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| Hindu Heritage Day 2012: Sri Krishna Leela |
Mona Khaitan
05/07/2012
My divine Maya consisting of three Gunas is difficult to overcome. Only they who surrender unto Me cross over this Maya. (B.G. 7:14)
Saturday, May 19 has been declared the Hindu Heritage Day by the Mayor of Marlborough and the Governor of Massachusetts. Organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), the annual HHD 2012 mela will be celebrated from 3 pm-8 pm at Marlboro Middle School in Marlboro, Massachusetts by all Hindus, Hindu Christians, and all interested in the universal laws of the Sanatana Dharma.
This year the theme is close to the heart of every man . Man is born, lives, and dies engaged in relationships within a family structure. Sri Krishna, app. 5,000 years ago, has amply demonstrated during his 12 years of childhood stay in Vrindavan that family is more than blood relations and encompasses the interconnected family of all beings and non-beings. Sri Krishna, through His Leela or sportive play, has shown mankind how to relate to and honor all relationships: the divine as well as the worldly including those with animals, plants, and even rocks. Sri Krishna’s capers in Vrindavan bring alive the immense possibilities of sweetness in each relationship and define them for all times to come. For man, the inherent desire to find love and happiness in relationships mostly finds expression in pursuit of worldly sensual pleasures. These sensual pleasures are technically classified into twelve rasas that include anger, wonder, conjugal love, love of comedy, chivalry, mercy, servitorship, fraternity, horror, shock, calmness, and parenthood. The sum total of all these rasas constitutes real love.
Normally, such signs of love appear in the form of adoration, service, friendship, paternal affection, calmness, and conjugal love. When these six inclinations (bhavas) are absent, love is projected indirectly in the form of anger, wonder, and the rest of other rasas. Each man tends towards a specific rasa but fails to experience true love in worldly relationships from one rasa alone. The Supreme Reality is described in the Vedas as “the fountainhead of all rasas.†When the same predominant rasa is used to form a relationship with any Personal God, then man experiences automatically the sum total of all the rasas: indescribable blissful divine love in its totality, perfection, and beauty. Sri Krishna teaches that no sophistication and book learning is required to know, adore, and surrender to God. Merely forming a single-minded pure hearted relationship with Him suffices. Sri Krishna says, in whatever way we worship Him, He accepts that worship of the bhakta (B.G. 9:26).
The cultural program beginning at 4pm is a sweet enactment of Sri Krishna’s relationships with all beings and non-beings in dance form. In Raas Leela, the Gopis are individual atmas who have overcome body consciousness and are drawn to their source, Paramatma in the form of Sri Radha Krishna. The Gopis are the embodiment of how worldly love for a beloved is transmuted to that of divine love. Sri Radha is the divine dynamic energy of Sri Krishna that is inseparable from Him. The mother child relationship is poignantly demonstrated by mother Yashoda when she consoles baby Sri Krishna distressed with the disparity in their complexions. There are several dances, songs including Madhurashtakam, and an interesting three part skit on the life of Sri Krishna. In total, 15 organizations will participate in the cultural program so the audience gets to appreciate the outstanding artistic work being done in the Boston area rendered complete with beautifully designed costumes. There is going to be a raffle drawing of 4 prizes so remember to enter your name for the raffle.
As in the past, there are a number of booths of non-profit organizations participating which provide information on a variety of subjects including mandirs, meditation, health, bal vihars, Youth camps, Youth groups, face painting, Sanskrit classes, dance and music studios, Charitable organizations, and others. There are booths for sale of Childrens’ books, Russian school, Spiritual books, mehndi application, New York Life information, clothes, jewelry, and other item of interest from India not normally found in stores. Weather permitting; the kite flying is a favorite activity for children of all ages. If you are interested, look for this activity outside the building. There is a limited supply of booths available at this time. If you are interested in setting up a booth for a nominal cost (For Profit $50, Non-Profit $25), please contact Kaushik bhai Patel: ck8288@comcast.net
The food is not to be missed at this mela. Foods typical of South and North India would be available as well as mouthwatering chats, samosas, and lassi. And of course, no meal is complete without a good cup of masala chai. This is always served joyfully and the collected proceeds benefit Support a Child program in India.
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