Janmashtami is a good time to familiarise ourselves with Krishna’s divine philosophy.The birth in which knowledge, love and mischief all come together is considered as the birth or incarnation of Krishna.On Krishna’s birthday, all of us must take a sankalpa — promise — to read the Bhagwad Gita. Do not expect to understand the entire Gita all at once. Throughout your life, you must read and go through the pages of the Gita gain and again, only then will you be able to understand the entire Gita all at once. Throughout your life, you must read and go through the pages of the Gita gain and again, only then will you be able to understand it completely.As the level of maturity of our mind and intellect rises,our understanding of the Gita also increases.
If someone is able to understand the 10th chapter of the Gita,they would have perfected the knowledge of Advaita, the philosophy of nonduality of the Self, experiencing all as 'One'. It is called Vibhuti Yoga. It would appear from reading the Srimad Bhagavatam that Krishna's time was filled with fun, frolic, happiness, love and devotion. But, along with this,there is a lot of vairagya or dispassion as well.
The Srimad Bhagavatam is a rare and extraordinary confluence of vairagya and anuraga or love, knowledge and devotion, even though they seem to be so contradictory to each other. So, Krishna was the centre of attraction. But along with Krishna was Balarama, Krishna's elder brother and he represents great strength and power. Usually, where there is attraction and love, one also experiences weaknesses or helplessness and if someone only sees this weakness that comes from love, then they run away from it. Then love transforms into hatred. So Krishna is the centre of attraction and the fountain of love, while Balarama represents dignity and strength. Also, Krishna could not be without Radha. Radha was shakti; not a person, Krishna's strength of love.And Balarama represents power, which walks with Krishna wherever he goes. It is said Nirbal ke Balaram. Just as Rama offers shelter to the weak and helpless, the same goes for Balarama who signifies the strength of Krishna, and is always by his side.
Love And Longing
Where there is love, there will be longing. Where there is longing, there will surely be love. Both go together always. To achieve capability or excellence in any field,you will have to work hard. You have to exercise regularly to make your body strong. Even to receive knowledge,one has to make effort. But for love,you just need to relax and repose in Self. In the Gita, Krishna says, 'I am the strength of the strong; I am also the beauty in all whom you see as beautiful. Any and all good qualities that you see in any person come from me only.'Why is he saying this? The tendency of the mind is to run wherever it finds beauty, strength, or great wealth in someone, the mind runs there. To retrieve and collect the mind that wavers and wanders here and there and to bring its focus back on the Atman or soul which is the source of all strength,Yogeshwara Krishna gives this vibhuti, the miraculous secret, to attain siddhi or perfection.Krishna is the most attractive, joyful space within all of us. When there is no restlessness, worry or desire in the mind, you are able to get deep rest.And it is in deep rest that Krishna is born.