Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – June 26, 2018 – Bengaluru
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
The ten incarnations of the Lord
Bhagavatam is the basis for the Dashavatara Venkataramana Swamy temple. There are many hymns in Bhagavatam glorifying the ten incarnations (Dashavatara).
In accordance to Kamsa’s directive, Akrūra proceeds to Nanda-gokula to fetch Krishna and Balarama to Mathura. As he was driving them back in the chariot he thinks, ‘What is this task which I am doing at Kamsa’s behest? Am I right or wrong? Will my actions throw these boys, who are barely 12 years of age, into danger? I will eternally be condemned for this deed of mine. Yet, how was I to refuse the king’s command? I am helpless. Why was I selected for this abominable task?’
At Gokula, the Gopikas were distressed with Krishna’s departure. Krishna on his part was ready for the journey soon upon seeing Akrūra. He enquired from Akrūra the well-being of his parents in Mathura and of his uncle Kamsa. Akrūra informed Krishna of the Yagna being conducted in Mathura and of the various martial arts being held on that occasion and of Kamsa’s invite to them for the same. The residents of Gokula believed that Krishna was being called only for witnessing the yagna.
The omniscient Supreme Lord behaved just as a child would do. He mounted the chariot and, without even bidding goodbye to the Gopikas or his friends, started to Mathura accompanied by Balarama. The cowherds and Gopikas wept to let go of Krishna. It was a very painful moment for them. Their eyes were brimming with tears and they tried to best to control them. The Lord was leaving them and going away. Why the Lord wouldn’t say goodbye was beyond their understanding. They agonized a lot. Separation is always a painful experience. It is difficult to withstand. Even a bird that develops wings and leaves home must remember its parents, for, they are undergoing the agony of separation. When our dearest one is travelling away from us for a long time, we refuse to go to the airport to see them off. Such is the pain. Here Krishna was not giving them any indication that He would return. They kept eagerly looking at Him awaiting His response.
It is said that listening to this story relieves the person from difficulties and false accusations.
The chariot sent by Kamsa was a war chariot. In such chariot there is no seating arrangement. At best a small cushion is placed where the person can rest for a short while if needed. The warrior is supposed to stand at all times irrespective of the distance as the horses’ gallop at unimaginable speeds. Due to the rugged terrain, he risks falling off the chariot and as such he stands holding the huge iron rod while the charioteer drives it. Such chariots have splendid heavy iron wheels. The chariot sent for fetching Krishna was driven by 4 horses.
Kamsa had pre-decided a time for killing these two brothers and hence Akrūra was asked to return quickly with them. Akrūra who was aware of Kamsa’s intensions dreaded reaching Mathura with the boys. He had no appetite for the sumptuous meal provided at Nanda’s home. He couldn’t even sip water peacefully. He was grieving that he was party to Kamsa’s sinful deed. Yet, at the same time a part of his mind rejoiced that Kamsa would soon meet death. He was going through a conflict. He was aware that Krishna was the Supreme Lord and yet he fretted for His safety. On one hand he rejoiced that Kamsa would die and on the other he grieved that Krishna could get into trouble.
At times devotees debate within themselves whether or not to put forth their problem/ question to Swamiji. ‘Should I ask or not’- they debate for a long time. You should never entertain confusions after arriving in Swamiji’s presence. Such conflict should be resolved prior arriving.
Gopikas and Krishna had a non-dual existence. They sang for Him and wept at the same time. They sang- Gati neene nanna mati neene, ramapati neene Srikrihna. (You are everything to me). Swooning, crying, laughing, and scolding that He departed without even informing them, they kept looking at His chariot that was speeding away. At last Krishna sent a one-word message ‘I will be back’. He did not specify when He would return.
Akrūra who was driving the chariot reached the banks of Yamuna. It was time for his evening austerities which he would not skip under any circumstances. It is a very important Hindu ritual mandatory for everyone. During Sunrise one must compulsorily perform Surya namaskara. During noon and during evenings, also the Lord is to be worshipped. At least one namaskara must be performed unfailingly during each of these times.
As per his discipline, Akrūra took boys’ permission and went to the river to complete his austerities. When he dipped once into the waters of Yamuna, he saw the entire cosmos. Srikrishna blessed him with this vision in order to dispel his fear that Krishna would meet death in the hands of Kamsa. Thereafter when Akrūra dipped again into the waters, he saw the ten incarnations of the Lord in those waters.
Let us discuss those incarnations:
1. Matsya avatara (fish incarnation)
Vedān uddharate: He protected the Vedas. He restored Vedas.
In the absence of Vedas, there would be no alphabets, no language and no sound. We should therefore be grateful to the Lord who incarnated as a gigantic fish and made available to us the alphabets, sounds and the knowledge.
In Japan and in eastern countries the Koi fish is revered as God. It was in that form that the Lord rescued the Vedas.
2. Kurma avatara (tortoise incarnation)
Jaganti vahate : He held the mandara mountain. He also incarnated as Mohini, distributed nectar to Devatas and destroyed demons.
3. Varāha avatara (Boar incarnation)
Bhu-golam udbhībhrate: He uplifted earth.
We are today inhabiting this earth which is His prasada to us. Observe this earth. In a combination of 3/4th water and 1/4th land, shouldn’t the land have got submerged into the oceans? When mud is added to a bowl of water, it dissolves. Why is it that the earth fails to dissolve in the oceans that surround it? This is because the Lord in His incarnation as Yagna-varaha murty has held it. It is His grace.
4. Narasimha avatara (Half lion and half man incarnation)
Daityam dārayate – He destroyed demons. By killing Hiranyakashipu He protected Prahlada.
5. Vāmana avatara (dwarf incarnation)
Balim chalayate – He tricked Bali in giving away the land. Despite being righteous in nature the demon-king Bali had occupied entire earth and had ensured no place for Devatas and Maharishis to exist in it. The Lord incarnated as a dwarf and took back earth from Bali before pushing him down into the lower regions called Patala.
6. Parashurama avatara
Kshatra-kshayam kurvate – Using His axe, the Lord who incarnated as Paraśurama, travelled around the globe killing all evil kings.
7. Rama avatara
Paulastyam jayate – As Rama, the Lord killed Ravana, the descendent of Maharishi Pulastya.
8. Balarama avatara:
Halam kalayate – As Balarama He held the plough depicting righteousness.
9. Krishna avatara
Karunyam atanvate – The Lord had then incarnated as Krishna, the embodiment of compassion. It can be said that only Krishna is the form of compassion.
10. Kalki avatara
Mleccham moorchayate – As Kalki He will come and free the earth from the mlecchas (barbarians). In future there will be a period when men eat men.
Dashakriti-krite krishnaya tubhyam namaha
Vedan uddharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
daityam darayate balim chalayate kshatra-kshayam kurvate
paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate
mlecchan murchayate dashakriti-krite krishnaya tubhyam namaha