Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.01.2018 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

“As far as friends in Vrindavana are concerned, they become greatly distressed when they cannot see Krishna even for a moment. There is the following prayer by a devotee for the vayasyas (friends) in Vrindavana: “All glories to Krishna’s friends, who are just like Krishna in their age, qualities, pastimes, dress and beauty. They are accustomed to playing on their flutes made of palm leaves, and they all have buffalo-horn bugles ornamented like Krishna’s with jewels such as indranila and with gold and coral. They are always jubilant like Krishna. May these glorious companions of Krishna always protect us! The friends in Vrindavana are in such an intimate friendship with Krishna that sometimes they think themselves as good as Krishna.”[1]

This is the special feature in friendship – you feel like equals, friends are equal. If a real friend is our second self, then we are equal. Earlier the relationship was different – a passive mood means that ‘I am small and He is great’. A big distance between the two sides. Usually all different types of religions try to teach people about this difference, about this distance between the human and the Supreme. They speak about the transcendental majestic aspect of the Supreme – that He is far away, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, etc.

Then, when this very reverential mood is a little softer, you come closer. A servant is closer to a master than a passive outsider. As we discussed: if you have a driver, he will also know where you are going. But still there is a superior and subordinate distinction.

But here in friendship you feel equal. If in general you feel equal to God, what is that called? Illusion, right. You think yourself as good as Him – that’s illusion. Because you are not as good as Him. But here it is different, it’s not illusion. Here it is an expression of a deep relationship.

One example for this: “When Krishna was holding up Govardhana Hill with His left hand, the vayasyas (friends) said, “Dear friend, You have been standing for the last seven days and nights without any rest. This is very troublesome for us, because we see that You have undertaken a severely laborious task. We think, therefore, that You need not continue to stand in that way holding the hill. You can just transfer it onto Sudama’s hand. We are very much aggrieved to see You in this position. If you think that Sudama is not able to support Govardhana Hill, then at least You should change hands. Instead of supporting it with Your left hand, please transfer it to Your right hand, so that we can give Your left hand a massage.” This is an instance of intimacy, showing how much the vayasyas considered themselves to be equal to Krishna.”

You see, that is so nice. It’s a very beautiful example, when Krishna lifted the Govardhana Hill to protect the villagers. He was lifting the hill with His left hand, keeping it on His little finger. For an almighty God who can create universes this is not a big job. To lift one little hill – nothing special. Nevertheless, His friends and superiors and intimate friends want to help. To help the almighty God! ‘Maybe He needs my help’ – good idea.

But, of course, they don’t see Krishna as the almighty, as somebody very far away from them; they see Him as one of them. And therefore they had already forgotten about His greatness, that He is almighty. No, ‘He is our friend. Maybe He is tired, let’s help Him. Or at least You changed the hands.’

The other day you asked: “Is it possible to over-serve Krishna?” So, here the gopas, the friends are doing it like this: “We want to protect You, we want to serve You. We know it better, it must be tiring for You.”

(to be continued)

[1] Nectar of devotion, Ch. 41