Ananda

Krishna  IS Ananda.

Ananda is forever happiness, one that never goes away – not even for a second. 

Some very wise people a long, long time ago figured out something amazing. They realized that the biggest, most important thing in the whole universe, the source of everything, let's call it the Brahman – is made of this happiness called Ananda! 

Knowing Krishna or Ananda as the ultimate destination or yearning is one thing.  We also have to realise that Krishna also shows us the way to find that happiness inside ourselves. Shortly put Krishna is the path and Krishna is the goal. Means and End – both are Krishna.

We should try being close to him, think about him constantly, and love him with no other motive other than to love him. 

That is why we say, "Krishna IS Ananda." This is encapsulated in the specific Upanishadic realization, Ānando Brahmeti Vyajanāt ("Bliss is Brahman") from Taittiriya Upanishad of Yajur Veda.

Gopika Geetham

Krishna is the king of everything sweet and happy. And everything about him is sweet, like his smile, his songs, and even the way he walks. That's why people call him "Madhuradhipati," which means the King of Sweetness! Remember the song by Adi Shankara – Adharam Madhuram!  Look it up.

Now, the Raaslila is a divine dance that Krishna had under the pleasant moonlight. He played his flute, and the music was so enchanting that all the Gopis, heard it and were mesmerised.

When they heard his flute, they dropped everything they were doing, even their chores and families, and ran to Vrindavan to dance with him because they loved him more than anything else. 

Krishna danced with all of them in a big circle. And the most magical part? He made it so that every single Gopi felt like she was dancing right next to him, just with him! Everyone felt enraptured by Krishna, all night long. The Gopis did not want this to end at all.  

The Gopis loved just wanting to be with Krishna. That is all that they needed – just to be with Him.  Gopis are the ultimate of the bhaktas of Krishna, and just like them, we should yearn for nothing else other than to be with Krishna.

Noticed the Gopika in this painting? Hope you do!

Tvameva - The Rhythm of Surrender

 Tvameva means – “only you”.

There is a well known shloka in Sanskrit and here is it's English Translation:
You are the mother, you are the father,
You are the friend, you are the kinsman,
You are the knowledge, you are the wealth,
You are everything for me, O God of gods. 

That's what Tvameva means – it means "You are everything to me!".

   
Devotees seek refuge in Krishna – with a strong faith (Mahavishwas) - Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, "Hey! Stop worrying about everything else and just come to Me! I'll keep you safe and take away anything that makes you sad or scared. Don't worry!". He promises to be the only one you really need to go to for help.   And when you really, really trust Him like that, it's called Sharanagati. You believe strongly that He will protect you, no matter what. That's complete trust, complete surrender.   

When you trust Krishna completely like that, He gives you a special gift. It's called Ananda – but not just regular quiet time, it's super peace.  Krishna says, "If you trust Me with your whole heart, I'll give you eternal Ananda and you'll always be happy with Me". 

There, you got it! That's the whole journey. Knowing He's everything makes you want to trust Him as your only safe place, and trusting Him completely brings that amazing, eternal peace. Pretty cool, huh?

Vrindavan Vihari

 Vrindavan Vihari: When the flute weaves infinite patterns in the air - it reveals the divine presence.

“Vrindavan” is a beautiful forest with lots of green trees, colourful flowers, and happy cows. And "Vihari" means someone who loves to wander around in that place. 

And guess what? Playing in Vrindavan is one of Krishna's favourite things to do! He loves running through the forest with his friends, the cowherd boys. They chase each other, climb trees, and play hide-and-seek! It's like the best adventure every single day.

And when Krishna plays his flute, oh boy, it's magical! The sound is so sweet and beautiful that everyone stops what they're doing to listen. The cows stop grazing, the birds stop chirping, and even the river seems to flow a little slower, just to enjoy the music. The whole Vrindavan comes alive and every being there, the people, the animals and the trees join the celebrations.

When Krishna plays his flute, it's like he's saying, "Wow! Look how amazing everything is right now!" The sweet music is his way of celebrating all the little things – the sunshine, the flowers, the sound of the birds, and just being together with everyone he loves. His happy music makes every moment even more joyful and makes everyone happy too!

When you see the Keshav’s painting "Vrindavan Vihari", think of Krishna having the best time ever, playing his flute and making everyone around him equally happy in his favourite place, the divine happiness!

Ananya

I know you have many toys, but there's always one special toy, maybe a teddy bear, that makes you feel happier and safer than all the others put together.

Well, "Ananya" means something like that, but much, much bigger. It means "no other".

When we talk about Krishna as Ananya, it means:

1.    He's the Only One: Krishna is one-of-a-kind source of all the good things. There's nobody else like Him. Krishna is the exclusive, unparalleled goal and sanctuary for His devotees.

2.    He Gives the Ultimate Happiness: You know how sometimes you feel happy, like when you play with friends? Krishna gives that ultimate kind of happiness, called Ananda, which is like the most blissful and most wonderful happiness that lasts forever. And only He can give you that forever-happiness.

3.    He Loves You like your Dad/Mom: Krishna loves everyone like your kindest mommy or daddy. This love is called Vatsalya. Even if you make mistakes, He still loves you, forgives you, and wants to take care of you, just like your parents do. He's always looking out for you with great kindness.  You see the cow by the feet of Krishna? That represents us.

 

Because Krishna is the only one who can give you that amazing forever-happiness (Ananda) and loves you with such special kindness (Vatsalya), "Ananya" means we should love Him most of all and know that He is our very best friend and protector, the only one we truly need to be happy and safe.

Govinda

Krishna has a special name, Govinda. It means He's super compassionate and loving, especially to cows, but really to everyone (While Go literally means a cow, it represents life itself (jeevatma)). Think of Him like the kindest one who looks after all the souls, like the spark inside you and me.   He cares for every single creature, no matter how small.   

When we love Govinda back – like being His best friend and trusting Him completely (this loving friendship is called bhakti), He makes sure they feel safe and brings them so much happiness. Loving Govinda fills with a deep, warm, happy feeling inside, like the best kind of sunshine that doesn't go away. It's the ultimate joy (called Ananda).

Did you notice the hallmark on His forehead just as it is for Tirupati Srinivasa - also Govinda?

Krishna and Kamadhenu

Imagine a cow with wings grazing peacefully. This is a special cow named Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow of the heavens! Whatever you wish for, Kamadhenu can provide, like sweet milk, creamy yogurt, or even delicious butter – anything you can imagine! 

Now, picture our dear Krishna, with his playful smile and gentle eyes, playing his flute among the cows in this field. He loves all the cows very much, but he has a very special connection with Kamadhenu.  Well, Kamadhenu, besides being a magical provider, is also a big devotee of Krishna. He knows her pure heart and her devotion.  

Kamadhenu, is a symbol of abundance and care, and her devotion shows us that even divine beings are great devotees of Krishna. And Krishna cherishes those who love him purely, like his dear devotee Kamadhenu.

Yogakshemam Vahamyaham

Imagine you're a little seed, okay? You're all tucked in the soil, and you have everything you need inside you to become a big plant. But sometimes, you might worry, right? "Will I get enough water? Will the sun shine on me? What if a big bug tries to eat me?"

Well, imagine Krishna, your best friend in the whole universe, whispering to you, "Don't you worry, little seed. Yogakshemam vahamyaham."

That's a Sanskrit word, but it means, "I take care of what you need, and I protect what you have."

See, "yoga" here is like getting everything you need to grow – the right amount of sunshine, water, and food from the soil. It's like Krishna making sure you have everything to become a strong, healthy plant.

And "kshema" is like Krishna protecting you from anything that could hurt you – keeping those hungry bugs away, making sure the big winds don't knock you over before you're strong enough.

So, when Krishna says, "Yogakshemam vahamyaham," it's like him giving you a big hug and saying, "I've got you. I'll make sure you have everything you need, and I'll keep you safe." You just need to try your best to grow, and Krishna will take care of the rest!                                     

The cow licking the feet of Lord represents the Vatsalya bhava, the motherly compassion that Krishna shows to all devotees who surrender to him and means that Krishna personally bears the burden of maintaining his devotees.

Source: This quote is from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, Verse 22. It is part of Krishna's promise to those who are devoted to Him and think of Him constantly.

Verse in Sanskrit:

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।

तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥ २२ ॥

 

Venugana

Krishna's venugana, symbolically, the hollow bamboo of the flute represents the ego emptied of self, becoming a vessel through which Krishna's love flow freely. The enchanting notes are a calling to the souls (Jeevatmas).

Spiritually, venugana evokes a yearning for the divine. The gopis, foremost among the devotees, upon hearing the venugana, are drawn into a state of ecstatic love and devotion, forgetting worldly attachments. This symbolizes the soul's innate longing to reunite with its source. It is a call to awaken the dormant love within each of us and to surrender to the divine, leading to spiritual liberation and bliss.

Pranatharthihara!Vatsalya Jaladhe!

"Pranatharthihara" literally translates to "the remover of the suffering or distress of those who have surrendered to Him." Just as a loving parent, Lord Krishna, filled with boundless vatsalya, responds to the heartfelt surrender and distress of His devotees.  We understand Krishna as Pranatharthihara with the भाव (bhava) of vatsalya who guides the devotee towards inner peace and liberation, nurturing them with the same tenderness, a parent shows their child.

Udupi Krishna

 

Udupi Krishna

Udupi Krishna is the presiding deity of the Krishna Matha in Udupi, Karnataka. The idol is believed to have been miraculously obtained by the great Guru Sri Madhvacharya. Devotees view the Lord through a nine-holed window called the "Kanakana Kindi."

The churner in the context of Udupi Krishna alludes to the divine play of the young Lord Krishna, who was fond of butter. However, on a deeper spiritual level, this is a metaphor for the human mind. Just as churning buttermilk yields butter, so too does the focused and persistent churning of one's thoughts and consciousness lead to the 'butter of life' – wisdom, enlightenment, and a connection with Krishna.