Thursday, October 29, 2009

BG 18.69

We are at the entrance of Srinathji mandir in Natha Dwar[aka]. It has silver doors. As soon as doors are opened, devotees rush in for Darshan, shouting 'Jai! Srinathji!'. Inside the mantap, women are allowed to have darshan from near the Lord, and males have to be behind. All pray with fervour. There are many sevas.Every time the temple doors are opened, an alert siren is blowed and people rush to have darshan. First in the morning, is Mangala Harati, similar to Viswaroopam in South Indian temples. We now have a darshan of the Lord.


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The Lord is lifting up and holding Govardhana hill, in His left hand. The hill appears very small, within the palm. Both the hill and the arm are decorated with ornaments. Right hand is on His waist. The Lord appears with just Two hands. The idol is black and with muscles. On the idol itself, one could notice cows, peacocks, snakes, etc. The Lord was just Seven years old, when He lifted Govardhana giri. Govardhana giri is near Brindavan. As mentioned earlier, only in 18th Century, the idol was brought to this place. Next sewa is Shringar sewa or Bala bhog. Before evry sewa, the Lord is offered food items and immediately, followed by public darshan. Prasads of this temple are beyond words! Each prasad is Two palms large and one bhog prasad would be sufficient for a family of six! The Lord is decorated with dresses similar to kurta-pyjama seen in North India. Then, Raja bhog sewa. For half an hour, the Lord is offered food. Then again darshan for devotees. At about 12PM, the temple is closed. At 4:30 PM, it is Utthapan sewa. Then there is harati, when people in Thousands worship. In the evening Harati, the Lord is decorated with all ornaments. The temple is closed by about 7:30 PM, and so, sayana harati is at 6:45 PM. While the Lord is made to sleep, in summer, to remove heat, fans are used. These are not electric fans we use, but the old pankha, where air is wafted using ropes and pulleys. Two families, by tradition over centuries, are engaged in pulling the ropes through out the night. It is a great service to the Lord. Two pankhas are used - one for the Child Sri Krishna and the other for Sri Srinathji. The pankha pullers deserve our respects. Srinath means Husband of Sri or Mahalakshmi. To protect Jagat, the Lord has to be Srinath. Srinath means He is Paramatma and Purushottama. The Chapter 15 we are to see, is also called Purushottama Vidya. In 15.19, the Lord says that he, who realizes Him as Purushottama, attains Him. Swami Alavandar says that only He, Who has lotus eyes, Who is Purushottama, Who is embodiment of sattva guna, could be the Husband of Sri Mahalakshmi. Now, summary of Chapter 15:

acinmi´sr¯at vi´suddh¯acca cetan¯at purus.ottamah. |
vy¯apan¯at bharan.¯at sv¯amy¯at anyah.pa˜ncada´soditah. ||(19)

This is told in Chapter 15: Purushottama is different from, and superior to all others [which include atman or chit, is of Three categories - Baddha (like us, bonded in samsaram), Mukta (liberated from samsaram) and Nitya (ever remaining in Vaikuntam, like Adisesha, Vishvaksena), and achit (all inert matters having no Gyana). To easily remember that the Lord is different from all these Four, we can see our fingers. Thumb is different from other Four fingers; no finger can do anything, without the aid of Thumb! Similarly, the Lord is associated with all Four categories]. Let us glance at some slokas of Chapter 15. In 15.1, the Lord says that samsaram is like an inverted banyan [aswatta] tree, with roots up in Satya lok [symbolises Brahma creating from above], branches down below. This tree can be cut off only by an axe of vairagya or detachment [15.3]. In 15.15, the Lord says that He resided in everyone's heart; under His control, one understood, remembered or forgot anything. He is the One, understood from all Vedas and Vedantas. Result of Vedas are also granted only by Him. He further says that He is different from baddha and mukta atman [15.16]. He is praised as Purushottama in Vedas and in this World [15.18]. He si pervading in all, supporting all and commanding all, and so, He is different from and superior to all [15.17]. Person, recognizing Him as Prushottama, [Who has descended for our benefit as Sri Srinathji], attains Him [15.19]. We will now move to the next Kshetram.

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