Ananda Vrindavan Champu

Krsna Swallows the Munjatavi Fire

Once upon a time while Damodara, Balarama, Sridama, Sudama, Subala and the other gopas rested beside the Yamuna, the cows, attracted by the fresh sprouted grass, wandered deep into a nearby forest named Munjatavi. For no apparent reason the birds sleeping in the trees suddenly startled, filled with fear, and darted from the treetops when the cows entered the forest.

Krsna, whose eyes are colored like pink lotus flowers and who is the inner guide of all living entities, noticed that the gopas had become ap­prehensive about the safety of the cows. In a mood of love Krsna compas­sionately addressed them, "Hey friends! Look! Where have our cows gone? Only the light of happiness shines in this forest full of birds and deer. So there is really no need to worry about the cows. Nevertheless, since we cannot see any of them right now, let us go find the cows and rejoice again "1 their company."

After the beautiful Lord spoke, the gopas, who are expert in herding cows, looked for partially chewed grass, fresh hoof prints in the soil, and any other signs of the cows' movements. Following these signs, they walked through the densely foliated forest. Reaching the end of their desire to search any longer, the cowherd boys became doubtful and apprehensive about the safety of the cows. They resembled people who become full of distress and lamentation after not finding any happiness in life.

Suddenly the gopas saw a powerful forest fire devouring all the dry reeds and grass in its path. Their eyes burned from the blustery hot winds gen­erated by that fire. Overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety, the cowherd boys looked at each other with tear-filled eyes. Their movements resembled a bewildered man who prays when facing difficulty. Not finding the cows, the gopas just kept thinking about them.

Meanwhile, seeing no sign of their masters, no escape from the fire, and no hope for survival, the cows cried in fear. Upon returning to the Bhandiravat tree, the gopas reported the results of their search. Krsna responded by promising to personally save the cows from imminent death. Although Krsna is the Supreme Brahman and a cintamani gem fulfilling the desires of all, He assumes the form of an ordinary human being.

Dashing into the Munjatavi forest, Krsna summoned the cows with a sweet tune from His flute. Then He called them individually with His melodious voice, "Hee! Hee! Hee! Hey Dhavalike! Hey Candani! Hey Nandini! Hey Mukte! Hey Indu-tilake! Hey Kasturi! Hey Karpurike! Hey Pinge! Hey Rangini! Hey Dhumale! Hey Kinjalike! Hey Syame! Hey Ketuki! Hey Candrike! Hey Shavalike! Hey Kasmirike! Hey Campake! Hee! Hee! Hee!"

The transcendental vibration of Krsna's magnificent murali enchanted the entire universe and attracted the cows. Hearing the gentle sound of Krsna's sweet flute reassured the cows of their imminent rescue. Over­whelmed with joy, the cows eagerly waited for Krsna. But since they were trapped in a ring of fire they could not see their savior. In desperation they cried in response to Krsna's call. Their voices choked with fear, the cows continually vibrated a piteous "Humba! Humba! Humba!"

Though far beyond the comprehension of munis, jnanis, and impersonalists, Krsna is easily seen by His pure devotees. Hearing the n wailing of the cows in the distance, Nandanandana, Haladhara, and Their , gopa friends felt reassured that they were nearby. The brilliant effulgences and radiant smiles of the cowherd boys dispelled the deep darkness of the .forest as they rushed toward the cows. The rising tidal wave of jubilation cleansed, all anxieties from their bewildered minds.

Then by the arrangement of Providence, the boys found the cows stand­ing helplessly unprotected in the middle of a blazing fire. "Alas! Look how they are suffering! They are in great danger and very close to death, thought the cowherd boys. The greatly distressed cows immersed their minds in thoughts of Krsna while staring at Him with shining, tear eyes. Being the limitless ocean of compassion, Krsna felt very much aggrieved to see their agonized condition.

The raging flames of the fire reached so high into the sky that even a torrential downpour could not extinguish them. Before immediately swal­lowing that uncontrollable forest fire, Krsna, whose face is incomparably beautiful, addressed His followers, "0 friends! Just close your eyes, for­get about this illusion, and be happy again." The cowherd boys, their long hair hanging attractively over their shoulders, closed their eyes while Krsna displayed a drop of His unlimited opulence.

Krsnacandra, who can do anything, held His cupped hands to His lotus mouth and drank the forest fire as if were liquid ambrosia. It appeared that His majestic power personified had swallowed the fire. Usually it takes a torrential downpour to stop a forest fire. But Krsna, however, who easily extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence, put out the fire with a sidelong glance. Out of compassion for the cows, Krsna saved them with a mere touch of His own energy.

Krsna attracts worldly people to His transcendental pastimes by show­ing His majestic opulence from time to time. As one-presses pulp to extract the essence, Krsna's pastimes reveal the essence of the Absolute Truth. This is not surprising since Krsna is the Supreme Parabrahman, the embodiment of all power who energizes the sun, moon, and fire. At the same time He is full of variegated personal energies. At one moment Krsna kills the demon Bakasura, and the next moment He relishes inti­mate pastimes with the gopis. Sometimes He covers His sweet personal aspect, and displays the inestimable power of His unlimited majestic opulences. Besides acting as the resting place of Brahman, Krsna shelters all types of energies. Therefore, swallowing a tiny forest fire is an insig­nificant feat for such a wonderful personality as Krsna, who is the com­bined form of complete sweetness and majesty. What scholar would not become totally captivated when trying to understand the inconceivable truth of Sri Krsna?

Inspired and blissful over the whole pastime, Brahma and other demi­gods showered flowers from the celestial gardens. The flower shower ap­peared like the falling of an unlimited number of teardrops mixed with kajala. Krsna pleased the demigods by happily accepting their prayers. By ihe arrangement of Yogamaya no one saw Krsna swallow the forest fire.

Afterwards Krsna returned to the gopas who were relaxing with the cows in the cool sweet shade of Bhandiravat. Smiling mildly, Krsna said, "Now you understand why I asked you to close your eyes. Now open your eyes and look at Me."

The gopas opened their eyes and exclaimed, "0 look! What happened? Did we go crazy? Where is that forest fire? Was it just a dream? Somehow we are just sitting here peacefully under the banyan tree with the cows." Feeling astonished, the cowherd boys became silent.

The cows felt happy and secure now that the forest fire was extinguished. Seeing Krsna, whose feet are the supreme objects of worship and the epitome of purity, the cows became overwhelmed with joy. The cows cried while repeatedly licking and smelling the Lord's transcendental body due to intense affection. Reciprocating with them, Krsna compassionately fondled the cows with His delicate pinkish palms.

Returning to Nandagrama with the Cows

Indicating his desire to disappear behind the mountains, the sun gradu­ally diminished his painful scorching rays. The scent of honey from the lotus flowers blossoming in the lakes refreshed the air with a sweet fra­grance. Smelling it, the bees went mad with desire to taste it. The atmo­sphere felt pleasant and the ground was soothing to touch.

Gathering the herds of cows, the gopas walked along with Krsna, who played sweet, gentle tunes on His murali while driving the cows home. Bellowing happily as they moved, the cows fixed their eyes in the direc­tion of Nandagrama. As they passed through the various villages along the way, Krsna cast sidelong glances toward the gopis, who stood on their rooftops to greet Him as He walked by.

The Vrajavasis took immense pleasure in seeing their beloved Krsna and Balarama after the long summer's day. Krsna's beautiful dark blue .curly locks peeking out from the edge of His limestone-white turban en­chanted the eyes of everyone. The dust rising from the hooves of the cows created an auspicious atmosphere. Gentle breezes added a comfortable sensation. The breeze, purified by the touch of Krsna's transcendental body, soothed and satisfied all the Vrajavasis as they watched the return­ing boys and cows.

Drinking the sweet vibration of Krsna's flute with the cups of their ears, the deer hurried to the edge of the forest to see Him. The birds that felt empty in His separation and the trees that had become lean and thin again rejoiced upon hearing Krsna's reassuring flute. Krsna entered a joyful mood as He approached the border of Vrndavana. Rows of excited bumblebees formed a garland of blue sapphires to adorn the neck of Vrndavana. The bees went blind from smelling the sweet fragrance of lotus-eyed Krsna. And although a strong wind crushed their pride in flying, they tried their best to follow Him.

Enthusiastic to return home, Haladhara ran down the long road into Vrndavana. Krsna, the radiant prince of Vrndavana, who is the abundant treasure house of beauty endowed with unlimited varieties of good fortune, however, lagged behind while returning from the pasturing ground. He deliberately walked slowly like an intoxicated baby elephant in order to create some distance between Himself and His brother Balarama. Krsna was suddenly maddened with bliss as a result of His deep-rooted affec­tion for the Vraja gopis. Now without any shame or fear of His elder brother, Krsna unhesitatingly fixed His eyes on the candrasalikas (small rooftop rooms for panoramic viewing). Standing in the candrasalikas, the gopis filled the sky with the countless full moons of their faces glowing with love. The blue lotuses of their eyes covered the broad lakes of their chests. Colorful rainbows from their dazzling jewelry illumined the sky. The black bees of their darkened eyebrows restlessly circled the flowering creepers of their smiles. The rivers of their liquid beauty flowed down to touch the ground below.

The gopis thought continuously of Krsna within their hearts while sepa­rated from Him during the day. Although Lord Siva held poison in his throat, the gopis could not contain the intense hankering of their hearts to see Krsna. Forcefully surging from their hearts, this fervor choked their voices and made them lose external awareness. As the day gradually met the evening, the gopis, forever bound to Krsna by unbreakable ties of love, became agitated with the desire to see Him.

Seeing Krsna in the distance with His ever fresh, youthful body glisten­ing like a dark blue cloud, the gopis immediately blossomed in ecstatic love. Krsna wore a colorful turban decorated with a peacock feather jut­ting out the side. Suddenly Krsna glanced directly at the gopis standing in the candrasalikas. At that moment the gopis appeared to be drinking the sweet nectar of Krsna's gorgeous form with the cups of their eyes; touch­ing Him with their hands; and licking Him with their tongues. Krsna trans­formed into the black kajala around their eyes, the blue lotuses over their ears, the sapphire necklaces on their chests, and the musk ointment smeared on their bodies. Stunned in love, the gopis just stood motionless like figures drawn on a painting.

Viewing the situation, Krsna's dear friend Kusumasava said jokingly, "0 dear friend! For many days we have not seen anything so astonishing. When You disappear in the forest like the sun sinking into the water, the gopis m the candrasalikas look like lotuses growing in the sky sustaining their life in the waters of love. When You reappear as the moon throwing its rays on the earth, they blossom in delight like night blooming lotuses. there is nothing more amazing anywhere on the earth. In Brahma's entire creation you will not find a more astounding or attractive scene." After saying this, Madhumangala cleverly pointed out the beloved daughter of Vrsabhanu.

Though glancing at all the gopis, Krsna especially noticed the attractive lotus face of Radhika, which pleases the eyes, exceeds all description and is beautified with ecstatic love. Their meeting ended the day’s long sepa­ration as They satisfied each other with sidelong glances. The nectar of love for each other constantly flowed in Krsna's heart and in the hearts of the gopis.

With great anticipation the Vrajavasis awaited the return of Krsna and the cows. First they saw the dust clouds in the distance created by the hooves of the cows cutting the earth. Then they heard the bellowing of the cows and saw the gopas coming close behind. And finally they beheld the bright blue effulgence preceding the jewel-like prince of Vrndavana.

Overwhelmed with the desire to lick their calves, the cows tried to run, but the heavy weight of their full milk bags checked their forward move­ment. Becoming jubilant upon hearing Krsna's flute, their eyes rolled in ecstasy. Though their voices faltered when they mooed, they produced a pleasing sound as they entered Vrndavana. The touch of Vanamali's cows purified the earth. The rays of the sun shined in the house of Nanda and Yasoda as they welcomed their beloved son. Moved by limitless joy, Yasoda ^rushed to embrace Nandanandana. Finally seeing Him after the long day of His playing in the forest overwhelmed Yasoda with happiness and re­moved the pangs of separation. Rejecting all rules of formality, she took Krsna through the lion gate and directly into the palace courtyard.

Krsna's lips bathed in the beautiful light of His radiant teeth. The cow­herd boys accompanying Krsna felt happy and pleased in heart. With great 'animation they spoke excitedly to Vrajesvari Yasoda, "0 /mother! Today a demon disguised himself as one of us and tried to kidnap Haladhara. But your son Balarama easily killed this malicious character. Then a ter­rible forest fire threatened to devour the cows, the very source of our wealth. But Krsna promised to save them, and did by performing the im­possible task of destroying that fire." After reporting this, the boys re­turned to their respective homes.

Due to Yasoda's deep motherly affection, milk automatically poured from her breasts as she embraced Krsna whose body surpasses the beauty of a monsoon cloud. A festive mood pervaded the house as Yasoda led Krsna to His room. Raktaka, Patraka, and other house servants, with hearts full of affection, served Krsna by bathing and dressing Him.

A brilliant necklace glowed on Krsna's chest. A yellow silk dhoti as beau­tiful as stationary lightning enwrapped His exquisite form. The sandal-wood pulp on His body appeared like snow sprinkled on the land of Vrndavana. Ridiculing the radiance of the sun, the kaustubha gem, which is the king of all jewels, reigned over the kingdom of Krsna's broad chest. His earrings outshone the brilliance of Venus and Jupiter. The luster of Krsna's face far surpassed the pleasing full moon in autumn. The turban resting on His head looked like an intoxicated swan.

Krsna chewed on betel nuts scented with camphor to remove the fatigue of the hot summer's day. The pan represented the intoxicating mellow of the gopas' love-filled hearts. Krsna, the best of respected persons, stole the minds of the gopas and filled them with ecstatic sweetness of sakhya bhava. Krsna's jewel inlaid shoes did not touch the earth as He stepped outside to walk to the goshalla. His tightly wrapped yellow dhoti moved slightly in the gentle breeze as He walked along the royal road before the lion gate. The light from its inset candrakanta jewels illuminated the road that had been decorated with garlands to honor Sri Krsna's return. These jewels perspired drops of cooling nectar which in turn made the wind moist and refreshing. Everything became even more pleasing due to the nectar shower of the rising full moon.