Kriṣṇa is the Supreme
- Pontification: Paramapoojya Śrī Vidyadheesha Teertha Śrīpadaru
Compilation: Kriṣṇa Sakha, Mudarangadi
Translation: Dr. Sudheendhra Putty, Secunderabad
Śrī Kriṣṇa was born in the house of Vāsudēva is a statement that occurs in the Srimad Bhāgavata – vāsudēva grihē sākshād bhagavān puruṣah parah janiṣyatē .
Vēdavyāsa refers to Śrī Kriṣṇa as bhagavān and thereafter as parama puruṣa or the Supreme Being. Although the term puruṣa is colloquially understood by all, it is by and large, inferred to be a man. In fact, in the Tulu language, the term puruṣa is used only in the context of a husband. Thus, with the efflux of time, the meaning and expanse of a word also gets compressed. While the term puruṣa is capable of being interpreted in many different ways, we shall proceed to comprehend it at a macro level in a couple of perspectives.
One of the meanings of puruṣa is he who resides within a body comprising the nine gateways. Puri shētē iti puruṣah – that this body is a dwelling comprising nine gates is an averment of Śrī Kriṣṇa in the Bhagavad Gīta – nava-dvāre purē dehi naiva kurvān na kārayan is the relevant line. It is generally also stated that man resides within this dwelling of nine gates. However, it is imperative to engage in an honest cogitation of what the phrase means. Only then, will one be able to arrive at its innate and truthful meaning.
Existence that is independent of all else is true existence. Holistically, an existence that is subservient is no existence at all. It is so even in mundane worldly matters. Let us take an example concerning worldly affairs. When you enquire after a person’s welfare and how he is, he is most likely to reply, ‘pulling along’, indicating that he is unable to independently achieve happiness. Similarly, we must question ourselves as to what is the status of independence and welfare being resident in this human body. As we search for answers to these questions, the extent of authority of our existence in the body dawns upon us.
Does a body that we believe to be ‘me’ and ‘mine’ act always according to one’s desires and requirements? Man often says, ‘my mind, my eyes, my ears, my nose (breath), my mouth (speech) and so on. But, in reality, none of them is in man’s own control. When one seeks answers to questions underlying these, we embark on an unending journey of musing.
There are so many who (assume bodies that) are disabled. Does anyone desire such a body that is disabled? Does man even have the cognitive ability to discern before he assumes such a body? Who is He who makes us assume bodies that are ‘able’ or ‘disabled’? Ponder over it. It will be bemusing. Even if the (sense) organs are able, do they function as per our wish? Is it possible to bring forth even a single individual who can proclaim that his mind listens to or is exactly in sync with what he thinks and what he wants? Any person who claims he can, has to inevitably accept defeat. For, none other than Rudra, the ruler of the mind himself asks this question of his father, the four-faced Brahma.
kēnōṣitam patati preṣitam manah
kēna prāṇah prathamah prythi yukah
kēnōṣitām vāchamimām vadanti
chakshuh shrothram ka u devō unaki
The purport of the above is – that mind which I assume to be mine (cognition), that assumption of my life (breath), mouth (speech), eyes (sight) and ears (hearing) function under whose control?
As mentioned a little earlier, the search for answers to these questions, per se, would count as one of the biggest achievements of one’s life. But, the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kriṣṇa, gives the answer to this with a chuckle; an answer that can fire up an endless depth of cogitation in us. The answer is as follows:
upadrastanumanta ca bharta bhōktā mahēṣvarah
paramātmēti cāpy uktō dēhē ‘smin puruṣah parah
He who remains above everything, He who oversees everything, conducts everything, bears everything, the extractor, the all-powerful is the one who resides alongside everyone inside the body – the Supreme Lord.
When one muses over all this, it emerges that the one who resides in the body in a truly independent manner and yet remains completely unscathed by the disabilities of the said body and controls the life of the body is the true puruṣa. Further, as He is superior to all else and supreme in every sense, He alone enjoys the appellation of parama puruṣa or the Supreme Being.
When it has thus been said that the Almighty, with all His glories as such, would descend on the earth as the son of Vāsudēva, it is easily inferred that Śrī Kriṣṇa is the controller of everything. Therefore, it is imperative to perceive of Śrī Kriṣṇa never as a mere mortal, but as the Supreme Being or the Almighty. It is only when we pray to Him and meditate upon Him as such, that it is possible for us to be a worthy receptacle of His grace.
Ever engaged in the sadhana of Srimadvaishnava Siddhanta of our Guru, Acharya Madhwa and all the Yatis and Dasas who have blazed this noble path. May HVG bless us all