From: anand@binah.cc.brandeis.edu (SHALINI ANAND)
Subject: Sri Krishna Lila
Reply-To: anand@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 23:21:00 GMT


On the occasion of Sri Krishna Janamastmi (August 21), the appearance day of 
Lord Sri Krishna, Who appeared in His original transcendental form 5000 years 
ago in Mathura, India, here is a story describing one of His  pastimes with 
the cowherd boys and the cows of Vrndavan.

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                     SWALLOWING THE FOREST FIRE

"For one who has accepted the boat of the Lotus feet of the Lord, Who is
the shelter of cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murari, the killer of 
the demon Mura, the ocean of material world is like the water contained in 
a calf's hoofprint. His goal is 'param padam', or Vaikuntha, the place where
there are no material desires, not the place where there is danger at every 
step.                                       SB 10.14;58

In Srimad Bhagvatam, the literary incarnation of Lord Krsna, Sri Sukhdeva 
Goswami describes the hearing of Krsna-Lila (Krsna's pastimes) 
as the  boat  by which to achieve the ultimate goal of life.

Even as a young child, Krsna enjoyed  extraordinary pastimes with 
His parents, His cowherd friends, His beloved cows, the gopis, in the pastures
of Gokula, the courtyards of Vraja and the groves of Vrndavana. All these
pastimes are very sweet to hear and satisfying to the heart; but every word,
every action of the Lord has a meaning. 
In Srimad Bhagvat Gita, Krsna tells Arjuna, 

janma karma me divyam, yo janati tattvah,
tyatka deham punar janma naiti mam eti  

"One who understands the transcendental nature of My appearance and activites
does not upon leaving this body take his birth again in the material world, 
but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna"

One such enlivening activity describes how young Balagopal, saved the cows and
cowherd boys from the a great fire in the Munjaranya forest. While the cows
would be  out
grazing, the cowherd boys enjoyed playing with Krsna everyday, sitting around
Him in circles of 8, 16,32 and 64- each boy thinking that 'Krsna is looking 
just at me; talking only to me'. One day, they became absorbed in sporting
and allowed the cows to wander into a deep, dense forest. Suddenly a forest 
fire blazed up and to escape its flames, the cows took refuge in a grove of 
sharp canes. When the cowherd boys missed their animals, they went searching
for them, looking for their hoofprints and the trail of blades of grass they 
had eaten. By that time the forest fire had grown strong and was threatening 
both the boys and the cows, making them fearful. The boys then called out to 
Krsna and Balarama- 'O Krsna! O Krsna! Most powerful one! O Rama! You whose 
prowess never fails! Please save Your devotees, who are about to be burned
by this forest fire and have come to take shelter of You'. 
Krsna reciprocated immediately, for He is situated in the heart of every living 
entity, just waiting for us to turn to Him; just waiting for us to call
out to Him. 
The Supreme Lord, master of all mystic power, asked the boys to close thier 
eyes, and then opening His mouth swallowed the terrible fire, saving His 
friends from danger. The boys opened their eyes and found themselves in the 
cool, dense forest, sitting around Krsna in circles of 8,16, 32 and 64.
They all began clapping their hands, blew their buffalo horns, and sang the 
glories of wonderful Krsna.

We, the jivas (living entities) ,are just like cows, part of the herd of Krsna,
but astray from His association, in the blazing fire of material existence. 
So, just as  the cowherd boys did, we must fix our minds on Krsna, crying
out in utter helplesness, to be saved from the scorching heat and flames of 
this blazing fire. And by surrendering unto a bonafide spiritual master, 
who is empowered by Krsna with sufficient spiritual potency, this fire can be 
extinguished, which no fire brigade in the world can put off. 

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.
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hare krsna hare krsna, krsna krsna hare hare, 
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare
{O All attractive Lord! O All pleasing Lord! O internal energy of the 
Lord (Srimati Radha Rani). Pease engage me in your devotional service!}