Jai Sree Krishna!
Ranjani
Faridabad (NCR)
Hari Aum!
Humble Prostrations at The Holy Feet of Guru Maa!
Sree Krishna Ashtami was celebrated on 16th August, in the month of Bhaadrapad on the eight day of the Krishna Paksha. On this day the message by Maa came to us in the form of a Blessing, “On this auspicious day may we be blessed to apprehend Sree Krishna Avtaar Leela, to fathom Sree Krishna Janma Uddeshya and to absorb Sree Krishna Jagadguru Anugraha.‘’ This message helps one to focus on the importance and the purpose of life.
At SISS, the festival was celebrated in the evening by welcoming Guru Maa with Purnakumbh followed by Aarti at Sree Ishwar Darshan Temple. The Holy Altar of Bhagwaan always looks very beautiful with the Gopis and Gopas (Devis and Devtaas) celebrating with great joy and love the Holy Incarnation, with music and dance – “Aanand Bhayo re, Aanand Bhayo re, hey Gokul mein Kanha ne janam liyo re…” and we also couldn’t resist ourselves when Maa sang the bhajan. The Shodashaupachaar Puja of Bhagwaan was performed giving the practice of the sixteen steps that should be remembered with their significance for the benefit of oneself as a seeker.
At the Holy Altar, Sree Krishna is seen on a swing with the flute. This takes me to the thought of Bhagwaan performing different mischievous acts of play remembered as Sree Krishna Avtaar Leela. I moved around to see different Forms and Idols of Sree Krishna with Radha ji; with Yashoda Mata; Sree Krishna in Poorna Avtaar; Sree Krishna giving advice to Arjun ji; with Balram ji and Subhadra ji as Sree Jagannath, all are seen in Sree Sadguru Sharanam at SISS. To understand these Forms of Bhagwaan, one has to diligently follow the teachings of the Guru to make oneself capable to receive the Divine Grace of the Lord.
There were some thought provoking questions given by Maa ji; one of them was about the sixteen Kalas of Bhagwaan. As told by Maa ji and understood by me, they are -
1. Praan
2. Shraddha
3. Space
4. Air
5. Fire
6. Water
7. Earth
8. 10 senses
9. Mind
10. Annam
11. Veerya
12. Tapah
13. Mantra
14. Karm
15. Loka
16. Naam.
We were left with much to think upon ourselves as saadhaks. As we performed the Puja with learning, both Ananta and I felt very fortunate and revived some beautiful memories in store with us as photos of earlier years of celebrating Sree Krishna Janmashtami at SISS.
Humble Gratitude at The Holy Feet of Maa and my humble pranaam to Manish ji!
Hari Aum!