JKYog wishes a very happy Guru Poornima to everyone!
Couplet 16
Tum Bhi Na Bhulo Mohi Govind Radhe
Mai Bhi Na Bhulun Tohi Pal Chin Adhe
In the last few couplets of Radha Govind Geet, Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj talks about the importance of never forgetting Shri Radha Krishna even for a moment.
In the next set of couplets, Shri Maharajji lays further emphasis on the same philosophy.
Speaking as a devotee, couplet 16 says,
“Oh Lord! please never forget me, and even i should never forget you for a moment.”
A devotee pleads with Shri Radha Krishna never to forget him. Why does the devotee say this? Is it because God forgets his devotee?
The devotee realizes that there are innumerable and countless souls in this universe. He begins to feel, “How will God remember this destitute? I am just another insignificant soul wandering in this ocean of Maya, will God forget me?”
With these sentiments, the devotee prays to Shri Radha Krishna never to forget him. In the same breath, he again pleads, “Grace me such that even i should never forget you for a moment.”
God has never and will never forget his children. He graces every soul as per his or her devotional sentiments. Even those souls who have no faith God, attain his grace in various forms but are unaware of it. But the devotee is special to Shri Radha Krishna. Realizing that he (devotee) has wandering for innumerable lifetimes in search of bliss, he begins to wonder if God has forgotten him!
It is the individual soul that is forgetful of God since eternity. To re-enforce this fact and to strengthen the faith in a spiritual aspirant’s mind, Shri Maharajji has written these lines (as a devotee’s plea to God) to remind the soul, “never forget God even for a moment.”
The Guru reminds us about this fact that we souls are forgetful of God. The couplet beautifully showcases a devotee’s sentiment towards God, like a child talking to its mother or father, “Please do not forget me or leave me alone.”
In the early stages of sadhana, we practice remembrance of God for a few hours a day. The rest of day is spent at work and dispensing other duties. As our sadhana intensifies, the frequency and continuity increases. Our aim must to be remember God in every activity of ours. This way, remembrance becomes a way of life and not a ‘special or separate activity to be performed.’
Ultimately, there arrives a stage when even a moment of forgetfulness feels like an eon of separation! That is quite close to the highest state of devotional remembrance and Roopdhyan meditation.
Till we arrive at such a state of devotional elevation, we must strive to remember God as much as we can and everyday. Our faith should be strong and unwavering, knowing the fact that God can never forget us, even for a moment. God lives within us in our hearts. If he were to look away even for that fraction of a second, we would cease to be alive!
This itself is proof enough that God is always with us and always gracing us. It is for us to realize it and feel the bliss within.
