Lord Krishna, His Lilas and Teachings - 1.5.1. Sri Swami Sivananda

02/04/2018
1. Introduction : 1.5.
1. Lord Krishna—The Supreme Lord -5.
 5.Krishna in the Puranas - 1

5.
Agni, Brahma, Padma, Brahma-Vaivarta, Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas treat of the life of Krishna. The Brahma and Padma Puranas have devoted several chapters to this subject. Brahma-Vaivarta, Vishnu, and Bhagavata Puranas have devoted whole sections and books to the description of Krishna-Charita.

Radha plays an important part in the growth of later Vaishnavism. No mention of Radha is made in the Vishnu and the Bhagavata Puranas. It is in the Padma as well as in the Brahma-Vaivarta that a detailed account of the Radha cult, the real nature of Radha and Her companions, their names, their mystical significance, their relation with Sri Krishna in the Rasa Lila is given. In the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana great importance to the Radha element in the Krishna worship is given. In the Vishnu and the Bhagavata Puranas the philosophical aspects of Sri Krishna and His worship are dealt with.

5.1. His Life :

Lord Krishna was Lila-Purushothama, the sportive form of God. He was a Yogeshvara. He was a Prema-Murti. Lord Rama was a Maryada Purushothama. He was an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal friend and an ideal king. He can be taken to embody all the highest ideals of man. He led the ideal life of a householder in order to teach humanity.

Krishna was a man of action. He was a history-maker and righter of wrongs. He stood for justice and righteousness. His policy was to defend the oppressed from the oppressor. He was a master of superphysical powers. He was a man of knowledge and a world-teacher. He was a divine musician. He was the Lord of Yogis. He was the friend of Arjuna and Uddhava. His immortal teachings to Arjuna and Uddhava on Yoga, Bhakti and Jnana are unique. Even now they stir the hearts of the readers and goad them on the spiritual path and instil peace into their hearts.

Lord Krishna was the greatest Karma Yogin of all time. He held up the torch of wisdom. He was an embodiment of wisdom and selfless action. He combined in his life all that is best, highest, purest and the most beautiful, sublime and grand in heaven and earth. He was all love for the cowherd-boys, cows, and the Gopis. He was the friend and benefactor of the poor and the helpless. He was a versatile genius.

Krishna was a thunderbolt to the wrestlers assembled in the arena of Kamsa and yet he had the softest heart among men. He was Yama, Deathcome, unto Kamsa, Cupid unto the Gopis, the object of constant meditation for Yogins and devotees, the form of bliss and beatitude to the sages, and a child to his parents. He was Cupid unto Cupid himself (Sakshat Manmatha-Manmatha).

Lord Krishna was an embodiment of humility, though He was the Lord of the universe. He became the charioteer of Arjuna. He took upon Himself the duty of washing the feet of the visitors, voluntarily, at the time of the Rajasuya Yajna performed by Yudhishthira.

The Bhagavata Puranam says that Sri Krishna lived for 125 years on earth (XI-vi. 25).

Next :- 2. Student life :

To be continued ...