In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna outlining the typical characteristics of a “Mahatma”. Notably, Bhagawan talks about how focused “Mahatmas” are in terms of the “Bhakti” that they exhibit towards Him, and how “Mahatmas” make meticulous efforts to constantly be on track to attain the highest “Moksha”. The willpower and the perseverance that they exhibit at the highest level is what differentiates them from ordinary people like us! Moreover, Bhagawan also outlines another fact that Mahatmas will constantly long for His divine presence at all times. Either they would want to stay close to the vicinity of Bhagawan all the time, or they would want Bhagawan to come to them and stay close to them! Thus, in every way, “Mahatmas” want to be under Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet at all times! Now, this is where we’ve to compare ourselves with these great people and check – Given an opportunity by Bhagawan Himself to be near His vicinity, how many of us will be ready to shun all our daily worldly routines and will be prepared to go behind Bhagawan as per His wish? Most of us would rather ask Bhagawan to wait for our arrival, finish off all our worldly actions (which would never end) and then “consider” going near Bhagawan! However, “Mahatmas” are not like this – Rather than giving such unwanted excuses, “Mahatmas” will readily accept Bhagawan’s offer and will always want to be under His divine presence, isn’t it?
Upon listening to all this, we might think thus, “Oh wow! Narrating all this is very easy, but is it really possible to implement whatever Bhagawan is saying here? Are there examples of people who have longed for Bhagawan’s divine presence at all times?” Of course, there are examples! One such example is the group of “Gopikas”! Readers might remember from our previous “Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana” project that when Bhagawan Krishna was a young child, the “Gopika” women were wanting to be in His divine presence at Vrindavan. Every morning, Little Krishna used to pay a visit to the “Gopikas” and would spend ample time with them before returning back to Gokula. During this time, the “Gopikas” would want to dance along with Little Krishna and every passing day, they would literally long for His divine presence amongst them! At one point, the intense level of “Bhakti” that the “Gopikas” exhibit when Bhagawan Krishna dances with them will take them to a state of trance and because of this, they would faint on the ground! Hence, to avoid the “Gopikas” fainting, Bhagawan would suddenly disappear from their vicinity and make them come back to their normal state. Once the “Gopikas” are back to their normalcy, Bhagawan would reappear in front of them as a small child dancing along with them! Such was the ardent level of “Bhakti” that the “Gopikas” exhibited towards little Krishna!
Of course, this was during the “Dvaapara Yuga” when Bhagawan Krishna was alive and living along with everyone. But is this possible in this “Kali Yuga” as well? The answer is a big and a resounding “Yes”! There are “N” number of examples of people who have experienced the divine presence of Bhagawan Krishna even during this “Kali Yuga” and one such great example is Meerabai. As many of us know, Meerabai was a great devotee of Bhagawan Krishna and the bhajans that she has composed are extremely famous in the music scene in the Hindustani classical school of music even today across North India. If we look at the bhajans that she has composed, each and every song that she has sung in praise of Bhagawan Krishna express various kinds of emotions pertaining to “Bhakti”. Thus, during her last days, when Meerabai faced enormous challenges from various quarters around her, it is believed that Bhagawan Krishna Himself appeared in front of her and took her along with Him to the highest “Moksha”!
Similar is the case of Thiyagaraja Swami in the southern part of India, who lived as recently as the previous eighteenth century. As many of us might be knowing again, Thiyagaraja Swami is well-known for being part of the “Trinity” in the South-Indian Carnatic music and his “Kritis” are well-known for the amount of “Bhakti” that he was able to convey towards his favourite deity – Bhagawan Rama. Similar to the story of Meerabai, Thiyagaraja Swami had the unique opportunity to obtain the divine “Darshan” of Bhagawan Rama along with Lakshmana and Mother Sita before he attained “Samaadhi”. Thus, from all these examples, one thing is very clear – Bhagawan does not wash off His hands to ardent “Bhaktas” and “Mahatmas”. Bhagawan will always protect them at all times! So for today, let us understand this point very clearly and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 