|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 158 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 9

Nisheethe Thama  Udhbhoothe  Jayamane Janardhane | Devakyam Devaroopinyam Vishnu: Sarvaguhashaya: | Aveeraseedhyadha  Prachyam Dhisheendhuriva  Pushkala: || Thamadhbhudham  Balakam Ambujekshanam | Chathurbhujam Shankha Gadhadhyudhayudham | Srivathsa Lakshmim Galashobhi Kausthubham | Peethambaram  Sandhrapayodha Saubhagam ||

It was dark hours of the night,  Vasudeva was watching affectionately at the infant who was given birth by Devi Devaki a moment ago,  instantly the supreme Lord Janardhana who resides as a soul in living beings revealed his magnificent form spreading supreme brilliance of the full moon, his eyes have the resemblance to lotus flower petals,  his four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma, bearing the auspicious mark of Srivathsa on the chest which is the dwelling place of Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi,  adorned in precious gem Kausthubha on the neck, he was attired in magnificent yellow silk garment on  marvelous limbs, he was adorned in gem-studded ear ornament on the ears, marvelous crown that multiplies the beauty of his sparkling curly hair locks, he was adorned in armlets and bangles, he has marvelous waistline decorated with the ornaments, and he has the most pleasing smile all over the face.

The human mind and intellect are constantly in search of outward happiness and material comforts without the knowledge of the presence of supreme brilliance as the supreme soul within it.   The Dhashamaskandham of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is the study of the existence of supreme brilliance as a soul in living beings, which was often neglected to notice.  The Lord incarnated to impart the knowledge of the supreme soul which is the source of the function of human intellect and mind and body as well.  The scriptures describe the incarnation of Supreme Lord Krishna in the darkness of hours in the night to eradicate the obscurity of ignorance in the human intellect and mind, even though he has performed various pastimes to reduce the burden of Mother Earth and destroy the wicked demons.  He is supreme preceptor/Universal preceptor/Jagathguru who eradicates the darkness of ignorance and impurities of the mind.  Any knowledge without the awareness of the supreme soul that resides as a soul in living beings is considered incomplete. Therefore, any knowledge without the awareness of supreme Lord as the soul is called ‘Avidhya’/lack of knowledge; it can accumulate impurities/attachment to worldly matters and bondage in the human intellect and mind thereby undergoes miseries and sorrows.  Hence, the elevation of the soul is possible only through the contemplation upon supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, the reason for the incarnation of supreme Lord Vishnu as little cowherd was to serve the above purpose.  The material welfare, richness, fame, attractive appearance, good health, family, wife, children, grandchildren, possession of wealth, properties, relatives, etc. would become futile if there is no devotion at the lotus feet of a supreme preceptor who is the source of the highest knowledge.  Therefore, the incarnation of the Supreme Lord Vishnu as Lord of cowherds was to elevate the soul and impart the knowledge of his presence as the soul in all the living beings, thereby remove the attachment to worldly matters and bondage, ultimately to provide the state of ‘Kaivalyam’, where there is no attachment to people, material matters, possession, fame or richness, and no expectation from others.  ‘Kaivalyam’ is the superlative state where there are no sorrows, grief, pain, miseries or afflictions; it is the state of ‘supreme bliss’.

Immediately after birth Lord Vishnu revealed his marvelous form with four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma, that convey complex knowledge about the Supreme Lord who is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the Universe and its living beings.   He is beyond death or birth, and he is void of changes.  The conch symbolizes Sound/Pranava/’AUM’ produces from the conch/Panchajanya which represents Panchabhootha/five essential elements, any friction causes sound as well as appearance/form that has impermanent nature, therefore it teaches the function of creation/Shrishti/A, preservation/Sthithi/U and destruction/Laya/M.  The mace represents the weapon to defend as well as attack the enemies such as lethargy/laziness and ignorance.  The lotus flower represents the knowledge of attachment with detachment, the technique of while living in any relationship without getting fastened by it,  like a lotus flower that flourishes in the muddy water but remains untouched by it.  It teaches to remain serene with a balanced state of mind in the presence of an abundance of possession, and do not get despondent in the absence of the same.  The weapon disc/Sudharshana teaches the highest knowledge of oneness-in all, the presence of supreme soul which has permanent nature.   The removal of ignorance with the powerful wheel/disc of knowledge that the human body has to undergo constant transformation and ruin, the supreme Lord who resides as the soul has neither death nor birth.