Krishna Leelas: Divine Pastimes and Profound Spiritual Lessons

JKYog Team -

As we approach the joyous celebration of Janmashtami, the day of the Avatar of Lord Krishna, it is an opportune time to delve into the enchanting world of Shree Krishna Leelas. These divine pastimes captivate our hearts due to their inherent sweetness and impart profound wisdom that will enhance our spiritual journey if we relish them with faith. In this blog, we explore some of the most beloved Shree Krishna Leelas and uncover the deep spiritual lessons they offer to sincere devotees.

The Purpose of God's Leelas

Before we dive into specific leelas, it is essential to understand their purpose. Shree Krishna leelas serve as a foundation for devotees to engage in loving devotion or bhakti toward Him. During His Avatar, God manifests His divine name, form, virtues, pastimes, abode, and associates. Contemplating these aspects leads to the purification of the heart and the eventual welfare of souls.

To truly experience the nectar of these leelas, we must approach them not with our material intellect, but with a vision of wonderment, miraculous grace, and true love. Each leela emanates an inherent sweetness and loving instruction for souls. Let us review the highlights of some of these beautiful pastimes and understand their spiritual significance.

The Divine Birth: The Beginning of Shree Krishna Leelas

The birth of Shree Krishna itself is a leela filled with divine mystery. Born at midnight on the eighth day (i.e., Ashtami) of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada, Shree Krishna's birth was far from ordinary.

Leela Highlights

  • Shree Krishna first appeared as Lord Vishnu with four arms, holding His divine symbols, and displaying His fully opulent form before Devaki and Vasudev in the prison of Kans, the evil king of Mathura. Kans had imprisoned them due to the prophecy that their eighth child would slay him.
  • Upon Devaki’s request, Shree Krishna used His Yogamaya Shakti and transformed Himself into a baby to enable her to experience loving maternal sentiments. Additionally, He made Devaki and Vasudev forget His divine manifestation. They both believed that they were blessed with a beautiful child.
  • Subsequently, Shree Krishna miraculously put all the prison guards to sleep. The prison doors opened and through divine inspiration, Vasudev carried baby Shree Krishna in a basket toward the flooding Yamuna and waded across the river to the town of Gokul.
  • Vasudev’s steps automatically led him to Nand Baba’s house. He placed Baby Krishna next to the unconscious Yashoda, lifted the baby girl, and returned to the prison. Others thought that Devaki had given birth to a baby girl.
The Divine Birth: The Beginning of Shree Krishna Leelas

Spiritual Lessons

  • This leela teaches us that God's ways are beyond human comprehension. It reminds us to approach divine matters with faith and devotion rather than trying to understand everything through our limited intellect.
  • Additionally, when God takes Avatar, it is with all His Divine Shaktis regardless of which one He manifests at what time. Thus, we must not question how a little child could perform such acts. 

Damodar Leela: One Episode, Multiple Lessons

This endearing pastime showcases the love between Mother Yashoda and little Shree Krishna, as well as God’s compassion toward fallen souls. At the same time, it also reveals profound spiritual truths for the welfare of the souls

Leela Highlights

  • Mother Yashoda was churning yogurt when little Shree Krishna, wanting to bestow her with loving maternal bliss, toddled in and jumped into her lap, filling her heart with unparalleled joy.
  • At that time, in the kitchen, when Yashoda heard the milk boiling over, she put Shree Krishna down on the floor and ran to save the milk. Annoyed with His mother for paying more heed to the milk on the stove than to Him, Shree Krishna took a stick and broke many clay pots containing yogurt and butter. He started feeding the monkeys as well.
  • When Yashoda returned, she was shocked at the sight of broken pots and spilled butter. She took a stick intending to whack Shree Krishna. She chased Him and when she caught up, she tried to tie Him up with a rope against a mortar wheel. Mysteriously, the rope always fell short by two fingers. When Radha Rani’s string was added to the ropes, Shree Krishna allowed Himself to be tied earning the name “Damodar” (i.e., tied around the belly).
  • Tied to the mortar wheel, Shree Krishna pulled Himself through the two trees. When the trees came crashing down, emerged Nala Kuber and Manigriva, the two sons of the celestial god Kuber, who were previously cursed by Sage Narad for their indecent behavior. Shree Krishna relieved them from the curse.         
Damodar Leela: One Episode, Multiple Lessons

Spiritual Lessons

  • This leela illustrates the power of pure devotion. Despite being the Supreme Lord, Shree Krishna submits to the love of His devotees. He is Bhakta-Vashya.
  • God tests even the highest of the devotees. Do souls choose material objects when they have the option to serve Him?
  • This leela also teaches the futility of trying to bind God with any tangible object. God can only be bound by a devotee’s love and exclusive devotion.

Catching the Butter Thief: A Lesson in Divine Play

This playful leela showcases Shree Krishna's mischievous nature and the devotion of the Gopis – devotees at the highest level of divine love (excluding the infinite love of Shree Radha Rani).

Leela Highlights

  • A Gopi set a trap to catch Shree Krishna stealing butter by placing the pot in a strategic location. She hid in a position to easily catch him red-handed.
  • Shree Krishna entered the hut, found the butter pot, and started eating and relishing the delicious taste. The Gopi came from behind and grabbed Him. He begged her to let Him go! Having caught Him red-handed, she was determined to take Him to Mother Yashoda and report his stealing.
  • On the way, Shree Krishna showered the Gopi with the bliss of divine physical contact where she was ecstatic! She was so absorbed in the blissful experience, that she had no clue that little Krishna’s friend had joined them as they walked toward Yashoda’s house. During that time, Shree Krishna cleverly pulled His hand and put His friend’s hand in the Gopi’s hand without her knowledge.
  • When they reached Yashoda’s house, Shree Krishna ran and sat on His mother’s lap while the Gopi was still holding His friend’s hand. When the Gopi complained about how she caught Krishna red-handed stealing butter, Yashoda told the Gopi to pull up her veil to see whose hand she held. She found she was holding the wrong child but could not figure out how that happened!
Catching the Butter Thief: A Lesson in Divine Play

Spiritual Lessons

  • The Gopis always think of Shree Krishna. They are all karm yogis. They do their duties with their bodies but their minds are attached to God. This leela provides evidence of the most blissful ways in which God blesses souls with divine love when they attach their minds to Him through loving devotion.
  • God finds playful ways to reciprocate the love of the Gopis by stealing butter from their homes, a symbolic representation of stealing their hearts.
  • The Leela also teaches us to not pay attention to external events (i.e., what we see) but to examine the internal state of the characters in Shree Krishna Leelas.

Govardhan Leela: Shree Krishna as Giridhari

This famous leela demonstrates Shree Krishna's divine power and His teachings about how God protects His devotees and maintains their yogakshem.

Leela Highlights

  • Shree Krishna convinced the villagers to worship Govardhan Hill instead of the celestial god Indra. His logic was that if the people of Braj worshiped Indra, while He, the Supreme Lord was present, then future devotees would think that this practice contradicted His teachings in the Bhagavad Gita regarding exclusive devotion to Him – Shree Krishna. Thus, the people started worshipping Govardhan Hill – an Avatar of Lord Vishnu.
  • Hearing the news, Indra was filled with wrathful pride and anger. Not recognizing the little boy in Braj as the Avatar of the Supreme Lord Himself, he sent the Samvartak cloud to pour torrential rains and flood the town. All the people were very anxious about their safety.
  • Shree Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill with the little finger of his left hand and asked all the people in the village to bring their cattle and everything that needed to be safe from the flood. He asked them to take shelter under the hill. Everyone and everything under the hill was protected by God.
  • After seven long days and nights, Indra realized his mistake and sought forgiveness. Shree Krishna forgave him. 
  • All the villagers felt very awed when they found out that Shree Krishna was the Supreme Lord. So, He made them forget his true identity and everything went back to as it was previously. After this event, Krishna also came to be known as Giridhari or Giridhar Govardhan Dhari, the upholder of the Giridhar mountain.
The Govardhan Leela: Shree Krishna as Giridhari

Spiritual Lessons

  • This leela teaches us about the supremacy of devotion to the Supreme Lord over the worship of celestial gods.
  • It also illustrates how God protects His devotees in times of need.
  • Even the celestial gods are unable to recognize God in his sweet and loving personal form. Thus, material souls like us should just enjoy the heart-warming Krishna leelas to engage in His devotion without doing an intellectual analysis.

The Gopis Ambush Shree Krishna: A Lesson in Divine Love

This playful leela showcases the intimate relationship between Shree Krishna and His devotees – the most selfless of whom were the Gopis of Braj.

Leela Highlights

  • The Gopis planned to ambush Shree Krishna and His friends in retaliation for their mischief. He used to block the Gopis in their path, asking for “tax” (i.e., butter) to receive permission to pass through the narrow lane. Also, they would steal butter from the homes of the Gopis and often break the pots.
  • The Gopis had planned their game ahead of time. Twenty-five Gopis cornered Krishna and his four sakhaas. They outnumbered the boys, so tied all of them to the branches of trees by the thick lock of hair on their heads.
  • The Gopis blissfully rejoiced in their victory, clapped their hands, laughed, teased, and made fun of all the boys! Their revenge was complete!
  • However, Shree Krishna was not angry. He found pleasure in their joy but promised to get back to them!
Gopis Ambush Shree Krishna: A Lesson in Divine Love

Spiritual Lessons

  • This leela illustrates the deep love between God and the Gopis. True devotion allows for an intimate relationship with God, free from formal restrictions.
  • The state that the Gopis put Shree Krishna and His friends into, is possible only when the love for God is true and selfless where the devotees think of God as their own otherwise, they would never be able to interact with Him in this way. 
  • God bestows divine love only when a soul is free of all material desires and the only desire is to please Him, which was the intent of the Gopis. Therefore, He did not raise any objections. Contrast this to situations where Shree Krishna slayed the demons whose intent was to hurt Him.

Veenavari Nari: Shree Krishna's Divine Disguise

This leela beautifully illustrates the lengths to which God goes to please His true devotees, the highest amongst whom is Shree Radha Rani – Shree Krishna’s Yogmaya Shakti. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj described this beautiful Maan Bhanjan Leela (i.e., appeasing Radha Rani who is upset with Shree Krishna) and Swamiji beautifully narrated it in his divine lectures.

Leela Highlights

  • Radha Rani was very upset with Shree Krishna for visiting another Gopi instead of Her when They both knew that no other soul could serve Him more selflessly than Radha Rani.
  • Therefore, Radha Rani was seriously offended. She refused to even look at Shree Krishna. He requested Radha Rani’s Ashta Mahasakhees to help Him but they refused because they were exclusively devoted to Radha Rani and Shree Krishna had made a big mistake!
  • Shree Krishna came up with an infallible plan! He disguised Himself as a Veenavari lady (i.e., a lady who plays the Veena instrument), with a saffron saree, hair tied back, and adorned with flowers.
  • Posing as an austere sadhavi (i.e., lady saint), He waited for Radha Rani to show up at the Kusum Lake – Her favorite hangout. When Radha Rani arrived, She engaged in a long conversation with the Veenavari lady.
  • Impressed by the lady saint, Radha Rani requested Her to become Her Guru. The Veenavari lady agreed with a pre-condition. She told Radha Rani to beg forgiveness from the blue-complexioned boy for becoming upset with Him and to forgive Him too. Radha Rani complied and united with Shree Krishna again! 
Veenavari Nari: Shree Krishna's Divine Disguise

Spiritual Lessons

  • Material souls like us can never understand the divine leelas of Shree Radha-Krishna, but they both display leelas exclusively for each other’s pleasure. Radha Rani often gives viyog (i.e., the sentiments of separation) to Shree Krishna to elevate His sentiments of sanyog (i.e., union). Shree Krishna does the same to increase the loving bliss of Radha Rani!
  • This leela also reiterates the message of not using one’s material intellect to comprehend the Leelas of Divine Personalities.

Shree Krishna and Sudama: The Epitome of Divine Friendship

This touching leela showcases the enduring nature of true friendship and devotion.

Leela Highlights

  • Sudama, Shree Krishna's childhood friend, made a grave mistake when they were both studying at Guru Sandipani's ashram. As a result, the Guru’s wife cursed Sudama with a life of poverty. He remained poor since that time.
  • Once, experiencing the pain of poverty, Sudama’s wife urged him to go to visit Shree Krishna, the King of Dwarka, and request His help to eradicate their pitiable condition.
  • When poor Sudama visited Shree Krishna, even though all others mocked him, Shree Krishna welcomed him with great love and honor, washing his feet with His tears. When Shree Krishna asked what His sister-in-law had sent for Him as a gift, Sudama was too ashamed to offer his humble gift of flattened rice.
  • Shree Krishna knew about it and grabbed the tiny bag, ate, and lovingly relished the offering. He did not ask Sudama what brought him to Dwarka. Sudama also said nothing before he departed.
  • However, when Sudama returned home, to his complete surprise, he found that with Shree Krishna’s divine grace, his dilapidated hut had transformed into a palace, and all symbols of poverty converted into abundance.
Shree Krishna and Sudama: The Epitome of Divine Friendship

Spiritual Lessons

  • This Leela teaches us about the power of selfless devotion and God's boundless grace. He values the sentiment behind an offering more than its material worth.
  • God allows souls to do the right thing but leaves it to their free will to make the choice. Regardless of their choices, God never holds grudges and gives them opportunities to improve.
  • Individual souls are accountable for all their actions including those done in their childhood. All souls have the consequences of their karma.

Conclusion: The Eternal Wisdom of Shree Krishna Leelas

As we celebrate Janmashtami, let us immerse ourselves in these divine pastimes of Lord Shree Krishna. Each leela is a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom, offering lessons in devotion, selflessness, and the mysterious ways of divine love.

The key to truly benefiting from these leelas is to approach them with a heart full of devotion and a mind open to their deeper meanings. As Swami Mukundananda beautifully explains, we must set aside our material intellect and cultivate the vision of love to truly appreciate the sweetness of Shree Krishna's pastimes.

Let us carry the joy and wisdom of these pastimes in our hearts, not just during Janmashtami, but throughout our spiritual journey.

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