The cows in Nanda Vraja have grown with the regular affectionate divine touch of Krishna. They learned to be kind and help others like this lively boy. Krishna always thinks of how to help them and repay them for their generous flow of milk. The groups of Cows, who gave milk on their own, filling and overflowing the pots, are considered the real wealth of the ancient society in Krishna’s Dwapara Yuga.
The animals imbibed this kindness from Him. They desire to give as much milk as they can without minding whether pots are filled or overflowing. Krishna showers the milk of his kindness generously in a similar manner. The milching animals have been doubly strengthened with the association of Sri Krishna.
Goda’s Tamil Pashuram 21
Yetra Kalangal Ethir Pongi Meedalippa
Maatraadhe Paal Soriyum Vallal Perum Pasukkal
Aatra-p-padaithaan Magane! Arivuraai!
Uttramudayaai! Periyaai! Ulaginil
Thotramaai Ninra Sudare! Thuzhilezhaai!
Maatraar Unakku Valithulaindhu un Vaasarkann
Aatraadu Vandhu Unnadi Paniyummaa Poley
Pottriyaam Vandhom Pugazhndu-elo Rempaavaai
English Poem 21
O Son of Nanda Gopala, Owning Many Large Cows that
Generously yield Milk Incessantly; Awake!
Known through Veda; Even Vedas fail to explain You,
Your strength, Resplendent source of Conscience
Embodiment of Entire Light, for the Whole Universe.
Devoid of their strength, Your Enemies Lost pride in battle
Surrendered at Your Feet and Gate, Helpless and Praising
Similarly, We Came over to Sing Mangalam For You.
Lakshmi is described as “Anapaayini” who is always with Him. Still, she says, ‘I cannot survive without You’. They request the God who owns such generous milching cows, to wake up and look at the Gopikas. It is not Vishnu of the ocean of Milk, but Krishna under whose control animals yield streams of milk. He has left Ksheerabdi and settled in Vrepalle for these innocent and simple beings. Listen to our passionate calls, O God. Neela, the lover of Krishna, joined Goda and Gopikas in waking up Krishna. Krishna remains unresponsive thinking that they might be waking up some other great personality and not He.
Sri Bhashyam Appalacharya interprets that these are the qualities of Acharya also.
- They love Bhagawan so much that they think it is their duty to protect Him, to pray for His welfare (Mangalasasanam),
- they want to share the experience they had in mediation to God, like a leader,
- for achieving that purpose, they gave a tool –Tirumantra- which sustains, nourishes, and gives enjoyable experience to all,
- strength to defeat elephant-like enemies who disturb their meditation on God and get God under their control, and
- training and preparing of disciples who can effectively communicate and spread the experience of meditation of God to many.
God remains obedient to Guru. A great attribute of a good leader is having firm strength, considering that it is their duty to protect those who are dependent on Him. Rama says during the exile, “It is my vow and duty to serve the Sadhus and Sages even if it costs my life, you and Lakshmana”.
Govardhana episode
Krishna descended on the earth as a Tejo Roopa (an embodiment of bright light) who inspired to blossom the lotus called the universe. Neela, with Goda and Gopikas say: “Enemies are defeated and they surrender to Him. We also shed our ego, praise your glory, and surrender at your feet. We give up our ego of beauty and decorative ornaments. Please wake up and protect us. He always looks at the possibility of persons shedding their ego. He teaches Indra a strong lesson without assaulting him. Krishna withstands the heavy downpour of rains with thunder and lightning at Brindavan for seven days and holds the huge Govardhana Giri on his little finger. There is an interesting story in the Bhagawata and other Puranas about Shri Krishna lifting the ‘Govardhan Parvat’ when he was only seven years old.
Shri Krishna questions Indra Yajna performed by Nanada Raja every year to please Lord Indra for rains. But little Krishna convinces the elders that it is Govardhana and its environment that gives rains, and not any God’s worship. And if they want, they can express gratitude towards the Hill by worshipping it. Having been convinced, the King and people worship Govardhana. Offended by this act of defiance, furious Indra orders the Dikpalakas, the administrators of eight directions, to devastate the land of Vrindavan with torrents of rain, thunderstorms, and lightning.
Krishna lifts the Govardhan Hill at once with His left little finger and holds it up like an umbrella providing shelter to all the inhabitants, along with their cows. Stunned and mystified, Indra realizes the Supreme Soul in Sri Krishna, and surrenders to Him. Thus, Krishna destroys the false pride of Indra. At that time, he was hailed as Govinda. Of all the names, Krishna loves this name, as he gained the title after holding the huge hill for seven days and nights on his little finger.