Krishna Tathvam - Concept of Gopikas

This time, something related to a concept on the great 'Krishna Tathvam'.

Krishna Tathva:

" Thalli vi neeve ... Thandri vi neeve ... Sakhudou ... Gurudou ...

Daivamu nijamu ga neeve Krishna !!!"

                       It means - O Krishna! I see you in my mom, dad, friend and Guru. You are my true god. So, Krishna Tathva means seeing Lord Krishna in everyone and everything.

Many have this type of feeling right from their birth and spend their lives in tanmayathva. We all know that, Krishna had 8 wives, 16000 Gopikas and 1 lover (Radha Devi).

Let us now try to analyze the Gopikas...

Who are Gopikas?

                     As per puranas, 16,000 women were held captive by Narakasura. Sri Krishna killed Narakasura on Naraka chaturdhi day. The next day, Amavasya day was the day of liberation for those 16000 women - Gopikas.

                     Krishna freed all 16,000 women from the prison. All of them were asked to go back to their homes. Then all the Gopikas felt that it would not be possible for them to live with dignity in their old homes after having been prisoners of Narakasura. So, they have decided to end their lives at the holy feet of Sri Krishna. Then, Krishna assured them that he would protect them and become their Bhartha (Supporter - Not necessarily, Husband)


                    It being Amavasya, the Gopikas felt that, since their lives were now filled with light, it should be celebrated with lamps and fireworks to turn into a Full Moon Night. This day is celebrated as Deepavali.

How Gopikas are significant?

                    As per the promise he made, each Gopika had one Krishna with them. It can be treated as 'Vishnu Maya' or 'Krishna Leela'. All the Gopikas spoke to Krishna, spent their time with them and lead their lives happily in Krishna Tathvam.

                   Now, in addition to the 16k Gopikas, there is one more special character, known as Kumari Radha Devi. Before leaving for Mathura to kill Kamsa, Sri Krishna Promised that he would come back to meet her. But he never came back. So, Radha Devi had been waiting for Krishna on the banks of Yamuna River. Krishna never married Radha Devi, but she is always in Krishna's heart. Some say that, Radha ji is an imaginary character. It will be really painful to understand the plight of Radha Devi.

What is the significance of these characters?

                     These characters have a great influence on our Indian history, literature. There are many beliefs about these Radha and other Gopikas. Throughout the history, many people assumed that they themselves were Radha and they were still waiting for Sri Krishna. Some of them are:

• Meera Bai - 

                      Meera Bai of Chittorgarh wrote many songs on this concept.She danced in the streets of the city. She was objected by her brother-in-law, Vikramaditya as her dancing with commoners brought ill fame to Rajput families. So, he tried to poison her many times. But, as per Meera's own poems, it was turned into Amrit by Sri Krishna. She spent her life in bhajans.

• Deva Dasi's of olden days and current days :

                      Devadasi sthree are those people who have no proper life. These girls are married to god and dedicated to a deity. Very good example of Devadasi is Chandramukhi of Devdas novel / movie. These women have a psychological feeling that, they were once Gopikas. And now, they are in the prison of Narakasura (their own fate, in this world). So, they spend whole of their life in search of Lord Krishna.

                       We can see that, Chandramukhi had Krishna's murthi in her room and she sees the lord in Devdas. Even, the 'Karpuram' character of telugu movie 'Vedam' had a small golden murthi of krishna with her. Next example is 'Megha Sandesham' movie, where Jayaprada thinks she is Radhika and she sees Krishna in ANR. There are many such examples and references.

                      Of-course, all these characters are imaginary and not real. What we should understand is that, we have a great influence in everything we see even today.

   

• Raas Leela Art:

                     Raas Leela is a very famous dance form in our tradition.It is a popular theme in Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Manipuri and Kuchipudi and Kathak. It is very famous acts during Holi, Dasara, Krishna Ashtami and Diwali in North India and in Assam.

                    Upon hearing the sound of Krishna's flute, Gopikas come out from their homes into the forest to dance with Krishna. This is the central idea of these acts. Raas leela songs are used by various characters in our films.Like -Kahe Ched Ched Mohe : O Krishna why do you make fun of me (By Chandramukhi, Devdas Movie).

                    To say that a girl is waiting for true love, or to say that a woman is not leading her life happily and is waiting for best time, we use this concept.

• Some other instances:

                    If we can remember, in 2004, a senior IPS officer realized all at sudden at the age of 53 that, he was Radha. He made a public appearance in saree, danced like Radha ji. Similar is the case with those people who are associated with ISCKON Movement. They dance, do bhajans in trains, roads etc.

                    Let us not make fun of them. They are in search of their Krishna. Till the time there is no harm to mankind, it is acceptable.

"Forget everything  -  See god in everyone"

This is the essence of Krishna Tathvam.