Sri Jayanthi, The Two Elephants

Lord in the avathar, incarnation as Sri Krushna taught a lesson to an elephant named Kuvalayapidam. Lord Srimannarayana protected another elephant named Gajendra.

In an attempt to kill Krushna, Kamsa ordered for the aggressive and violent elephant, Kuvalayapidam to be stationed at the entrance of Mathura. The elephant trampled Krushna. This elephant is a representation of one’s arrogance. It needs to be ‘killed’ by God if you desire that you wish to lead your life in sa:thvik (Vasudeva) rather than in ra:jasik mode (Kamsa).

In an attempt to free himself from the clutches of a crocodile in a muddy lake, Gajendra submits and seeks support from Lord as the last resort. The crocodile is a representation of many sins one accrued during the current and past births blocking one from fulfilling his purpose in life. The muddy water lake represents samsa:ra, ignorance that body and himself are the same. Lord pulls us out of this ignorance and frees us from the cycle of mundane karma driven births and deaths.

As we celebrate the appearance of Krushna, the supreme thaththva – we must realise how both arrogance and ignorance hinder us from eternal joy we deserve and natural state (sahaja sthithi). People often question – “We have been a devotee for so long, we pray everyday, why am I facing so many difficulties in life?” Life is going to be difficult and tough. However, when the supreme thaththva is with you, the difficult times can be met with enough mental strength and courage.

Kunthi Devi, Droupadi and Utthara are the three women we all have read about in history of Mahabharatha. All three were queens. They all have experienced very tough times in their lives. Sri Krushna was their guiding light, mentor and the ultimate protector to all the three women. Despite that, did they not go through difficult times? Life is not meant to be always simple and easy. It is an opportunity to fulfil your duty living by the principles defined by the wise.

However, Lord’s avathar of Sri Krushna was in Dwapara Yuga – not now, How do I make Him my companion now?

Lord is forever accessible as archa avathar, the deity form. Sri Prasna Samhitha defines a devotion driven process of inviting Lord as Deity. He makes Himself accessible as deity in our homes and temples. He exists everywhere, but the Deity form enables you to experience the all pervasive form through a specific form.

He is also accessible through the jna:na in the form of the great scriptures Srimad Bhagavatha and Bhagavad Gi:tha.

Let Lord Sri Krushna take care of the Kuvalayapida, the arrogant ‘elephant’ in us and let Him onboard the Gajendra, us as His vehicle and tool, the subservient ‘elephant’.

We are all blessed to be celebrating Sri Jayanthi, the birth star of Sri Krushna in this year named Subhakruth because it was also in the same year that Sri Krushna appeared 5000+ years ago in Dwapara Yuga. There are 60 years and they repeat and the year named Subhakruth has repeated several times before it’s here again…