In the previous episode, we had witnessed the culmination of the discussion on how to increase our involvement on the “Bhakti-Maarga” and what did our great Aachaaryas do for it. The best and easiest way to do so is to imagine and internalize Bhagawan as a child. This is exactly the reason why we’ve seen a great emphasis being laid on the Krishna-Avatara by all the “Aachaaryas”, including the likes of Sage Shukaachaarya, Sage Paraashara, the Alwars, etc. We’ve also witnessed in the yesterday’s episode as to why Bhagawan Bala-Krishna is under prime focus as compared to other incarnations like Bhagawan Rama, Bhagawan Varaaha, etc. The reason is very simple – If we’ve to internalize Bhagawan as Rama or Varaaha, these incarnations are complex for us to digest and imagine. For instance, Bhagawan Rama was an epitome of “Dharma”. Given this fact, there would automatically arise a “fear” factor within us that what if Bhagawan would punish us for all the wrongdoings that we do? Moreover, Bhagawan Rama was a king! Can we imagine a great king of Bhagawan Rama’s stature to come down to our level and mingle with us? It might be easy for spiritually realized souls like Hanuman to internalize Bhagawan Rama in that way. But for ordinary people like us, it might be difficult, isn’t it? This is why, Bhagawan Himself felt this ardent need to bring His devotees closer to Him and this is the reason behind which Bhagawan incarnated as Bala-Krishna. The moment we say “Child”, all of us would have that zeal and urge to go near Bhagawan quite easily, isn’t it? This is why Bhagawan Bala-Krishna’s “Leelas” are extremely important and this is why Sage Shukaachaarya and Sage Paraashara spent a great deal of time in explaining each of the “Krishna-Leelas” in a great deal of detail.
Moving on thus, we’re going to witness the continuation of Bhagawan Bala-Krishna playing the divine flute and how the music emulating from the flute was responsible for a young woman by name “Chintayanti” to attain “Moksha”. We’ve witnessed in a few of our previous episodes as to how music is a great methodology for us to attain closeness to Bhagawan isn’t it? Now in this episode and the coming one, we’re going to witness a proof for the same. As Bhagawan Bala-Krishna sits on the river banks and keeps playing his divine flute, all the cows come and gather around Him. We’ve seen this earlier too. Sage Paraashara beautifully describes this scene with tears in his eyes. He explains thus, “Oh Maithreya! This particular scene of Bhagawan Venugopala captures my heart! Bhagawan Bala-Krishna is now getting surrounded by the cows and calves. As Bhagawan Bala-Krishna was very small and stout in size, the cows seem to be taller than Him. Hence, to listen to the divine music from the flute, the cows are bending towards Bhagawan Bala-Krishna and lending their ears to the divine flute. What a divine moment! Even cows are being attracted to this divine music!”
Notwithstanding the divinity that Bhagawan Bala-Krishna’s flute is producing, all the women in Gokula too aren’t spared! As they start listening to the music, all the women leave all their work then and there and start enjoying the divine musical experience. One such woman was this “Chintayanti”. She was a young woman living in one of the houses in Gokula who used to sell milk, curd and other milk products like butter, etc. She was a great devotee of Bhagawan Bala-Krishna and every day when she used to prepare the milk products for sale at her kitchen, she used to literally wait to listen to the flute music of Bhagawan Bala-Krishna. As she listens to it, she gets so engrossed into it in a way that she would fall on the floor unconscious! She would go into a state of “Trans” and ecstasy as the divine music pierces through her ears! On one occasion, as Chintayanti was working in her kitchen, she didn’t hear any music from Bhagawan Bala-Krishna. She was so eagerly waiting for the same, but for some reason, Bhagawans flute music didn’t reach her ears. Hours and minutes passed by, but of no use! She was losing her patience and couldn’t resist her urge to listen to the divine music!
All of a sudden from nowhere, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna’s divine flute music pierced her ears, from a distance unusually close to her! The moment she heard the music, Chintayanti was excited beyond words and she knew that Bhagawan had answered her prayers and longingness. She immediately rushed out of her house to check where Bhagawan Bala-Krishna was. Was He closeby somewhere? Was He waiting outside her house to see her? As she rushed out of her house, unfortunately for her misfortune, her in-laws were sitting at the entrance. In those days, it wasn’t a good practice for a daughter-in-law to bypass her in-laws and walk out of the house. This means that the woman is very arrogant and disrespectful towards elders. Since she couldn’t do that, she was totally disappointed! Her Bhagawan is in the vicinity but she couldn’t really go out and check Him out! Tears flowed out through her eyes, out of immense despair and longing towards Bhagawan Krishna on one hand, but on the other hand, His flute music was soothing her to comfort!
Thus, Chintayanti was caught clearly between two contrasting feelings – The sadness because of her inability to worship Bhagawan, and the happiness due to the music that is emerging from Bhagawan’s divine flute! What happened next? Was she able to see Bhagawan Bala-Krishna? Was she able to attain “Moksha”? Let’s wait eagerly for the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 