Krishna the Lover
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Krishna and the Gopis |
When Krishna was in his early teens, his attraction to the womenfolk of Gokula (Gopis) was divine. He interacted with the Gopis as a playful youth, stealing their clothes as they bathed, and frolicking with them in the forest.
Their love towards Krishna was so intense that they even ignored their duty and allegiance to their husbands and went madly behind Krishna. It was during this phase that Radha (or Radhika) of Brindavan developed a deep rooted love for Krishna.
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(The Rasa-Lila: Dance of Divine Love) |
Krishna's love and devotion to the Gopis is best seen in the Rasa-Lila. In the story Krishna calls the Gopis to him with the sound of his beautiful flute and they come running to him. Leaving behind their homes and even the beds of their husbands so that they may meet Krishna in the forest, where Krishna engages in a Dance of Divine Love with Radha and the other Gopis:
The tone of this event is beautifully illustrated in this excerpt from the Rasa Lila where we see the call of Krishna and the answer of the Gopis:
Excerpt from Rasa Lila in the Bhagavata Purana:
Even the Beloved Lord(Krishna), seeing those nights in autumn filled the blooming jasmine flowers, Turned his mind toward love's delights, fully taking refuge in Yogamaya's illusive powers. The the moon, king among stars, arose, Spreading soothing reddish rays over the face of the eastern horizon; Dispelling the sorrow for those who looked on, As a lover caresses his beloved's blushed face, consoling her after long separation. Seeing lotus flowers bloom and the perfect circle of the moon beaming like the face of Rama, reddish as fresh kunkuma; Seeing the forest colored by the moon's gentle rays, He began to make sweet music, mealting th hearts of the fair maidens with beautiful eyes. Upon hearing that sweet music, their passion for him swelling, The young women of Vraja whose minds were captured by Krishna, Unaware of one another ran of toward the place where their beloved was waiting, with their earrings swinging wildly. Some left abruptly while milking the cows - due to excitement the milking had ceased. Some left the milk as it boiled over; other departed leaving cakes on the hearth. Some suddenly stopped dressing themselves; other no longer fed children their milk. Some left their husbands who had not yet been served; others while eating abandoned their meals. Some were massaging their bodies with oils or cleansing themselves; others applying ointment to their eyes. Their garments and ornaments in utter disarray, they hastened to be with Krishna. Their husbands, fathers, brothers - all relatives endeavored to detain them. Since their hearts had been stolen by Govinda they who were entranced did not turn back. Some Gopis, unable to leave, had gone inside their homes. With Eyes closed, fully absorbed in love, they meditate upon Krishna. The intense burning of unbearable separation from their dearest beloved disrupted all inauspicious; Due to the joy of embracing Acyuta(Krishna) attained through meditation even their worldly happiness was lost. Certainly, he is the supreme Soul, though they knew him intimately as their lover. They relinquished their bodies composed of material elements, and any worldly bondage was instantly destroyed.
Ultimately this wild run to Krishna culminates in the the dance of the Rasa-Lila, which can be seen depicted below.
The Rasa-Lila
