Happy Janamashtami to All. Happy Janamashtami sounds corny and forced to my own ears so Shubh Janamashtami A my kinda post on this occasion.

Shree Krishna, the Avatar/Re-incarnation is a subject I am incapable of touching upon. I will just take some instances of his life to show what a great Social Reformer, Brilliant Politician, and a Teacher of Spirituality he was. [His life and its meaning are things I have learnt and am still learning].

There was a time when every body’s motto was Eat, Drink and Be Merry. The Brahmins were not independent and were patrons of the ruling elite. The subjects taught did not include Life Lessons…did not explain ways to truly develop one’s life. The Ruling Class was egoistic and running after sensual pleasures and material wealth. The same behaviour was mirrored by the society at large. Though the people were materially wealthy they lacked in character, integrity and were floundering through life. Clueless as to why professional and material success and fame did not bring peace.

During such a time was born Shree Krishna to show us the power of Social Cohesion and stress upon the act that power and money are not what are needed for a Sangathan/Collective Strength and Social Revolution. He came to protect the Righteous (Saadhu) and punish the wrong doers. To set things right. He stopped the Indra Puja which was a way to worship Vaibhav/Material wealth. He advocated and started Govardhan Puja….Go meaning Upanishad and those who protected and spread the ideas of Upanishads…a spread of Naitik Mulya/ Moral Values.

He endeared the women and stirred up a women’s movement by spending time with the Gopis and making them into Brahmins…a people who spread the thoughts of God and Godly behaviour. The famous Raas Lila is just that …Lila…a romanticized version of a 7 year old Krishna’s interaction with much, much older women. He knew that a woman is instrumental in bringing about change in her home, extended family and society.

“Grihe Grihe Gopvadhukadamba“…the revolutionary ideas were taken from door to door by these Gopis as they sold milk.

He accepted the title of “MaakhanChor” to bring about a change…starting from the children of Gokul. There was no dearth of milk and butter in Gokul but all of it was sold to Mathura. The children of Gokul were deprived of essential nutrients. Krishna who was not lacking in any way stole milk and butter and distributed it amongst his friends. Another perspective is that Maakhan symbolized Sad Vichaar or good thoughts. He took the good from each family in Gokul and passed it on to the children. He sent the message that both a healthy body and mind are needed to make these children able citizens of tomorrow. These very Gopal’s along with Krishna changed the society.

And finally ShreemadBhagvad Geeta…not a religious text but Shree Krishna’s gift to Humanity. It answers all possible questions one can have about life. All doubts will be cleared and dilemmas settled. But secular education does not allow for a study of spiritual texts. And outside school we have better things to do…Art/Ballet/French/Tuitions/Coaching more tuition and more coaching.I say have Bible/Koran/Vedic Classes in school. Otherwise where do I learn the true purpose of my life. How do I find my inner peace which stands so shallow today. We are a generation which is stumbling through a fog. Happiness does not last. We are full of angst and so full of ourselves. We are living in a false truth.
I fear for my child who will surely learn how to make a living but will grapple with the fundamental issues which will determine his course and his happiness.

The cycle of good and bad is eternal. The society 5000 years back was no different from the society of today. The Land where Krishna was born is dipping down to new depths. And the behaviour is being cloaked behind the Right and need to earn money and fame, the Right to practice proudly the Philosophy of I, Me, Myself….the new mantra of emancipation for all. The Right to Cowardly hide behind…’Kaliyug hai…kya kiya ja sakta hai’.

In todays scenario there are some fundamental and glaring issues. It has suddenly become necessary to excel in University (definitely not a Center of ‘Higher Learning’ but a Center of ‘Higher Earning’) but not imperative to be a man/woman of character.
The justification I hear often is that parents gave birth to us and brought us up because they ‘wanted’ to. They did not reproduce because they wanted us to take care of them in old age. So its only practical if I let my sick and alone parent,to die far away!! I know of someone who could not go for his mother’s last rites. And I know of many more who say it was not ‘practically’ possible.
I recently read an ad ..” Wanted a Nanny for a 4 month old baby girl from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm. I know that the mother does not need to work to support herself financially. I know that she also does not need to be employed for Asmita/Self-Respect/Intellectual Stimulation/Application.
12.5 hours..the child will spend with a hired help/professional and then she is expected to be emotionally attached to her family or anyone for that matter? Then why should it come as a surprise later, that she/he is lacking in values and valuable life lessons. Gone are the days of Tapovan and Gurukuls…we need to recreate them in our homes. And ‘paid’ personnel can never do that.  ’Gurudakshina‘ is not ‘tuition fees’ and hence do not expect the same results. But I forget Full-time Mothering a child one brought into this world is asking for a great Balidaan/Sacrifice which we might not be prepared for.

I see no political will to defend and uphold the honor of the Nation. From China to the much weaker Pakistan to Australia and even internal problems like Kahsmir, Naxals and the ultras in North East….they will never hear a strong clear Indian voice.
The greed to hoard is overwhelming. Enough is never enough. Hence the collapsing buildings, train derailments, loot, rape and murder. Live Life King size means ‘Upbhog’(consumption) of the highest order. Retail therapy is fast replacing Spiritual therapy. Upgrade whenever boredom sets in. And how easily bored we are today.

A spineless government and a spineless and an even weaker society.

In such times the lessons given by Krishna hold good. Time has not stolen his lustre.
Knowledge and Devotion must be combined with Action. There are too many Bakasurs(Bak meaning False Pride), Aghasurs (Agh meaning Sin). And Asurs are not the ugly monstrous,fictional, Indianized versions of Vampires but real immoral,corrupt,bloodsucking Rakshas(sucking away at the society and the Right Way of Life/Dharm) to duck and lie low.

• He showed us the Middle Path between Consumption and Renunciation.
• He asked us to keep our personal obligations/promises and loyalties aside for the greater good.
• He showed us that we can fill our lives with laughter and play and yet tackle the evil within and outside.

Janamashtami is not just about fasting and feasting but renewing our pledge to carry forward Shree Krishna’s work and blaze the trail for a Social Revolution. Rise and Shine!

Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum!!!