“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or
water, I will accept it.” – Bhagavad Gita (9.26)
At the second level- level 2- are those who believe in God and follow
rituals, procedures or religious strictures. They are aware of God’s
position and the need to serve him and connect with him. Yet, they
often get distracted by the rituals and rules so much that adherence
to these rules becomes more important for them than offering their
loving hearts. They are close to God but miss the bus because the
rules blind them to the real essence of a relationship with God. In
fact, we may follow detailed procedures but if our practises are
devoid of devotion, Krishna may not accept what we offer him.
At the third level are some special devotees who follow rituals but
may not adhere to all of them; yet their heart is in the right place,
for it beats with love for God and his devotees. Krishna is so pleased
by their love that he gladly accepts their offerings. In vrindavan,
Krishna and his friends go to the forest to herd cows and have a daily
picnic. When his friends offer various food items from their lunch
packets, Krishna happily enjoys the offerings, while commenting on
each item. These boy friends of Krishna didn’t follow any rituals;
they simply loved Krishna and wanted to please him. Krishna
reciprocated with their desire.
At the fourth level are the elderly cowherd women of vrindavan who
prepared most succulent butter and didn’t even offer them to Krishna.
Yet, Krishna came with his friends and stole them. One could imagine
how special these women must be that even when they are ostensibly
angry with Krishna, he chooses to steal their butter. And then they
scold him for his ‘criminal’ act and also complain to his mother about
him. Krishna’s love for them is so special that while he ignores the
opulent offerings made by envious Duryodhana, he steals the offerings
of gopis that were hidden from him.
And then we have an even special personality- mother Yashoda, who
actually punishes Krishna and binds him to a wooden grinding mortar
for his stealing activities. How much love she must be having in her
heart that God chooses to be punished by her. He cries when she scolds
him, and the black mascara is washed by his tears.
The Srimad Bhagavatam declares: “Neither Lord Brahma, nor Lord Shiva,
nor even the goddess of fortune, who is always the better half of the
Supreme Lord, can obtain from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
deliverer from this material world, such mercy as received by Mother
Yashoda.” (10.9.20)
To be continued…
