If you invoke Him with love, those words themselves are mantras and that is called Archaa Rupam of Bhagavan. Goda explains this with her symbolic poetry, full of Rupaka Alankara-studded sentences. God descends down and further down to come nearer to and easy for devotees. We, in our mediation, give shape to what we think the God will be. It is the ‘Moorthy’ – the statue. If you can offer your hearts as flowers, sincerely, that is ideal worship.
In the first, it is Naaraayana Tatwam, in the second poem, reclines (second poem) in Vyuha Ocean of Milk, as Vibhavam (His descendent forms – Avatara) in the third, Antaryaami in the fourth and in the fifth in Archaswaroopam, the worship idol, in temples on the earth.
Tamil Paashuram
Maayanai Mannu Vada Madurai Maindanai Thooya Peruneer Yamunai-t-thuraivanai Aayar Kulathinil Thondru Mani-vilakkai Thaayai Kudal Vilakkam seyda Damodaranai Thooyomai Vandhu Naam Thoomalar Thoovi-t-thozhudu Vayinarpadi Manathinaal Sindhikka Poya Pizhaiyum Pugutharuvan Nindranavum Theeyinil Thoosagum Sheppu-el or empaavaai
Madabhushi Sridhar’s English Poem 5
Krishna – the mysterious boy of Mathura in north On the serene banks of sacred Yamuna River waters The brilliant effulgence of the Yadava clan Who surrendered to Yashoda’s abundant love bond, We reach you with flowers of our hearts -pure with affection, Meditate upon Krishna before singing to Him to burn the past sins, present misdeeds & future wrongs like a spark of fire turns piled-up cotton into ashes
One day Yashoda is tired of the mischief and mystery of Little Krishna and wants to punish Him. Once in a similar situation, she made him open His mouth to check whether he really ate mud parts, Krishna showed the 14 Universes to his mother in her little mouth, and even then, Yashada could not realize the Naaraayana Tatwa of the boy, because of His Maya (illusion). She again wants to tie him down with a common thread. But Krishna is Krishna, He drags it out of the House, and leads it to the middle of the two long trees, which fall releasing the two Gandharva’s from the curse of Rishis. All move in hearing the thunderous sound of the fall of two trees. Mother is shell-shocked to find safe and playing little Krishna amidst fallen trees. When lifted Him to her heart, the mother found the marks of rope around his stomach and tears rolled down her cheeks. Krishna wipes them out and smilingly and silently says, Dear Mother, they remain on my person as marks of your love and from now onwards I will be known as Damodara. (Dam = marks on Udara- stomach). She might have not heard that promise as she is engulfed in abundant love.
Goda tells Gopika’s and us, the doubting fellows, reassuringly not to doubt, have complete faith in Naaraayana, and love him, without worrying about your past, present and future misdeeds that might not allow you to break the vicious cycle of birth-death-rebirth. If you love him unconditionally, that is enough; he will burn all your sins, the heaps of sins and misdeeds go away in fire like piled up cotton is burnt just by a spark of fire. He is benevolent enough to accept your love, provided you offer your mind and heart.
Then what is purity? Krishna never talks about the strict requirement of external bodily purity but always shows you that He would be ready to help you if you invoke him with a pure heart, wherever you are and whatever your condition. Draupadi was in her monthly period of Rajaswala, but when she cried for His help in Kaurava Sabha where Dussasana was disrobing her, Krishna was the only one to rescue her from such a humiliation. Five Heroic husbands, their cousins, fathers-in-law, and elders of the clan remain silent spectators. Offer your hearts like flowers. You need not decorate the flowers into garlands or place them meticulously according to some prescription. If you throw the heart like a flower, enough for Him. Or even one Namaskara is enough for him to vanish your sins. What are those flowers, Vishnu liked most? – Non-violence, Control over desires, Love for all living creatures, tolerance, wisdom, penance, meditation, and Satya – the Truth. (Courtesy pics: Late Dr Ramacharya Sribhashyam Srinivasa Family.)
