A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 57

"Chakra," consisting of Manas, is held by the hand representing Satva.

"Padma" is the universe, the primal Maya. It is held by the hand, representing Tamas.

"Gada" is primal Vidya or wisdom. It is held by the hand, representing Ahankara.

"Garland" round the neck consists of the Manasa Putras of Brahma. The crown is Sat, absolute existence. The different life forms and the underlying Jiva are the two "Kundalas" on the ear.

Then we come to MANTRA BHAGAVATA or Bhagavata written in Vedic Mantras, a stiff work not quite intelligible without the excellent gloss of Nilkantha (published at the Venkatesvara Press, Bombay). This work is said to have been found out by Nilkantha. It is divided into four parts - Gokula Kanda, Vrindavana Kanda, Akrura Kanda and Mathura Kanda. The chief events of Krishna's divine life (Lila) are narrated in this book, but in the order of narration., it follows Hari Vansa more than the Bhagavata Purana. I refer only to those portions of the book, which to me appear important.

We take the following from the Gokula Kanda. The Gopas are re-incarnations of Devas. They are the messengers of Krishna. They are fond of _Gavya_ or the products of Cows. The relation between Krishna and the Gopas is that between an object and its image. Krishna drove the cattle of Nanda, just as he drove the horses of Arjuna, the object of doing so being in both the cases the destruction of all the enemies (III). In commenting on the 5th Sloka, Nilkantha calls Krishna the white ray of the Sun, which becomes the blue ray, which is in reality the ray of Sat, Chit and Ananda. He refers in this connection to the word Bharga (ray) in the Gayatri. Krishna is the heart of the Sun.

The sixth sloka explains this: -

"It is Krishna who causes bliss. The Sun G.o.d (Savitri), being guided by Krishna, goes his way on the golden chariot (VI)."

In the 11th sloka, Krishna is called the Black ray.

Mother Aditi (Earth) asked her son Indra for relief (VII). At the request of Indra, Vishnu entered the womb of Devaki. He first ensouled seven Ardha-Garbhas. (_Ardha_ is half and _Garbha_ is a foetal child.

The six sons of Kala-nemi - the name of a demon, literally, the rim of the wheel of time, known as Shat Garbhas, pleased Brahma by worship and became immortal. They were the grandsons of Hiranyakasipu. He cursed them saying: -

"I am your own grandfather. But you disregard me for the sake of the Divine Grandfather Brahma. Hence you shall be killed by the hands of your own father." They remained in their Linga Sarira in Patala.

They incarnated as the first six sons of Vasudeva and were killed by Kansa, the incarnation of Kala-nemi. This is related in Harivansa.

Therefore they are called Ardha Garbhas. The seventh Balarama is also called Ardha-Garbha, as he was drawn away from Devakl to Rohini.

_Nilkantha_) IX.

The Black ray (Sat, Chit and Ananda) incarnated in Devakt's womb.

Krishna is Antaryamin or inside all beings.

Balarama is Sutratma, the Ego. XIX.

The Cart Asura (_Sakata_) is a messenger of the death G.o.d from the South, XX.

_Putana_ is a weapon of death in the form of a bird. XXI.

_Trinavarta_ is the disease, known as consumption.

The Gopas asked Krishna for the milk-products. As devas, they had never known such offerings in Yajnas. They informed Krishna, where the milk made things were to be found. (XXIII and XXIV.) For the gratification of the universe, the longings of Krishna are great and for this reason he did not spare any fresh b.u.t.ter of the Gopis. The Gopis learned from this that for the bare up-keep of their lives, they were to attend to their household duties (XXVI). (If the boys are to steal away all the b.u.t.ter, life itself will be extinguished. People should have enough left for their household requirement. If I taste only a little of the b.u.t.ter, all the three Lokas will be gratified, and the Gopis will acquire the merit thereof. Considering all this, Bhagavan tasted b.u.t.ter by stealth _Nilkantka_. This means, in so many words, that Krishna accepted the fruits of all the actions of the Gopis except such as sufficed to preserve their lives). The Gopis complained to Yasoda of the stealing acts of Krishna. XXVII.

_Vrindavana Kanda_.

The dwellers of Gokula migrated with Krishna to Vrinddvana, for fear of Vrikas or wolves. (Kama and other pa.s.sions are the wolves, _Nitkantha_), I.

In treating of Pralamba Asura, mention is made of the nonperception of "I am Brahma," VII.

Pralamba is said to be an aspect of the primal Daitya Madhu, IX.

There is some philosophical discussion about the concealment of calves by Brahma, (X to XIV.)

The first six sons of Devaki are the Six Indriyas (including Manas) and the seventh is the Jivatma, the conscious Ego. x.x.xV.

In commenting upon this sloka, Nilkantha says, "Devaki and other names are merely allegorical, bearing an esoteric meaning. The narration is not the real point." He further supports his position while commenting on sloka XL, of Vrindavana Kanda. He makes quotations from the Skanda Purana, which speak of the twofold meanings of the narration texts, one adhyatmika and another adhi bhautika, the former being difficult to follow. Following up these quotations, Nilkantha says; "Those that are not prepared for the adhyatmika hindering of all modifications of the mind, must seek the adhibhautika Lila of Bhagavan. And if they concentrate their minds on the _holy deeds of Bhagavan_, they acquire the result of Samadhi."

Krishna is Paramatma. The intercourse of the Gopis was not therefore adulterous. (x.x.xVII and x.x.xVIII.)

_Akrura Kanda_.

In this Kanda, Akrura comes to Vraja and takes Rama and Krishna to Mathura.

_Mathura Kanda_.

This part treats of the killing of Kansa by Krishna.

Krishna is described as the knower of the hidden names of the cows. (It is to be understood that the cows have hidden names, _Nilkantha_.)

We now come to KRISHNA UPANISHAD, one of the Atharvana Upanishads.

The Gopas are Devas.

"Nanda" is Supreme bliss.

"Yasoda" is Mukti.

Maya is three-fold Satvika, Rajasika and Tamasika.

Satvika Maya is in Rudra, Rajasika in Brahma and Tamasika in the Daityas.

Devaki (_Deva+ki_ or chanted by the Devas) is Brahma Vidya.

"Vasudeva" is Nigama.

The "Gopis" and the cows are Riks. (Vedic Mantras)

Brahma is the stick of Krishna.

Rudra is His flute.

Indra is the horn,

"Gokula Vana" is Vaikuntha.

The trees are the Rishis of Vaikuntha.

The Daityas (Trinavarta and others) are greed, anger and other pa.s.sions.

Krishna, in the form of Gopa, is Hari. Rama is the Sesha serpent.

The eight princ.i.p.al wives and the sixteen thousand and one hundred minor wives of Krishna are the Riks and Upanishads.