The scriptures describe two kinds of avatars, Nimitta and Nitya. The Nimitta and Nitya are manifestations of avatars of God. Nimitta avatars refer to the ten appearances of Vishnu (Buddha, Kalki yet to come). Krishna, is a Nimitta avatar, who was born to rid society of evildoers. Nitya avatars are the brahmanishtha (one who has realised Brahman, the Supreme personality of Godhead) sages.
Krishna has so many forms and his worshippers say ‘O Krishna! You are complete with 16 kalas.’ His sixteen qualities were:
- compassion (Daya)
- patience (Dhairya)
- forgiveness (Kshama)
- justice (Nyaya)
- impartiality (Nirapeksha)
- detachment (Niraskat)
- spiritual powers (Tapasya)
- invincibility (Aparichitta)
- generosity (Danasheel)
- beauty (Saundaryamaya)
- dance (Nrityajna)
- singing (Sangitajna)
- honesty (Neetiwadi)
- truth (Satyawadi)
- mastery of all arts (Sarvagnata) and
- controller (Sarvaniyanta)
Looking at these virtues, one can say praying to Krishna is an absolute worship.
Krishna says, ‘Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, then I manifest myself.’ Krishna leaves nothing incomplete. Whoever comes before him, he becomes theirs. Krishna engages in politics and he says that when a nation needs guidance, he is there. Krishna cleared Arjuna’s delusions and he was blessed with jnana.
The celebration of Janmashtami is external and internal. External Janmashtami is to remind one that there exists darkness within one and it is like what existed before Krishna’s birth. One has to cleanse one’s thoughts, free one’s minds from delusions, attachment, fear and anger in order to celebrate internal Janmashtami.
Aim Hrim Klim
Picture by VISHAL KUMAR on Pixabay