Lord Krishna -Sivananda 91

Lord Krishna (His Lilas and Teachings) -Swami Sivananda

Part-1
LILAS

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Abolition of Indra’s Worship

One day, Krishna observed that the people were preparing for the worship of Indra. He asked His father Nanda “Tell me, O father! What is this occasion for your great festivity? What is the object? To whom is it intended? By whom and how is the sacrifice to be performed?”
Nanda replied, “My beloved child! Indra is the Lord of the clouds. He will give us rain by worshipping him. The rains give life to all beings. Therefore, people worship Indra by these sacrificial offerings. Whatever is left after offering him in sacrifice, we use for our subsistence in order to attain the three objects of life, viz., Dharma [1], Artha [2] and Kama [3]. Indra is the dispenser of the fruit of our exertions.”
Krishna replied, “O revered father! By the force of Karma a creature is born, and by the force of Karma it passes away. The birth and death of men are shaped by their own Karma. Happiness and misery, fear, safety, these are all the effects of Karma. If there be any God who dispenses the fruits of Karma, he must also follow that Karma. He cannot act independently. When people are governed by their own Karma, where does Indra come in? What has Indra to do with creatures here who simply follow the course of their Karmas? Because he is not able to alter what is fixed for men by Nature, what is predestined by the latent potentialities of one’s past deeds. Svabhava or Karmic tendency is decreed by fate. Man is subject to his nature formed by the latent Samskaras of his past deeds. He follows his own nature. The whole universe consisting of Devas, Asuras, men, etc., lives, moves and has its being in Nature. By the force of his Karma a creature attains to several corporeal existences high or low, and also loses them. Karma is one’s guide. Karma is the supreme ruler. “What can Indra do? Therefore, let us make offerings to our cows, our Brahmins, our hills, and fallen people. Let dogs be properly fed. Let the cows be supplied with fodder.”
Nanda and other Gopas approved what Krishna said. They did everything in accordance with Sri Krishna’s instructions. They made offerings to the cows, to the Brahmins and to the hill Govardhana. They went round the hill. Krishna said, “I am the Hill.” Sri Krishna assumed another gigantic form and manifested Himself on the top of the hill in order to confirm the faith of the Gopas. He told the people that He was the deity presiding over the mountain. He then began to consume the offerings that were made to the Hill.


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References

  1. righteousness
  2. earthly possessions
  3. worldly enjoyments

Related Articles

Lord Krishna -Sivananda
Sr. No. Lesson Name Page No.
1. Ekasloki Bhagavatam 1
2. Chatuhsloki Bhagavatam 2
3. Salutations to Lord Krishna 5
4. Sri Krishnashtottarasatanamastotram 11
5. The Song of Sweetness 17
Introduction
6. Lord Krishna -The Supreme Lord 25
7. Avatara 29
8. Krishna in the Puranas 31
9. His Life 32
10. Student Life 34
11. Embodiment of Mercy 35
12. A Great Warrior 37
13. Yogeshvara 39
14. A Great Statesman 42
15. His Teachings 44
16. Call of the Flute 45
17. Origin of Bhagavata 47
18. The Bhagavata Purana 49
19. End of Parikshit 54
20. The Fate of Non-Believers 57
21. Epilogue 59
Part -1
LILAS
1. LordKrishna 60
2. Birth of Lord Krishna 63
3. Birthday Celebration 66
4. Putana’s Deliverance 68
5. The Killing of Trinavarta 69
6. Showing Cosmic Vision to Yasoda 70
7. Naming Ceremony 71
8. Sports of the Child (Bala Lila) 72
9. Tying of Krishna 73
10. The Yamala-Arjuna Trees 74
11. The Fruit Seller/Brindavan 75
12. Deliverance From Vatsasura/Deliverance From Bakasura 76
13. Deliverance From Aghasura 77
14. Brahma’s Delusion 78
15. Deliverance of Dhenukasura 80
16. Boys and Cows Saved From the Effect of Poison 81
17. Grace on the Kaliya Serpent 82
18. Swallowing Forest Fire/Pralambasura 84
19. The Forest Fire 85
20. The Music of the Flute 86
21. The Stealing of Clothes 88
22. Krishna and the Vedic Yajna 89
23. Abolition of Indra’s Worship 91
24. Raising of Govardhana 92
25. Coronation of Krishna 93
26. Nanda Rescued From Varuna 94
27. Commencement of Rasa Lila 95
28. Gopis Suffer Pangs of Separation and Search for Lord Krishna 101
29. Gopika Gitam (Gopis’ Song) 107
30. Sri Krishna Suddenly Appears and Consoles the Gopis 111
31. Gopis’ Love 115
32. Secret of Rasa Lila 119
33. Rasa Lila 128
Part -2
TEACHINGS
1. Krishna and Uddhava 135
2. Avadhoota’s Story 140
3. Samsara 156
4. Bondage and Liberation 162
5. Sadhu and Bhakti 166
6. Glory of Satsanga 169
7. The Gunas 173
8. How to Withdraw From the Sense-Objects 175
9. Bhakti Yoga 182
10. Method of Meditation 186
11. The Siddhis 188
12. The Vibhutis or Powers of the Lord 194
13. The Duties of the Brahmacharin and the Householder 201
14. The Duties of Vanaprasthis and Sannyasins 201
15. Jnana and Vijnana 219
16. Yama and Niyama 224
17. The Three Paths: Karma, Bhakti And Jnana 227
18. Guna and Dosha 233
19. The Tattvas 241
20. Prakriti and Purusha 246
21. Reincarnation 248
22. Endurance 253
23. Sankhya 262
24. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas 266
25. Aila Gita 271
26. Kriya Yoga and Idol-Worship 276
27. Jnana Yoga 285
28. Bhakti Yoga 293
Part -3
THE BHAGAVATA DHARMA
1. The Bhagavata Path 300
2. Kavi Instructs 303
4. Hari Instructs 305
5. Antariksha Instructs 308
6. Prabuddha Instructs How to Cross Maya 313
7. Avirhotra Instructs on Karma Yoga 316
8. Drumila, the Son of Jayanti Describes the Lord’s Avataras 319
9. Chamasa Instructs 324
10. Karabhajana Instructs 327
APPENDIX
1. Sri Krishnakarnamritam 333
2. Kunti’s Prayer 334
3. Prahlada’s Prayer 339