Satyabhama

Dear Friends,

Krishna

Krishna  was born about 10,000 years ago in the Dvarpara Yuga as the "dark one."  Lord Krishna is the embodiment of love and divine joy, that destroys all pain and sin. He is the protector of sacred utterances and cows. Krishna is an instigator of all forms of knowledge and born to establish the religion of love.

Little Krishna

Krishna was born as the 8th child of Devaki, sister of the cruel demon king Kamsa. Sage Narada had predicted that Kamsa would be killed by his nephew, so the king killed Devaki´s first six children. The 7th, Balarama, escaped and the 8th, Krishna, was secretly exchanged for a cowherd's daughter, who was really Durga. When Kamsa tried to kill her, she revealed her true form and told him he would be killed before long by Krishna.

Krishna was brought up in a cowherder family and loved to play the flute to entertain the other cowherders (gopas,) the milkmaids (gopis,) and the cows. As a child, Krishna had great love for his foster-mother Yashoda, and their relationship stands as a great example for the love between a mother and her child.  

Krishna and Bhakti in the Mahabharata

After Krishna killed Kamsa, he became king. He married Rukmini, who became his first queen.  He had 6 other wives, and after Rukmini died, he married Satyabhama.  

In the great Mahabharata epic, Krishna spoke memorable words on the essence of Bhakti Yoga or the yoga of pure spiritual devotion. During the battle of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna revealed to Arjuna the essence of Bhakti Yoga, of love for God. This revelation is found in the famous Hindu scripture called the Bhagavad Gita.   

Krishna exacts a promise from Uddhava.

Uddhava was Krishna's cousin-brother, that is they were cousins, and Krishna was raised by Uddhava's mother, Yashoda.  Towards the end of his life, he told Uddhava and others that he had to leave the body, because the energy of the coming Kali Yuga was too dense for him to be able to maintain a body.  Uddhava and others were astonished and cried out, "Adharma will predominate during Kali Yuga.  That is the time we will need you the most."  Krishna asked the group, "Since I cannot manifest a body, who will come for me to bless the people."  Uddhava volunteered to incarnate as an amsha avatar (partial avatar,) which he does regularly, so he is always here to uphold the dharma.

Krishna's Janmasthami (birthday) is celebrated annually in August.  This year it will be August 10, 11th in the US.  Statues of Krishna are placed in wooden chariots and paraded around each temple.  There are pujas and other ceremonies all over India and wherever Krishna is worshipped.  

Panduranga and Rukmini at their temple in Pandarpur 

The central shrines hold the murthis of Panduranga and Rukmini, which are about 42 inches tall.  Next to them is a shrine for Satyabhama, whom many believe was the re-incarnation of Rukmini, which I do not believe.  The first murthi to self-manifest was Rukmini.   

One of the stories about that manifestation is that she was upset with Krishna's constant dalliances with the gopis and went to the forest near Dwaraka, turning herself into the statue in austerity.  Immediately understanding both her act and its meaning, Krishna went and joined her.   

After some time, Krishna noticed the sincere devotion with which Pundalika served God through his parents.  He came to stand outside Pundalika's hut, and told Pundalika he was pleased at his devotion. Pundalika was busy taking care of his parents, so he said, "Whoever you are, you will have to wait."  This pleased Krishna even more, and he spoke again, "Ask any boon you like, and it shall be fulfilled."  

After thinking for a moment, Pundalika found a brick and placed it on the ground near his hut.  Then he prayed to God to stand on the brick and bless humanity forever with his darshan (ecstatic vision.)  Bound by the cords of Pundalika's love, Krishna placed his energy in the murthi for worship in Kali Yuga.  Then Rukmini came and joined him. 

Both statues have their hands at the waist and elbows out (akimbo), which symbolizes the justice they will bring.

These black stone murthis of Krishna and Rukmini are spiritually charged and radiate that divine energy out to the world at all times.  Another statue that does the same is the Vijaya Vittala statue, standing over 35 feet tall and radiating that divine energy of the avatar to come to everyone from Vishwa Shanti Ashram, founded by Satgurus Sant Keshavadas and Rama Mata, just outside Bangalore.    

In May 2012, we will be taking the 24-day India Pilgrimage again, landing in Chennai, visiting the Shankaracharyas in Chennai, and then going to Bangalore to Vishwa Shanti Ashram.  The tour will emphasize visits to several temples to Divine Mother in different forms, and we will also go through Delhi to the Himayayas to visit various ashrams, do fire ceremonies and visit Yogananda's Babaji's Cave.  The itinerary is posted on sanskritmantra.com and when the new website is put up, it will have many more photos of past trips.  Hope you will join us! 

Bharata/Bill Barry, a Certified Priest who lives in Massachusetts, is available for pujas and yajnas in his area. Please contact him at bill.barry@wildblue.net 

Parvati/Pat Murphy J, a Certified Pujari, is available for pujas and yajnas in Los Angeles area.  Please contact her at patmurphyj@sbcglobal.net