My dear loved ones,
I request your precious time to read this.
Today, 19th Oct 2021 is *Meelad-un-Nabi*, the blessed birthday of Prophet Mohammad. Today is also *Sharad Purnima*. As a Christian, I could hardly be expected to know enough about the special significance of these great occasions.
But I read today's TOI which carries an article on Raas Lila by Swamy Swaroopananda, global head of Chinmaya Mission and was shocked at my absolute ignorance of Hindu philosophy.
Being a rational and tolerant believer, it has been my humble opinion that all religion – be it Hinduism, Islam, Christianity or other – has been interpreted and expounded down the ages according to the personal understanding of various religious leaders at every level. This is proved by the existence of innumerable denominations, each claiming to be the one and only truth. Such understanding could be right or wrong, good or bad, innocent or deliberate, moderate or radical according to the intelligence or motives of the individual offering interpretation of scripture.
In common understanding, especially among non-Hindus, Lord Krishna is seen as a promiscuous god, enticing gopis (cowherds) with mesmerizing music and cavorting with them in wild abandon. Media has always reinforced this view and Hindus, being the placid liberals they are, have never bothered too much to dispute this vociferously.
In fact, my first reaction to the heading of this article "Raas Lila……", was the fleeting memory of the 1975 Malayalam superhit film Raasaleela, and the lilting song of P Jayachandran, "Nisha surabhikal" composed by the legendary Salil Chaudhary in the background of a sensuous dance by Kamalahasan with a scantily clad Jayasudha.
But in the original mythology, according to Swamy Swaroopananda, Raas Lila was a meditational dance performed by Lord Krishna with the gopis on Sharad Purnima night with the purpose of creating self awareness in them so they drop their worldly desires, merge with the supreme being and attain eternal holy and divine bliss.
Now compare this with the physical, sexual and worldly connotation that various individuals with differing motives have deeply entrenched in our minds regarding Radha and Krishna. Only the very enlightened people know and appreciate the true import of the Radha-Krishna and the gopi mythology. Many others view Krishna only as a promiscuous god.
Swami Swaroopananda has given a lucid explanation. *Gopis are THOUGHTS!* Raas Lila is in fact an artistic and symbolic form of *meditation*, casting away the thoughts of all worldly desires and attaining eternal bliss in complete union with God.
I am deeply saddened at the ignorance and misunderstanding that I, together with countless others have suffered due to consistent misinterpretation and misrepresentation. If inclined, please do read the article with an open mind.
B CHELLAM DEVADOSS
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