20/08/2022
Wishing you all a very joyous Shri Krishna Janmashtami.
Immaterial of your faith, May Jagadguru Bhagawan Sri Krishna guide, protect and bless you and your loved ones always… with peace, joy, prosperity, good health, long life and success.
In this Kaliyuga, His teachings are paramount. He calls upon us to act, and do our duties without expectations or desires for the fruit of our actions. That is the only way for happiness. He tells us to offer all our efforts and actions to Him, and He will give us the results that is good for us.
“Yatra Yogeshwara Krishna, Yatra Parthoh Dhanurdarah, Tatra Shri Vijayor Bhootihi, Dhruva Neetir Matir Mama”… which means… where there is faith in Divinity (Sri Krishna) and our own sincere efforts (Arjuna), there is victory (Shri Vijaya).
By exhorting Arjuna to act in Bhagawad Geetha… urging him to fight the Adharmic forces… Bhagawan Shri Krishna also calls upon us to always act to protect Dharma… and through His actions He has demonstrated that the means used to protect Dharma change with times. Bhagawan Shri Rama and Bhagawan Shri Krishna are different in that sense. Both upheld Dharma, but used different means and rules to do so.
Only when we protect Dharma, will it protect us… “Dharmo Rakshathi Raksh*taha.”
“Vaasanaad Vasudevasya Vaasitham Bhuvanatrayam, Sarva Bhootha Nivaasosi, Vasudeva Namostutae”… this shloka from Vishnu Shasranama says that He resides in each one of us… in every sentient being… and everything resides in Him… this means that Bhagawan Shri Vishnu (Bhagawan Shri Krishna) is also saying that He acts through us.
Therefore, when we chant “Utthishto Utthishta Govinda, Utthishta Garudadwaja, Utthishta Kamalakanta, Trailokyam Mangalam Kuru” in Sri Venkatesha Suprabatha… which calls upon the Divine to wake up and make the world a better place, we are really calling upon ourselves to act in Dharmic ways, to uphold and protect Dharma, so that peace and prosperity may prevail on every sentient being.
May the Divine give you the resolve, determination and courage, to do your duty in a selfless manner, to protect Dharma in whatever way you can through your actions, so that your actions are in sync with the Divine, and contribute to the overall well-being of all humans, animals, and creatures on our planet… and the well-being of our planet, Bhoodevi - Mother Earth, as a whole.
Praying devotedly to Bhagawan Shri Krishna on this auspicious day is Bhakthi Yoga… really internalizing His teachings and always acting selflessly to uphold, strengthen and protect Dharma is Karma Yoga, and it is equally important. Realizing that we all are infinitesimal parts of the infinite Divine comes from our Bhakthi and Karma… and it is Gnana Yoga.
Of course all this is easier said than done… true realization and internalization of this non-duality is only possible for advanced yogis… however on this day, we should remind ourselves of the oneness of all of us, and strive to spiritually advance through selfless actions we take in our material lives.
May Bhagawan Shri Krishna’s grace always be with each and every one of you. 🙏
