Krishna ran desperately the moment he got the news that his childhood friend Sudama had come to meet him. Krishna was the emperor of Dwarka, he lived in a royal palace and was lovingly served by several of his associates. But still he remembered his old friend who was living in penury and did not have even proper clothes to cover his body. But Krishna is hardly impressed by a person’s material position and possessions. For Krishna everyone is his own friend. Brihad Bhagavatam narrates the story of Gopa Kumar who when returned to the spiritual world was lovingly embraced by Krishna. Krishna told Gopa Kumar that “I have been missing you since the time you left me. I was eagerly waiting for you to return back to the spiritual world. This is your original home and not the material world. I am so happy that you have come back.”
Krishna is waiting for each of us. Tomorrow is Janmastami, it is the day when Krishna appeared in this world. One of the most important reasons for Krishna to appear is to please his devotees and give us a glimpse of the life of the spiritual world. Krishna’s advent brought great joy and happiness in the lives of the devotees. Each and every brajvasis enthusiastically celebrated his appearance. Krishna is the Supreme Lord; all the Vedic literatures confirm this. Isvarah parama Krishna — “Krishna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead” (Brahma-samhita 5.1); Krishna tu bhagavan svayam — “Lord Sri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead” (Bhagavatam 1.3.38). “Devaki’s son [Krishna] is the Supreme Lord” [Narayan Upanisad (4)]. But still for our sake he comes to this world.
How much eagerness we have to celebrate our birthday or the birthday of our loved ones. We take off on that day and make elaborate arrangements. Krishna is also very near to us. We exist because of him and he provides all the necessities of our life. All our near and dear ones are his gift to us. So, at least on his birthday we can keep aside all our unending material responsibilities and celebrate his birthday. We can visit temples and offer our prayers to him. We can chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare /Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. Krishna manifests in this world in the deity form and also he is present in his name. By taking darshan of the deities and by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra we can personally meet him.
Sudama being poor just carried chipped rice with him but Krishna very much liked it. For few morsels of chipped rice Krishna provided inexplicable opulence to Sudama. Nothing we do for Krishna ever goes in vain. “In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear. (Bhagavad – Gita 2.40). So tomorrow is an opportunity for us to express our love to Krishna and let us not miss this opportunity.
