Srimad Bhagavatam – day 696
Krishna steals the garments of the young maidens
Krishna Krishna
Maharishi Śuka continued, “With their minds totally focused upon Krishna, the young maidens diligently abided by the practices stipulated in the ritual for a period of a month.”
During this entire month, they sustained only on the food prepared using broken wheat grains and jaggery. They would offer this dish to Mother Kātyayani and then consume a small ball of this food as prasada. This was their only food for this entire month.
Can we compare the rituals (vrata) we perform to this vrata? In the present days, on the day of the festivity, the person has coffee followed by breakfast. Then he completes the puja ritual and by noon is ready for the festival feast. Many times, he does not even sit during the puja ritual. The priest will be chanting the mantras. He goes only for the final offering of dakshina to the priest. He offers a few flowers or a few grains of coloured rice (akshata) to the deity and prostrates before it and completes the ritual. Later during the day he goes to the theatre with the family to celebrate the festival holiday. Can this abidance to the ritual be deemed correct? No. In no way can it be classified as a festival celebration. In reality, we are incurring more sin through this process.
Here, the maidens fasted for a month and with absolute dedication focused on the rituals. Seeking to marry Nanda’s son Krishna, all of them diligently worshipped Mother Kātyayani i.e. Parvati, the Goddess who bestows auspiciousness.
Mother Kātyayani is worshipped during one avarana of Navaratri pujas. Witnessing one Navaratri Puja or performing it is equivalent of conducting Kātyayani vrata. She bestows auspiciousness.
“As part of this ritual, during the early hours of the day, the girls would wake each other and then, holding one another’s hands would walk towards River Yamuna for bathing. They continued to hold hands even as they bathed”.
They had no fear. Girls could wander all alone even during midnights. Even wild animals did not scare these girls. How can fear exist in a place where Krishna resides?
“As they proceeded towards the river and even while bathing, they would loudly sing songs glorifying Śrikrishna. They would call out to him, ‘Krishna, Krishna’ as they bathed. They would jump, swim and dance while frolicking in those waters. Chattering merrily they would recount the instances when Krishna had visited their homes. Their thoughts would be focussed upon Him as they played and laughed”.
Like robots they walked, sat, and performed all routine activities. However their minds were not present in those activities. Their minds were solely focussed upon Krishna. Their tasks were uninterruptedly going on but they were unaware of their actions as their minds were fixed on Krishna.
“One morning, as per their daily routine, they arrived at the banks of Yamuna. Leaving all their garments by the river bank, they entered into the waters to bathe. They were playing in the waters while singing the glories of Krishna”.
Isn’t it normal to forget oneself while playing in the waters? We forget the world, we forget the time immersed in the play.
“At that time, Krishna, who is the Lord of all Yogeshwaras, came to know of the ritual being performed by these maidens. The ritual was almost coming to an end. With the intent of ensuring that their ritual obtains perfect completion and with the desire of showering His blessings upon them all, Krishna arrived at the banks of Yamuna, together with his friends.
Krishna bundled all those garments lying by the river and bank and holding the huge bundle, he quickly climbed a nearby kadamba tree. Krishna was a small boy, merely six or seven years old. Along with the other boys, He began to laugh loudly teasing the girls who were bathing in the river.
It was dawn, the time when the surroundings are slightly visible. Sitting on the tree, Krishna addressed the girls and said, “O Gopikas! Please come to this tree and take your clothes. I have not stolen your clothing. Your clothes are lying here, at the base of the tree. Please come and pick your clothes from the heap. I am speaking the truth. I have carried your clothes.”
The Lord had not taken their clothing. In reality, the Lord had taken away their destiny (karma). Kavaca (armour) means ‘karma’. Kavacha means that which alleviates karma. Clothing is an armour (kavaca). It protects our dignity. Stealing this armour implies stealing this karma. Even skin is an armour. It protects the life-force. Is it possible to even look at the person whose the skin is peeled? Even if that person is alive, is it possible to communicate with the bones or muscles directly? Will anyone go and embrace such person? Will they go with him on a holiday? Through the skin, the Lord has shown his divine sport. Skin is the armour that protects. Skin gives beauty to the body made of bones. He then padded them with a foam called muscles.
“Krishna continued, ‘I speak the truth. It is not a joke. Due to your rigorous austerities, all of you have shrunk. You are weak and tired. All the cowherd boys are aware of your situation. Come either alone or in groups and collect your clothes’.
The Gopikas were filled with love for Krishna. None apart from Him was visible to them”.
Krishna Krishna