( Written on a day when I first heard the Gopi Gita)
Krishna,
The 'Gopi Gita' or the 'Song of the Gopis ' so beautifully portrays the feelings of the Gopis when You left them during the Maharaas. I can only imagine what your beloved gopis went through..when you later left Vrindavan for good, never to return .Your childhood at Vraja had come to an end. Krishna, the part of your life that will , in the times to come , be remembered lovingly was coming to an end .
When I first read about you leaving Braja, in this book someone gifted to my mom 'Krishnayanam', I cried my eyes out. I was around eight or nine , yet i felt so sad . If someone, who has only an image of 'Krishna' , carried across thousands of years, sung,made into serials and writtten upon..be so affected by Krishna's departuure ( as described in a book)..then what would have been the condition of the Brajwasis?
They knew Kanha since he was born. Yashoda's darling son was part of their lives in ways inseparable and unknown even to them. They were losing their son, friend, lover..for Krishna was all that and more to them . I love the Gopi Geet. But some parts of it are especially sweet..- Like when the gopis remember how Krishna had saved them from Kaliya, from the demons and protected them. Why? Because here we see how the gopis loved Krishna- They knew him since he was a little child. Loved him with that affection that you feel for someone whom you've known your entire life so far, someone who makes your day, whom you can tease, talk about anything with,,with no inhibitions at all. He was an integral part of each Brajwasis' life, not just of the Gopis' .
But Krishna had to fulfill the purpose of his avataar on Earth. His childhood lilas in Brindavan had to end., to be immortalised forever..the sweetest chapter in Krishna's life had to be closed.
Imagine, if Krishna hadn't left Vraja, all those other roles he played wouldn't be there for us. If he had not spoken the Bhagvad Gita to Arjuna, what would people in this age have, to hold on to? For, their link with Krishna is his words. Yes, Krishna's words. Words that urge you to fight for what is right, to shed your weakness, words that give happiness and comfort and timeless wisdom..his promises to those who would love him after he left Earth.
So, if our Krishna did not leave his childhood home, there would be no Gita, no Draupadi to surrender to Krishna, no Sudama - he would not be someone who lived a full life. Someone whom everyone can relate or look up to.
My dad , for instance , is all for the wisdom in the Gita. He considers Krishna as ..I really don't know..as God? ..as a great soul who spoke words to live by. His childhood and other aspects we love so much, doesn't interest him much. Whenever I see him poring over the Gita, or writing something down..etc. Or, when we go to temples and places like that, and i see all these people selling devotional stuff.. a shop selling idols of Krishna..an old man selling flower garlands for him. These lines always come to my mind ~
~ The scholars immeresed in all their pursuits,
And the merchants immersed , in making money,
No matter who, they all are singing,
Govinda Damodar Madhaveti~
( parts from an English version of 'Govind Damodar Madhaveti')
Okay, the whole of that kirtan is about how every one, in one way or another remembers Krishna.
Krishna, I really don't know what I meant to write here..but just this -
Thank You , for You, Krishnaa :)
~And as the Gopis finished singing the Gopi Geet, Krishna appeared before them ... :)
Love,
Lost Gopi
