Bala-Krishna. On that day, peculiarly, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna was seemingly sound asleep! Sensing this, Mother Yashoda walks out of the house without disturbing her son, goes out and fends her cows. Sensing that He was alone in the house, Bhaagwan Bala-Krishna quickly gets up from the bed, silently makes His way towards the butter pot, climbs over the window sill and tries to put His small hands into the butter pot. Since the butter pot is tied with sixteen ropes knit together closely, His hands got stuck between the ropes as He takes the butter out of the pot. He’s now not able to take His hand out! Only if He takes out His hands, will He be able to eat the butter, isn’t it? Moreover, if His hands are stuck inside the pot until Mother Yashoda comes back, what would He answer her? He would be caught red-handed for His “theft” isn’t it?
So what does Bhagawan Bala-Krishna do here? How’s He going to escape this trap that was laid to catch Him? Let’s wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned for an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 