Krishna’s lovers

[1]

Raji P. Shrivastava [1]

Krishna’s alluring personality delights the hearts of princesses and gopis, merchants and paupers, sages and poets alike.
“You are equal only to yourself, O Mukunda, in lineage, character, beauty, erudition, youthfulness, wealth and power. O lion among men, which aristocratic, sensible and marriageable girl from a good family would not select you as her husband, when the right time arrives?” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10:52:38)
These words were written by Rukmini, the courageous princess of Vidarbha, in a letter to Krishna, the king of Dwarka. Apprehending that she would be married off to the despicable Shishupala, a crony of her brother Rukmi and a sworn enemy of Krishna, she took matters into her own hands and sent a frank and no-holds-barred message to Krishna: “Don’t let Shishupala touch the hero’s share like a jackal snatches the kill of a lion,” Rukmini beseeched Krishna to arrive secretly in Vidarbha with his army, crush Shishupala and the opposition and marry her in a display of his valour and strength.
Rukmini was Lakshmi reborn and Krishna, Vishnu incarnate. The instinctive attraction of the talented and beautiful princess to the lotus-eyed, yellow-robed, blue-skinned Krishna was fuelled by Narada, the celestial musician who heard the princess playing the veena and concluded that her flawless notes were matched only by the sweet music of Krishna’s flute.
Rukmini addressed her beloved as “Bhuvana-Sundara” (Beauty of the worlds). She adored Krishna’s form and sought him with fierce intensity and conviction. “Having heard of your unparalleled beauty and wonderful qualities, I have fixed my shameless mind on you and have chosen you for my husband, O Krishna.”
Great seekers down the ages have shown that attachment to Krishna is not merely about romantic feelings even if the songs of Jayadeva or Mira seem full of yearning. The saintly king Kulashekhara wrote that merely by losing himself in thoughts of Krishna he acquired the gifts of moksha-saamraajya-lakshmi, or liberation, worldly influence and prosperity.
Krishna’s charm and visual appeal are legendary. That which is noble and virtuous bestows inspiration and strength. Krishna’s magnificent form wraps the seeker in a beautiful glow. Kulashekhara wrote: “O tongue, praise the glories of Keshava; O mind, worship Muraari; O hands, serve Lakshmi’s Lord; O ears, hear about the greatness of Achyuta; O eyes, gaze upon Shri Krishna; O feet, travel to the temple of Hari; O nose, sniff the fragrant basil at Mukunda’s feet. O head, bow down to Adhokshaja”. (Kulashekhara’s Mukundamaala )

Raji P. Shrivastava can be reached at raji_1992@yahoo.co.in [2]