The Hindu : Abounding grace of the Lord

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 24, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Abounding grace of the Lord

CHENNAI MARCH 24. The Almighty, who is beyond the ken of human senses and mind, makes Himself accessible to His devotees. This quality is especially evident during His incarnations as one of the purposes of His advent in the world is man's redemption from bondage. It was in Krishna incarnation that He was most accessible. Lord Krishna's childhood deeds have been a perennial source of inspiration for mystics and the laity alike. The Bhagavata Purana relates these instances in depth, each one giving insight into a different facet of His abounding grace and compassion for mankind.

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri Rama Dikshitar said Yashoda was singled out for His grace. The cowherd boys headed by Balarama once complained to her that Krishna had eaten earth. Naturally concerned for His welfare she chided Krishna and seeing His bewildered look questioned Him. Denying that He had eaten mud Krishna in order to call them bluff told His mother to examine His mouth. And there inside His small mouth Yashoda beheld the entire creation and was thus blessed with the wisdom that He was the Almighty incarnate. In an instant she forgot the revelation because of His deluding power and Yashoda looked upon Him as her son again.

Another sport of the Lord that instils hope in the heart of every devotee that God can be bound by devotion is the one that earned Him the name Damodara. One day when Yashoda was engaged in churning curd Krishna tried to claim her total attention and she obliged him. Suddenly remembering that she had kept the milk on the oven she went in haste leaving an angry Krishna behind who immediately vented His fury by breaking the pot. Then He went about with His usual clandestine prank of stealing butter.

Yashoda returned to find the day's labour lost and searched for Krishna. She found Him sharing the booty with a monkey standing on an upturned mortar and seeing a rod in her hand He got down in haste and fled from the scene. Unable to match His speed She panted after Him determined to punish Him. When at last She caught Him, seeing fear writ large on His face, she threw the rod away and instead attempted to bind Him with a string to a wooden mortar. To her dismay the length fell short every time she added more to it. Moved by her exertion Krishna allowed Himself to be bound.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Miscellaneous

Stories in this Section

All in the game

The Hindu Crossword 7628

Solution to puzle 7627

Abounding grace of the Lord

dated March 24, 1953: Tito's visit to London