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Calamity, a Blessing or a curse - Srimad Bhagavatam



Calamity, A doorway to Love divine - Teachings of Kunti Mata


Yoga is a path where a seeker only rises in the journey as there is nothing beyond the Love Divine. During this joyful journey of connecting to the Divine, there is a beautiful transformation in the seeker. As Swami Chinmayananda ji mentions, “Transmutation happens to the devotee”, I too believe that “Bhakti path” itself is like the moulting of a snake’s skin or unraveling of the spider web. By a total surrendering attitude, one’s ego is dropped and one is more connected to the inner Self. In this presentation, I would be sharing a brief description of Kunti's insightful teachings which would give guidance to a seeker in the path of Bhakti and self-purification.

Introduction 

The agitations and sufferings of our mind are like the spider's web, woven out of our ignorance/avidya, when faced with challenges or a calamity in life. A devotee on the other hand, when faced with a calamity, constantly remembers Bhagawan from the depth of his heart and receives HIS guidance. There was one devotee who prayed ardently “Let me have more and more calamities in life so that I can remember you always”. Can one pray for more sufferings in life? We may wonder. Imagine the mental and spiritual strength of this devotee who had that utmost trust and faith in Bhagawan. Such a great Bhakta or a BhAgavata(devotee) was Kunti, Raja Mata of Hastinapur and the mother of the Pandavas. She had felt a special connection with Shri Krishna and looked at him not as her nephew but as the Supreme Being. In canto 1, chapter 8 of the text Srimad Bhagawatam there are 26 verses called Kunti Stuthi where she extols the glory of Bhagawan and gives several profound teachings to develop devotion. Even now sages, philosophers and seekers chant the verses for their spiritual growth. 

Discussion

After the great battle at Kurukshetra where the Kauravas and all those who supported adharma were washed out, Yudhishtira was crowned the King of Hastinapur. Sri Krishna, having established Dharma, decided to leave for Dwaraka. Kunti Mata approaches him not as his aunt but as his Bhakta. She was an enlightened Bhakta who bowed down to the Supreme being.

 

Kunti Mata shares several pointers in the stuthi for all of us to develop devotion.

  • नमस्ते पङ्कजाङ्घ्रये - namas te paṅkajāṅghraye

“I pay my respectful obeisances unto You, the soles of whose feet are engraved with lotus flowers”. Kunti Mata praises HIS glory in the first few verses. She address him as Ishvara, Creator of the Universe, मायाजवनिकाच्छन्नम (one who was beyond the range of sense perception), अलक्ष्यं सर्वभूतानाम (HE is within and without all living beings and still invisible). HE is the Supreme Self, absolute Truth, pure consciousness, Controller of the universe, Ishwara, Paramatma, Master of the senses (Hṛṣīkeśa), kaivalya pataya. She is conscious of the presence of Bhagawan and is filled with humility by just gazing at him.


We may wonder, does Bhagawan favor only his Bhaktas?

  • समं चरन्तं सर्वत्र - samaṁ carantaṁ sarvatra

Kunti Mata says “Whatever you do, you are impartial and merciful to everyone”. Developing trust, total faith and shraddha towards HIM prevents us being drowned in the tides of several situations of life. HIS grace is on all of us just like the sun rays falling on this earth to all beings. Can a loving mother be partial to her children? Can the Sun be partial to anyone? We might be sitting in the shade oblivious of the grace of Bhagawan due to my ignorance or choose to step out with open arms receiving the grace of God gratefully. 

Suffering arises when we start doubting Bhagawan’s intentions. Our conditioned mind is of the delusion that this world is the reason for my unhappiness. This world is designed by the omniscient God. How can it be imperfect? So do not doubt the goodness of God, then our mind will be disturbed. See the hand of God in everyone, everything around us and feel liberated.


Where is my present direction in Life?

  • भवेष्मिन् क्लिष्यमानानामविद्याकामकर्मभिः। - bhave asmin kliśyamānānām avidyā-kāma-karmabhiḥ

Most of the time we are materially involved and entangled by desires, expectations, anxieties. Mind is set only on the final destination to boost ego rather than savoring and being grateful to Bhagawan for giving us this opportunity. Duryodhana had a single pointed aim to become a King and nothing else mattered for him. His arrogance had clouded his vision to such an extent that he wanted to imprison Sri Krishna Himself. The enlightened Kunti Mata shares her insights that conditioned souls are indeed suffering from material pangs. 


Who is binding me ? Why am I suffering?

  • न लक्ष्यसे मूढदृशा नटो नाटयधरो यथा - na lakṣyase mūḍha-dṛśā naṭo nāṭyadharo yathā

Bondage does not exist in actuality but only a moha(delusion) in the mind. Kunti addresses a person who has this blurred vision a mūḍha as he is bound in the loop of this samsara, he mistakes the Lord as an ordinary man. He is only seeing the actor in a character role but not the actual Bhagawan Himself. Sri Krishna has acted the role to such perfection. This happens when the man is constantly wavering in this life feeling sad, happy, bitter etc. reveling in suhkha or duhkha. This jiva is so caught in the web of ahamkara of the intellect and his desires to eat every fruit on his way. He is already distracted, so how can he see Bhagawan or accept the Lord as the absolute Truth? For such people Bhagwan is invisible - na lakṣyase.


Who can have HIS darshanam? 

  • त्वामकिञ्चनगोचरम् - tvām akiñcana-gocaram

Bhagawan is visible only to a person who has no pride and he believes that everything belongs to Bhagawan and he has nothing. Akiñcana-gocaram is the one who does not possess any material assets or wants to own them. He is so humble that he is not puffed up with the greatness of his birth or parentage, qualification, beauty or opulence. For such a person his only wealth is Bhagawan and he utters the name of God with sincerity and humility. Pride becomes our downfall as all the things bestowed upon us are taken for granted and we revel in our own greatness. If such a person utters the name of Bhagawan, it would be mostly a desire prompted prayer. Quality of his devotion too would be fake as he is already intoxicated. A true bhakta would renounce his attachments towards the material world to seek Bhagawan. He stops running after the tempting distractions and then he acquires the right vision. Such devotees are akiñcanas. A beautiful example of Hanuman ji who was steadfast in Sri Rama’s devotion while crossing the sea without being distracted by anything on the way.

 

What do I do to free myself from the shackles of my own doing ?

  • त्वयैव नाथेन मुहुर्विपद्गणात्

tvayā eva—by Your Lordship; nāthena—as the protector; muhuḥ—constantly; vipat-gaṇāt—from a series of dangers.

She emphasizes that we have a choice to either be a mūḍha or seek Bhagawan as HE is the only one who can protect one from a series of dangers and miseries. The deeds of Bhagawan are all around us through various support received from people, resources, inner strength, sudden realization from a satsang, as well as out of the blue miracles. The entire universe is functioning and flourishing by HIS grace. Are we able to see and appreciate HIS lila by our conditioned vision? Kunti Mata says that “mṛdhe mṛdhe- again and again “Bhagawan lifts us from being overburdened and has been a savior. She is aware that her own existence is due to Sri Krishna only. 

 

What is clouding my vision to feel the presence of Bhagawan ? 

  • स्नेहपाशमिमं छिन्धि - sneha-pāśam imaṁ chindhi

Sneha towards one and all, seeing everyone with compassion and the realization that all are creations of God would be enlivening for an individual. The moment there is attachment, then it shifts the energies. The wise Kunti realizes the pull of pāśam (attachment or being bound) as it tags along expectations, worry, concern, yearning, fear and a number of mixed emotions. We get sucked into the whirlpool of duhkha. At this time our energies are focused on satisfying MY needs and MY wants (Mamakara and Ahamkara). Even if Bhagawan approaches us with his various lilas, we might not have the right vision or the right thinking. Kunti does not want this tie of affection to trouble her mind. She is choosing to sever the “tie” so that she experiences a sense of expansion and oneness with Bhagawan. She wants to broaden her mind and let the grace of Bhagawan illuminate her rather than being swallowed in a black hole. 

She prays “O Lord of the universe, please, therefore, sever my tie of affection for my kinsmen, the Pāṇḍavas and the Vṛṣṇis.”


Who can then be the object of my love and can I tie my affection towards HIM?

  • त्वयि मे sनन्यविष्या मतिर्मधुपते - tvayi me ananya-viṣayā matir madhu-pate 

Just like the intake of a medicine gives us a moment of relief or suhkha with galores of side effects, the attachment towards the loved ones traps us in a bubble with unpleasant and pleasant emotions. There is so much suffocation and confusion that the flow of life becomes quite jerky. If we are able to shift the object of desire towards Bhagawan then the transmutation happens to the devotee. He develops a healthy relationship with the world but is still not tied to them. Then there is no question of being trapped as we are focussing our entire energies towards HIM. The flow of life then has a purpose just like the continuous path of the river Ganga. All the senses, body- mind-intellect equipment are now tuned towards HIM just like a sunflower eagerly gazes and leans towards the sun. Devotion starts with a trickle and slowly gains momentum and overflows without any deviation - ananya-viṣayā. 

Kunti Mata prays “O Lord, as the Ganges forever flows to the sea, without hindrance let my attraction constantly be drawn unto you, without being diverted to anyone else”.


When can my attention constantly drawn unto HIM ?

  • विपद: सन्तु ता: शश्वत्तत्र तत्र जगद्गुरो । - vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat tatra tatra jagad-guro

A child will remember his mother only when he is in dire need, otherwise he is busy playing with the toys. Child gazes once in a while at mother while happily playing but not seeking her wholeheartedly. Similarly the wise Kunti Mata is aware that man can indeed have a tendency to forget Bhagawan during his happy times but in a calamity he seeks God from the depth of his heart. Ego is dissolved and there is no “I”ness. There is complete surrender onto the feet of God and we constantly remember HIM. 

If a man is drowning, at first there is fear and a state of complete despair to be alive. He swings his arms, flaps his legs vigorously thinking “I will save myself, I can do it”. The waves are resisting his movement and then he realizes that he is helpless and drowning. At this stage he prays to God so sincerely, seeking shelter and accepting Bhagawan as the only person who can steer him across. His ego drops, fear vanishes and a sense of peace arises within him. The mind of this devotee is fully occupied by Bhagawan that there is no space for anything else. At this time he gets an inner strength to face the waves and he swims gracefully to reach the shores. 

Kunti Mata prays ardently “Let there be calamities, let there be problems, let there be sufferings again and again and again. Because in the face of them, I am always remembering you. Let the calamity be a blessing so that I develop a supreme devotion, exclusive love and experience the infinite Bliss.” 

Conclusion

How can I remember him constantly ? 

A bhakta can immerse himself continuously in hearing, chanting, and listening to the glories of Bhagawan and His bhaktas. By Immersing ourselves, we are constantly giving input to our mind about HIS greatness. Slowly the mind develops an affinity towards HIM and we feel that HE is approachable. It washes away the dirt in our hearts and we feel a sense of connection with HIM. We reject everything else which pulls us down and the love for Bhagawan becomes purer day by day. Our devotion to Bhagawan must be “Ahaituki, without any cause or reason. Such is the trust and faith towards HIM that it does not falter with as many blows we get in this life. Jnana and vairagya slowly sprout and one starts living life with a primary goal of Dharma, artha, Kama and moksha to enrich oneself. One becomes a tattva jignasa who is eager to know the Truth. When we surrender to the Divine, accepting all as the Lila of Bhagwan, then the web of suffering is cleared and we are steered by HIS Grace. He unravels the web for us. 

Such is the greatness of Kunti Mata whose heart flows with love and devotion towards Bhagawan and aspiring to just BE. If every devotee aspires in this direction then the entire world will be flooded with the nectar of the love of God. We will be able to LET GO of the inner battles and open our hearts to let the love for HIM flood the entire Being.

 

Presented by Prabha Krishna, Yogabharati, Bangalore at the

Kanyakumari Yoga Shastra Sangamam, 2022

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