Oh, what can one say about Krishna?
Adharam Madhuram, Vadanam Madhram,
Nayanam Madhuram, Hasitham Maduram,
Hrudhayam Madhuram, Gamanam Maduram,
Madhuradhipather Akhilam Madhuram
Sweet are thine lips, Krishna,
So is thine sweet cherubic face,
Sweet are thine jet black eyes, Krishna
So is thine soulful laugh,
Sweet is thine loving heart, Krishna
So is thine beautiful gait,
Hey king of all sweetness in this world,
Everything about Thee is sweet.
He is the sweetest among the sweet ones, the most handsome and beautiful one, He of the dark skin and the dark eyes – Krishna means ‘the dark one’ and also ‘the one who attracts’. Everyone felt a strange kind of attraction towards Him. Women and men alike flocked around Him, smitten as they were by His charm, beauty, innocence and playfulness. He was a child and a Guru rolled into one adorable package. As He went on from childhood to teenage to adulthood, the number of admirers and devotees only kept increasing. Everyone who met Him felt that connection, that undeniable attachment and they yearned for His presence when He was away. One could never have his/her fill of that Divine presence. Such joy, such devotion, such a spirit of celebration flowered around Him. Yet there was no denying His limitless wisdom and knowledge. He was one of the most adorable avataras and more than five thousand years after His passing, people worship Him all over the world. People in the West viewed Him as a playboy and could not reconcile to the fact that God could have multiple wives, they could not understand the love of the Gopis, could not fathom the love and devotion of Radha. It cannot be explained logically. Only those that have tasted that nectar of bhakti can even begin to describe the heavenly feeling. What need have I for this, what need have I for that, I am dancing at the feet of my Lord, all is bliss, all is bliss, all is bliss… with all credit to John McLaughlin and Shakti!
gleefulfreak says:
that’s possibly my favorite krishna bhajan. i was singing it while i cooked supper last night. 🙂
August 17, 2006 — 9:26 pm
Lakshmi says:
That’s Madhurashtakam. Have you heard Pandit Jasraj’s rendition? It is so wonderful… at the end, you can just keep dancing in sheer happiness to Madhuram, Madhuram, Madhuram…
August 17, 2006 — 9:31 pm
gleefulfreak says:
No, I haven’t heard that one – I’ll keep an eye out for it. 🙂 The one I know best was done by the swamis who sing bhajans to Amma – you can hear it here.
August 17, 2006 — 10:15 pm
Lakshmi says:
Can burn you a copy if you want. Let me know.
August 18, 2006 — 1:33 pm
rileen says:
I’m no westerner, but even as a kid, i thought that he seemed to have a lot of “logic of convenience”, deception etc. to be “god enough” 🙂
I had some objections against Ram, too, most notably banishing his wife the way he did.
I guess my descent into godlessness had already begun :-p
August 17, 2006 — 10:41 pm
rparvaaz says:
Krishna was the least favourite of all the gods for me. I had to grow up to appreciate him, and K.M. Munshi’s depiction helped. And no I find him too fascinating to attempt to describe him in a comment.
I have long had objections to Rama too – not just Sita’s banishment, but also Vaali’s murder.
August 18, 2006 — 8:05 am
rileen says:
Exactly! Bali/Vali’s murder was another big issue for me, too.
And then there were other things, like Meghnad and Kumbhakaran’s murders ….. but then i guess those were instances of “all is fair in war” – Krishna was involved in several such incidents, too.
The moral relativism of some gods was disturbing to me.
Hmm, i guess i should read K.M. Munshi – should be easier than growing up!
August 18, 2006 — 8:53 am
rparvaaz says:
Hmm, i guess i should read K.M. Munshi – should be easier than growing up!
*lol*
Much more fun too. A word of warning though – he died before he could finish the series, and that hurts. But it would be a shame to not read them.
August 18, 2006 — 9:03 am
rileen says:
Thanks for the tip – shall keep in mind 🙂
August 18, 2006 — 10:35 am
Lakshmi says:
I find it difficult to raise objections or doubts for any of these actions – these were magnificent Avatars who came to the earth for a specific purpose, if you believe in ‘Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati Bharata….’. By that token, all Their actions and intentions were guided by perceptions and objectives that are extremely difficult to percieve… or even understand. The little mind raises many a question but it is the Big Mind that has the complete understanding and knowledge. Isn’t that why we say ‘Jai Guru Dev’ or ‘Victory to the Big Mind’?
[Sorry if I sounded too preachy up there – was not my intention, Rileen!]
August 18, 2006 — 1:22 pm
rileen says:
Well, once you make it unquestionable, that’s that 🙂
August 18, 2006 — 2:25 pm
Lakshmi says:
Sure there are questions. But that does not diminish my reverence or devotion.
August 18, 2006 — 2:31 pm
sat_chit_anand says:
Avatar
In one of the many enlightening sessions from my Guru, He told us about ‘Avatar’. Avatar comes from the root word in Sanskrit which means to descend. So who is an Avatar? One who is completely satisfied with what he/she has/is and devotes all his life and energies for the well being of others and hence the descent – descending to help others in all ways possible. We have to also remember that the Avatars of Narayana came to the earth as humans and thereby governed by mores of and tendencies of humans. No doubt they were evolved humans, but to say that they were above the laws of Karmas might be a little too much. If you look at Vali slaying incidence, Puranas say that Vali reincaranted as the hunter who mistook Krishna for a deer and shot the arrow and Krishna left his human body. Banishment of Sita illustrates another point in my opinion – Rama the embodiment of virtue that he was got influenced by a dhobi’s words and committed an act which lead to his own misery in terms of separation from His wife and children. It shows that awareness about ones action needs to be there always, having 10,000 virtues doesnt insulate you from one freak thought that might make you take an incorrect step. Also about multiple wives of Krishna, 16,100 wives belonged to an asura who had captured the women from other men and he had imprisoned them. Now if they were released and just let go, who would take care of them? Krishna being a ruler and king decided to give them shelter in line with the social mores of those times.
August 18, 2006 — 3:28 pm
arunshanbhag says:
leave it to pithy mortals to raise ‘objections’ to the behaviour of gods!
so I guess the lessons of dharma and bhakti rolled off – as smoothly as water rolls off an overturned pot!
😉
August 18, 2006 — 1:04 pm
Lakshmi says:
🙂
Yes, that’s what I feel. Remember, these were Avatars of Narayana Himself – not just any other celestial beings. Their actions were guided by such intuition and knowledge that cannot even be percieved. And in that understanding, my doubts cease.
August 18, 2006 — 1:15 pm
rileen says:
Hmm, i’m not so sure – i’ve absorbed many lessons of the moral and behavioural kind from various religions. Whatever fits in with my conscience (or commonsense, as relevant), i adapt/adopt.
That doesn’t mean i have to believe in god 🙂
August 18, 2006 — 2:24 pm
arunshanbhag says:
That doesn’t mean i have to believe in god
agree,
does not also mean you can offend the beliefs of others.
🙂
August 18, 2006 — 2:33 pm
rileen says:
No, i wasn’t making fun of anyone’s beliefs. Were you, Lakshmi or anyone offended?
There are people who get offended simply because i don’t believe in god (or in general, anything they believe strongly in). That, i cannot help.
August 18, 2006 — 2:36 pm
Lakshmi says:
Rileen, I am not offended. You are entitled to your set of beliefs. As for people offending or taking offense, that is something no one can help.
August 18, 2006 — 2:45 pm
kookygoblin says:
I love the way Yesudas sings that bhajan.
August 18, 2006 — 5:21 am
Lakshmi says:
Oh, should hear his version. I have heard Pt. Jasraj singing it and it is pure celebration.
August 18, 2006 — 1:15 pm
fugney says:
more than five thousand years after His passing
What? You believe he really existed?
August 18, 2006 — 12:02 pm
arunshanbhag says:
whats not to believe.
Faith! Fiery faith!
even western historians (who YOU may find easier to believe) acknowledge the esistence of Krishna, though it is not clear that ALL the exploits in the legends belong to that one krishna! 🙂
August 18, 2006 — 1:11 pm
fugney says:
even western historians (who YOU may find easier to believe)
I find that kind of stereotyping very offensive. What is this? Either you believe everything I say or you automatically become a slave to “western mentality”? Oh yes!! How can anyone who does not believe in Krishna be anything but ignorant and arrogant?
August 18, 2006 — 2:06 pm
arunshanbhag says:
sorry I offended you –
but your initial comment questioning the existence of krishna was most offensive to millions of believers around the globe – and your rhetorical questioning of that belief was nothing short of mockery of our devotion.
Since even historians agree to the existence of such a legendary figure – if your comment had questioned the extent of krishna’s exploits, or the validity of the era in which he is supposed to have lived, I would be open to a more educated and critical questioning of the legendary figure.
But perhaps in my haste I misinterpreted your original query – there was no indication if you were questioning the totality of Krishna’s existence or a part of his legend.
And I apologize for offending you – that was not my intent, only to defend my beliefs and faith!
Peace! 🙂
August 18, 2006 — 2:27 pm
fugney says:
sorry I offended you –
but your initial comment questioning the existence of krishna was most offensive to millions of believers around the globe – and your rhetorical questioning of that belief was nothing short of mockery of our devotion.
Are you saying that your beliefs are beyond questioning?
What I found offensive was not that your insistence that Krishna really existed, but the the assumption that I could easily be convinced if some western historian said this. Even so, I acknowledge that you have a full right to make such assumptions about me. But I suppose I also have the right to point that it is a very irrational assumption and somewhat annoying assumption to make.
But perhaps in my haste I misinterpreted your original query – there was no indication if you were questioning the totality of Krishna’s existence or a part of his legend.
I think so too. I was asking if Lakshmi if she really believed in the Krishna found in our various myths and folk-tales. That a real Krishna may have existed some time, and that the tales of his exploits might have been exaggerated over time, I find totally plausible. The reason I asked Lakshmi this question is, if her belief in some historical Krishna and not the mythological one, then the celebration of this Krishna, I am sorry but I have no choice but to say, I find hard to understand.
August 18, 2006 — 2:40 pm
fugney says:
and your rhetorical questioning of that belief was nothing short of mockery of our devotion.
Also, I did not believe that this neccesarily followed. I have long thought that Rama and Krishna are worshipped as symbolic ideals.
August 18, 2006 — 2:45 pm
quizling says:
> I have long thought that Rama and Krishna are worshipped as symbolic ideals.
I agree. It’s no coincidence that the word faith is so often preceded by “blind”. One has to be impartial while evaluating what’s ostensibly claimed as historical fact, and consider all arguments and points of view.
If you read all versions of the Ramayana floating around the world, you’ll see that some portray Rama as the ultimate specimen of manhood, while others depict him as a craven coward. The degree of divinity you invest in him depends on your PoV. If you read between the lines, even the best-known version (Valmiki’s) indicates that Ravana was in many ways a better man than Rama.
A case in point: Many Christians have (perhaps grudgingly) accepted the Gospel of Judas as worthy of merit, even though it turns conventional notions of the Last Supper on its head. Irrespective of whether this gospel is genuine or not, I’m impressed that so many of them even considered that the Biblical story drilled into them for centuries could be wrong. That’s being progressive.
At least some of our ardent believers might realise someday that their gods were not always epitomes of perfection, or that they could conceivably have been characters in a pre-vedic fairytale. Occam’s Razor hints at the latter, but when did religious zealots ever listen to logic?
August 18, 2006 — 8:59 pm
sat_chit_anand says:
Irrespective of whether this gospel is genuine or not, I’m impressed that so many of them even considered that the Biblical story drilled into them for centuries could be wrong. That’s being progressive.
At least some of our ardent believers might realise someday that their gods were not always epitomes of perfection, or that they could conceivably have been characters in a pre-vedic fairytale.
I think the Indian tradition is also open and I do not agree that its rigid in the sense that is being projected. If you look at the history of Indian philosophical thoughts there were so many different varities which co-existed. From the Advaitas who beleived in montheism, to Dwaita which beleived in duality to Charwaks who completely denied existence of any soul and said all that was there was material world. To say that there is no progressivness is not looking at the complete picture.
August 19, 2006 — 12:47 pm
Lakshmi says:
Totally.
August 18, 2006 — 1:16 pm
sat_chit_anand says:
No proofs required in beleif
The moment someone says, I beleive in something, it pointless to ask whats the proof? belief develops in one’s consciousness through more ways then just logic. Even if Krishna didnt exist lets say hypothetically, even then the devotion and bhakti that rises in one through his or her belief and the good work that can come out of it is worth it. Secondly, there are a million things in this world that you can doubt and at some point one has to start beleiving in something to beleive in all that can be derived from that initial belief. As my Dear Guru says, there are 3 kinds of faiths, faith in oneself, faith in the world and faith in the universal intelligence (some may call it God some may call it just consciousness..their choice). All the 3 are required to move in life. Jai Guru Dev!!!!
August 18, 2006 — 2:49 pm
fugney says:
Re: No proofs required in beleif
The moment someone says, I beleive in something, it pointless to ask whats the proof? belief develops in one’s consciousness through more ways then just logic.
I am not denying that. I am just asking if that’s the best way.
even then the devotion and bhakti that rises in one through his or her belief and the good work that can come out of it is worth it
Which does not offer rational support to the belief. I am not discussing morality here.
and at some point one has to start beleiving in something to beleive in all that can be derived from that initial belief
It is not at all necessary that initial belief be without logical support.
August 18, 2006 — 2:57 pm
sat_chit_anand says:
Re: No proofs required in beleif
I am not denying that. I am just asking if that’s the best way. There is not a best way. When it comes to beliefs there is only a personal way. If you choose logic, its your choice and as long as you understand the limitations of it.
Which does not offer rational support to the belief There are so many beliefs that are there in this world in the most common daily things that cannot be supported rationally. If you beleive in the democratic process, there really isnt any rational support as to why a choice made by majority is good for the progress of the society and neither is there any support against it. Its a social belief system.
It is not at all necessary that initial belief be without logical support. Not necessary but might be the most practical approach possible.
August 18, 2006 — 3:48 pm
arunshanbhag says:
I love the rendition by MS Subbulakshmi – its been on repeat on my ipod since I picked up the cd last month in at planet m.
but Lakshmi – I was under the impression that the author (vallabhacharya) was referring to Vishnu – But on second thought, perhaps you are right – given that Vallabhacharya was an ardent devotee of krishna.
August 18, 2006 — 1:07 pm
Lakshmi says:
You may be right, Arun. I should check with other sources. Btw, you must listen to Pt. Jasraj’s rendition of the Madhurashtakam. Can burn it for you if you want.
Good to have you back – was missing your comments…:-)
August 18, 2006 — 1:17 pm
arunshanbhag says:
Lakshmi – I yield to your kindness yet again!
can you send the Pt Jasraj piece by yousendit.com ?
Many thanks, once again.
btw, how is the home?
August 18, 2006 — 8:08 pm
Lakshmi says:
Sure, let me do that. Home is good and we are trying to make it better…:-)
August 18, 2006 — 9:01 pm
Lakshmi says:
Btw, http://www.aayisrecipes.com/ is a food blog that instantly reminded me of you.
August 18, 2006 — 9:40 pm
hemya says:
Lakshmi….where did you get that Pandit Jasraj CD from?..Is it available here??..I wanted to get one for Maa…she is a super Krishna Bhakta…..
Ohh and also…which composition of Shakti are you talking about and which album is that on???
August 18, 2006 — 2:02 pm
Lakshmi says:
A friend burnt the mp3 tracks for me. Can burn it for Ma, if you want.
I was referring to the composition What need have I for this, what need have I for that, I am dancing at the feet of my Lord, All is Bliss, all is Bliss, all is bliss. It features in the album Shakti with John McLaughlin. It is the name of my journal as well. Lovely lines, huh?
August 18, 2006 — 2:37 pm
hemya says:
Thats would be really nice….if burning it is too much of a hassle you could maybe upload it via http://www.yousendit.com
I like those words quite a bit….had read them pehele but never realized it was a Shakti song….I am in the process of collecting Shakti CD’s….jut last month someone gifted me ” Saturday Night inb Bombay (Live)…..its a pretty nice one…heard it?
August 18, 2006 — 2:46 pm
Lakshmi says:
I was there…:-) On Saturday night in Bombay when Shakti performed at Shanmukhananda auditoritum.
Reason I offered to burn it is, there are some other Krishna compositions that your Mom may like that I can put on the CD.
August 18, 2006 — 2:49 pm
hemya says:
The earlier day thay had performed at Rang Bhavan and I was in Bombay tabhi and my coousin forgot to ask me when she went…I was soooo angry….The CD has performances from both nites…
Theek hain…burn it when you get time…want me to e-mail you my address????
August 18, 2006 — 3:08 pm
Lakshmi says:
Will email you back once I send it.
August 18, 2006 — 6:45 pm
my2cents says:
Madhurashtakam Online
Hey guys, here is an online link to madhurashtakam..
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/l/7/s/album.427/language.10/
In case that doesnt work, it is under devotional tab of musicindiaonline.com
It is by M S Subbulakshmi, a famous Carnatic Vocalist…
August 18, 2006 — 6:28 pm
Lakshmi says:
Re: Madhurashtakam Online
Thanks…:-)
August 18, 2006 — 6:46 pm