Why Weren’t The Residents Of Vrindavana Amazed At Putana

“After consulting with his demonic ministers, Kamsa instructed a witch named Putana, who knew the black art of killing small children by ghastly sinful methods, to kill all kinds of children in the cities, villages and pasturing grounds. Such witches can play their black art only where there is no chanting or hearing of the holy name of Krishna.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 6)

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Friend1: I was reading the Putana story from the Krishna book the other day, and something struck me in relation to modern day life.

Friend2: What is that? How a stranger could arrive in the home and breastfeed someone else’s child?

Friend1: Well, that was certainly an eye-opener the first time I read the story! But after some deliberation, you can understand.

Friend2: Why?

Friend1: Because this is about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You hear talk today about the values from growing up in a small town. The people tend to be nicer. They say “hello” when meeting on the street, even to strangers. They take care of one another. There is less envy.

Friend2: It’s true. They tend to be more in the mode of goodness when contrasted with the bustling city environment.

Friend1: Which is more or less, “Get out of my way, I have places to go.”

Friend2: Jam into the crowded train car, grab a quick bite to eat, like dollar pizza slices, from a place that doesn’t even provide seating.

Friend1: Eat while standing up. Don’t smile at anyone. Maintain your guard.

Friend2: I guess everyone gets used to their environment.

Friend1: This was Vrindavana, the sacred land where the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared. The people should be the nicest you will find in the entire universe. I guess they were trusting of Putana entering the home since she looked so beautiful.

Friend2: Which was a false form. This is the tactic of the demon class. Deception. Cheating. Dishonesty.

Friend1: Putana was there to feed poison to baby Krishna. She got her wish, and a special surprise after that.

Friend2: Krishna sucked the life out of her.

Friend1: As that was going on, the false form evaporated. She became incredibly large. When she fell down dead, Krishna was crawling on her body. It was like this massive tree that fell to the ground.

Friend2: Really incredible, if you think about it. The people were amazed that baby Krishna survived.

Friend1: What got me thinking is imagining if something similar happened today.

Friend2: A witch being killed by God?

Friend1: Someone displaying the false form. A person with such a dramatic change. From normal human being to this giant. I think people would be fooled into assuming some sort of Divinity.

Friend2: You mean that since such and such person can alter their shape so dramatically, they must be God?

Friend1: Exactly. Can we really deny that? I’m wondering why the people of Vrindavana weren’t similarly amazed. Why didn’t they think Putana was someone sent from above?

Friend2: For starters, she didn’t survive. Secondly, the people understood the potential abilities from mystic yoga practice. And they also knew that the bad guys misuse these abilities to deceive people.

Friend1: Wow. This means that the people were very intelligent.

Friend2: The most intelligent. That is one of the reasons Krishna chose to live there. These were not innocent village fools, who get tricked by this and that. They knew of God the person as Vishnu, and they understood that since the beginning of time there have been strong challengers to Vishnu.

Friend1: Strength reaching the limits the material world has to offer.

Friend2: You could be the wealthiest person in the world. You could change your shape at a moment’s notice. You could command the entire population, but none of this means that you are God or even a good person.

Friend1: That is valuable information. Though reading such a story today you would be tempted to equate with mythology, we see that there is so much valuable information.

Friend2: Krishna’s lila has this impact. It purifies the consciousness. You can hear repeatedly. There is no loss of potency. You begin to see everything clearly and you will be less vulnerable to illusion.

In Closing:

After sucking breast so,
Putana’s form to grow.

To that like giant tree,
Fell to ground amazing to see.

Why not the people then amazed,
That issue of Divinity raised?

Because of asura potency knowing,
Not fooled by false display showing.

Thank You For Making It Difficult

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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Krishna consciousness. This is the English equivalent used by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to describe the Sanskrit terms of bhakti-yoga, sanatana-dharma, bhagavata-dharma and others.

How to relate to people not immersed in the culture? How to provide an understanding for something that at its essence is beyond the body and mind? How to persuade others to take up the process when it is otherwise foreign to them?

Shrila Prabhupada explains it as consciousness. The connection of the individual with something else. The proper link is yoga, and it involves two sides. On the other end is God, but that word fails to properly convey the importance, the magnitude, and the potency of the entity being connected to.

The Sanskrit word Krishna is more appropriate. It speaks to God’s all-attractiveness, and how He is full of features. We are attracted to distinguishable objects; of this there is no doubt. As nothingness is the absence of features, and it has little appeal.

Every aspect to Krishna is attractive, including the culture dedicated to Him. This is known as service, and so Prabhupada uses the terms “Krishna consciousness” and “devotional service” interchangeably. At the heart of spiritual life is a dedication to action, kriya, which culminates in a perfect link, yoga.

There is difficulty in both understanding the process and subsequently applying it. Surely, a component activity like chanting the holy names is simple and straightforward enough. Just repeat a mantra on a regular basis: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Anyone who has made the attempt understands the many surrounding obstacles. Theoretically, I may know the difference between body and spirit, yet I can’t help but lament at the plight of others. I know that I should be remembering Krishna and His associates, as that will bring me happiness, but I tend to dwell on recent events in my own life.

I know that death will take everything away at the end. Guaranteed separation. Forced isolation. Compulsory travel to another body. Yet I remain bogged down by the temporary. I cannot shake the illusion. In one sense I feel like complaining to Krishna and His representatives:

“Why do you guys make things so difficult? I have an earnest desire. I am not a cheater. I really want to make progress. But I am an utter failure. Maybe in the next life I will be qualified to succeed.”

The difficulty is actually beneficial. It substantiates the value of the goal; collateral for the cause. It makes working that much harder worth it. It prevents the cheaters from cheapening the process, from mistaking an intellectually based discipline as something entirely sentimental.

We can take a simple example from daily life to correlate. For many years I have been consuming a specific medication during the spring season. This is for dealing with allergies. This medicine is rather potent, and it has significant side effects. I have deemed the risks worth the experience because of the severity of the allergic reaction to pollen, grass, and trees.

My biggest complaint for years has been the difficulty associated with simply obtaining the medication. There is the initial requirement of providing identification at the drug store. It seems that one of the ingredients in the medicine can be used for producing an illegal intoxicant in the home. Thus the purchases are limited and tracked by the government.

I am not a drug dealer, so I am inconvenienced by this requirement. Moreover, there isn’t even an identification requirement for voting in elections. You would think that is more important. After purchasing the medication, accessing a single pill is not straightforward. You have to maneuver around the packaging and really dig inside to extract the pill. If taking on a daily basis, it becomes really annoying.

Years later, I suddenly have a different perspective. This change occurs after witnessing my young child trying to access the medication, which is inside one of the cabinets in the bathroom. At first I am alarmed, worrying that the medication will have a terrible consequence if ingested by the child.

But then I remember the difficulty with the packaging. There is no way for a child to gain access. It would take a miracle, a chance occurrence. I will maintain an eye on them, but I understand that I am mostly in the clear. Thank God for the packaging, I think to myself.

A person advancing along the path of Krishna consciousness will have a similar reaction. They will be thankful for the difficulties, such as in the case of Vasudeva crossing the Yamuna River. He should have had the easiest ride, so to speak. He was holding Krishna the person, incarnated on earth. As Krishna was a baby at the time, Vasudeva was playing the role of protective father.

He came upon one difficulty after another, but he passed each obstacle. He was at the banks of a raging Yamuna River during a rainstorm, in the middle of the night. How could any sane person carry an infant safely across at such a time?

Yet the higher powers enabled safe passage. The devotion was pure, and so success was assured. This was Krishna’s direct influence, and we should not think that He is absent from our lives. He is just as much by our side, waiting for our sincere turn in His direction.

In Closing:

Success to assure,
When devotion pure.

Like for Vasudeva not a loss,
When considering river to cross.

With baby Krishna in hand,
On great obstacle to land.

But blessed because remembered so,
Eternal treasure for those ready to go.

Five Reasons The Temple Atmosphere Is Peaceful

“O Lakshmana, do you rule this earth with Me. You are like My second self, so this glorious opportunity has been presented to you as well. O Saumitra, do you enjoy all the pleasures you desire and the fruits of the regal life. My life and this kingdom I covet for your sake alone.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 4.43-44)

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लक्ष्मणेमां मया सार्धं प्रशाधि त्वं वसुन्धराम्।
द्वितीयं मेऽन्तरात्मानं त्वामियं श्रीरुपस्थिता।।
सौमित्रे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांत्स्वमिष्टान्राज्यफलानि च।
जीवितं च हि राज्यं च त्वदर्थमभिकामये।।

lakṣmaṇemāṃ mayā sārdhaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ vasundharām।
dvitīyaṃ me’ntarātmānaṃ tvāmiyaṃ śrīrupasthitā।।
saumitre bhuṅkṣva bhogāṃtsvamiṣṭānrājyaphalāni ca।
jīvitaṃ ca hi rājyaṃ ca tvadarthamabhikāmaye।।

“I want to say I really enjoy the pictures that you post. Especially the ones of deities from the various temples – they remind me of my own experiences. I am generally not as serious about religion as I should be, but there is something to these places. When I visit them a feeling of peace and calm overcomes me.

“It is completely lacking otherwise. There must be a reason. After a while I long for a return, but I never seem to find the time. Is there a deeper explanation, perhaps a background to the construction that delivers this effect?”

1. God is all-attractive

The temple is nothing more than a place of worship with a chief resident. The place is not established as such by an institution. It does not have to be government approved or receive the endorsement of a commission consisting of highly-credentialed panelists.

In fact, if there is a single room dedicated to such worship in the common person’s home, then the place becomes like a tirtha. The presence of Tulasi Devi, who is a plant very dear to the Supreme Lord, can accomplish the same.

“Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraj [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.” (The Nectar Of Devotion quoting the Skanda Purana)

The temple atmosphere is the personification of the truth that God is all-attractive. The corresponding name is Krishna. There are other similar suitable name-descriptions, such as Shyamasundara and Bhagavan. Since He is Govinda, God is pleasing to the senses.

The eyes especially get the benefit from the temple visit. Not that God can be limited to a statue, but the depiction is so potent that it takes on an equivalence. It is a conduit for accepting prayers and items of worship. It is a way authorized since time immemorial to connect with someone who is otherwise beyond our comprehension.

2. He teaches that there is always a chance

The human birth is certainly the best opportunity for liberation. In other species the ability to critically think and ponder the situation moving forward is hampered by the type of body. It is the same individual, but taking residence in a different kind of establishment, for a period of time.

Yet just because we are in the human experience now does not mean we will spoil our chance forever through dismissal of the devotional principles. If we fail to achieve the proper consciousness, then surely our fate could be doomed for the future, but the eternal nature of the soul continues.

The temple reminds us that Krishna will always accept us, no matter how long we have forgotten Him. The connection with the deity is like meeting a long-lost friend, a person who always has our best interests at heart. We have already been condemned in a sense, through placement in the material world, but there is no malice on His part. He is constant as our well-wishing friend.

3. Spiritual life should be blissful

There is beauty throughout the creation. There is artistic expression in so many areas of life. Why should pleasant surroundings be absent in the connection with the person who is the origin of everything? Why should that experience be lacking a kind of joy that is already the objective in every other endeavor?

The temple experience gives a glimpse into the eternal life of bliss, ananda. There is singing, dancing, and eating. Meeting with like-minded people. Association with sadhu, shastra and guru. The saintly person, the sacred texts, and the active representative of those teachings.

Rather than being scolded for our sins or living in fear of a higher being, we are encouraged to give up our inhibitions and surrender completely in sharanagati, which will make us genuinely happy moving forward.

4. He allows us to visit as much as we want

Barring a ridiculous government imposition to supposedly keep people safe, I can pay a visit once a month, only on special occasions, once a week, or every single day. If I am really inspired and feeling pains of separation, I can try to replicate the environment in my home. An incident from Shri Rama’s pastimes reveals the attitude on the other end.

There was a brahmana in Rama’s kingdom of Ayodhya who would feel terrible pains of separation whenever Rama had to go away on official business. To alleviate the suffering, the leader had a deity installed in this person’s home. The idea was that through such worship it was as if the husband of Sita was still by their side.

This means that the entire temple structure is mercy arriving directly from the Almighty. It is His way of helping us, even though we have turned away from Him for so long.

5. He makes sacrifices for everyone else

When Rama first heard the news about becoming the next king, He immediately thought of sharing the honor with His younger brother Lakshmana. This was not a token gesture; Rama is always sacrificing for others.

The temple is His way of approaching us, and so of course there would be an accompanying peaceful atmosphere. Even if a person is homeless or lacks the means of reaching such an environment, they can still connect through the power of the holy name: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Overcome by calm and peace,
When temple destination to reach.

Something must be there,
But perhaps not aware.

Because God resident in chief,
Vision of friend to eyes relief.

Showing blissful life persisting,
Forgiven despite so long resisting.

Thunder And Lightning The Gods Take Revenge

“As the director of different kinds of clouds, Indra called for the samvartaka. This cloud is invited when there is a need to devastate the whole cosmic manifestation. The samvartaka was ordered by Indra to go over Vrindavana and inundate the whole area with an extensive flood. Demonically, Indra thought himself to be the all-powerful supreme personality.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 25)

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“Senseless destruction. What was he to gain from it? What was lacking in the heavenly realm that punishing common village people was to fix? He is the king of heaven, is he not? Indra should have had every comfort available to him.

“Yes, I understand that the people of Vrindavana skipped the annual Indra-yajna that year. It wasn’t their idea. No malice; no offense intended. Shri Krishna, the darling son of Nanda Maharaja, was too convincing. His desire to have Govardhana Hill worshiped instead took precedent.

“Who gets offended by the words of a child? How could Indra become so jealous? Did he not remember that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the same Vishnu who helped him many times in the past? Why did Indra have to take revenge on the people?”

Make no mistake, this is exactly what the people attributed the calamity to. The sudden thunder, lightning, hail and devastating rain could only have one cause. This was not a random movement of the clouds. This was not part of some natural sequence of events, in concert with the season.

Indra felt insulted, and he was going to take out his anger on the people who offended him. The principle of note for the spiritually inclined is there for the taking, glittering like a jewel. Even ascending to heaven is not the end. Living with advanced material comforts and a long duration of life tends to be the primary objective, from the start. Once we find out that we are alive, we try to maintain that existence for as long as possible.

Not only was Indra already in heaven, but he was the leader of that realm. He had the most to enjoy. But we see that such advanced living did not equate to a higher level of consciousness. There was still the vulnerability. He was susceptible to irrational envy.

It would be like a millionaire carrying on a rivalry with a poor person. For whatever reason, they are jealous. It doesn’t make sense, when viewing from the outside, but our judgment of the situation has no bearing on the reality. That is to say, Indra’s vengeful streak was real; though it lacked proper justification.

On the other side, we get a glimpse of the potency of the Almighty. Thunder and lighting are not enough. Even when released in a fury, in a level comparable to the devastation reserved for the end of creation, Krishna can easily mitigate.

He ended up lifting the massive Govardhana Hill and using it as an umbrella. There were many other options available, but this allowed everyone to know the level of affection Krishna has to that piece of land. It is indeed non-different from Him, and thus still worshiped to this day.

In Closing:

Despite with heavenly post gifted,
To new heights of envy lifted.

When Krishna’s influence seeing,
So torrent of rain and hail freeing.

But Supreme nothing to lack,
Easy for Him to fight back.

With that just worshiped hill,
Sacred to this day still.

I Seriously Can’t Understand Kaikeyi’s Cruelty

“Being under the control of passion and lust, Rama’s father, Maharaja Dasharatha, wanted to fulfill Kaikeyi’s cherished desire, thus he did not go through with Rama’s installation ceremony.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.12)

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कामार्तस्तु महातेजाः पिता दशरथस्स्वयम्।।
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत्।

kāmārtastu mahātejāḥ pitā daśarathassvayam।।
kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ taṃ rāmaṃ nābhyaṣecayat।

“It seems rather cruel to me, the behavior of Queen Kaikeyi, as described in the Ramayana. Surely, there will be jealousy and rivalry in an instance where one husband has multiple wives. Today, the practice is frowned upon; though infidelity is quite common and swept under the rug.

“During those times the leaders often had more than one wife. The idea is that if you can take care of them sufficiently, offer protection and the like, then there is no harm. The alternative is rampant illicit sex in society, which has negative consequences distributed through a network of related events.

अधर्माभिभवात् कृष्ण
प्रदुष्यन्ति कुल-स्त्रियः
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय
जायते वर्ण-सङ्करः

adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa
praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya
jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ

“When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vrishni, comes unwanted progeny.” (Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita, 1.40)

“Let’s not forget what Kaikeyi asked for. She went against protocol by demanding her son be made the next king instead of Rama, who was the eldest. She asked that Rama be banished from the kingdom, despite a universal popularity amongst the citizens.

“I am wondering how a person can stoop so low. How can they become so cruel in heart as to inflict such direct suffering in others? Maharaja Dasharatha, her husband, eventually left this world due to these requests. The pain of separation from Rama was too much to bear. Yet Kaikeyi still didn’t feel bad.”

One way we can relate is to take any commonly debated issue in the news. We are driving along one day, flipping through channels on the radio. We stumble upon a talk show. The host is discussing a particular news event, one that we haven’t paid much attention to prior.

This drive extends multiple hours, and we leave the program on. Through the different back and forth, the processing of information, and the arguments presented, we are now firmly in a particular camp. We are advocates for an issue, and we are upset at any person who disagrees.

Some months later, we are in the waiting room at a doctor’s office. A routine appointment, and the customary long delay in between the allotted time and actual meeting with the doctor. To pass the time we start reading one of the magazines lying on the table.

We come upon an article discussing the issue we became interested in previously. We want to see if the author agrees with our position. It is just the opposite, in fact. They make the case for the other side. It turns out to be a compelling case. Suddenly, our mind is changed. Just like that. In an instant.

In this regard association can be very important. Queen Kaikeyi was previously affectionate towards Rama. She did not make a distinction that He was born through the womb of Queen Kausalya. This is the way the Supreme Personality of Godhead is naturally viewed.

He may look foreign to us, with His shyama complexion and beautiful ornaments, but with enough time there is a strong sense of familiarity. It is like He has been related to us since before we can remember. Beyond the present lifetime. Transcending birth and death.

Kaikeyi had to be convinced to change her viewpoint. The critical association was through her servant, Manthara. Someone stirring the pot, so to speak, she knew just what to say to make Kaikeyi jealous. The persuasion continued to the point that Kaikeyi viewed it as a grave injustice to have Rama installed as the next king instead of Bharata.

There were higher forces at work. Sarasvati Devi, the goddess of speech, inspired those words in the servant. But the lesson is unmistakable. Improper association can take a rationally thinking person into the dangerous realm of intense envy, which is otherwise unfounded.

The incident highlights the importance of the spiritual master and those he inspires. Sadhu, guru and shastra are the three parallel lines which lead to liberation, which has an accompanying consciousness. That is to say when I am truly enlightened, I will be able to see things properly and understand that Shri Rama is my best friend and His servants are the most amazing people in this world.

In Closing:

Part of events to unfold,
Persuaded by words told.

From servant Manthara to hear,
Confused when previously clear.

So that towards envy turning,
Succession protocol spurning.

Vulnerable everyone the same,
Rescued by mantra’s holy name.

Gripping Your Pillow Tight

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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It really was a nightmare scenario for King Kamsa. He tried his best to deny fate, but the thoughts still haunted him. Even while successfully eliminating any possible opposition in the form of a new child entering this world through the womb of his sister Devaki, there was always the lurking suspicion that the prophecy would come true.

It was an akasha-vani. A voice from the sky. A warning that only the fortunate few are able to receive. It spoke to Kamsa about the future. Devaki’s eighth child would be his doom. Although he was escorting her in the joyous occasion of marriage, she would be the conduit for kala to strike. All-devouring time, in this case with the face of menacing death, would end Kamsa’s reign as king.

It was with such a backdrop that the eighth child eventually arrived. At midnight, while everyone else was asleep, whether peacefully or in constant anxiety, the parents were quite amazed. They saw their newborn transform into the four-handed Narayana. He is the personal God, worshiped particularly by those in the mode of goodness, sattva-guna.

One of the prayers addressed to Him is namo brahmanya-devaya. Vishnu is the deva of the brahmana class. Those who know the difference between matter and spirit, who engage in the occupational role of guide to the rest of society, worship the person who appeared at that moment.

The birth-father, Vasudeva, was of the kshatriya order. These are the warriors, but since he had the devotional spirit, Vasudeva was more than a brahmana. Vishnu is pure goodness, shuddha-sattva, and so the property extends to devotees and their service to Him.

Vasudeva and Devaki were thrilled and amazed. They offered obeisances to their new son, who quickly returned to the visual of a helpless infant. Soon to be known as Krishna, the child wanted to be transported to the nearby town of Gokula.

The paranoid Kamsa would not be able to find Him there. That was the plan, anyways, and Vasudeva intended to fulfill it. He escaped the jail cell and then met the Yamuna River. It was pouring rain, but since the river is also a pure devotee of Krishna, she allowed safe passage.

Kamsa was in a different situation. He was free to roam about. His word was final; the king had final say. He should have been happy, but he was not. Vasudeva should have been in distress, but he was able to escape from prison and serve Krishna.

Kamsa’s paranoia continued up until the very end. He sent asuras to eliminate baby Krishna in Gokula, but every attempt failed. It was finally the face of Krishna’s fist which delivered the death blow. As Goswami Tulsidas describes, devotees of Shri Hari are able to sleep peacefully because they know the master coordinator will ultimately settle affairs in the proper manner. Worry and concern and even personal intervention cannot change what is destined to occur.

In Closing:

From nightmare gripping pillow tight,
With slated destiny to fight.

That eighth child the one,
From whom death to come.

Whereas Vasudeva imprisoned so,
But across Yamuna free to go.

With baby Krishna in hand,
And meeting child’s demand.

How Could Kaikeyi Do What She Did

“Being under the control of passion and lust, Rama’s father, Maharaja Dasharatha, wanted to fulfill Kaikeyi’s cherished desire, thus he did not go through with Rama’s installation ceremony.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.12)

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कामार्तस्तु महातेजाः पिता दशरथस्स्वयम्।।
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत्।

kāmārtastu mahātejāḥ pitā daśarathassvayam।।
kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ taṃ rāmaṃ nābhyaṣecayat।

“I like how the Ramayana accurately portrays the struggles of married life, even though the events took place so many thousands of years ago. Society thinks they are advancing, that they are correcting the wrongs of generations past, but in truth human behavior is always the same. There are the same defects and struggles.

“King Dasharatha has three wives, but even that experience is relatable. He is so kind to everyone, even though he is the greatest warrior. It is like he turns on his fiery nature on the battlefield, and then transforms into a different person at home.

“It is described that Kaikeyi is the one to whom he is most attached. She is the youngest of the wives, I believe, and she saved the king one time while in battle. He promised her anything she wanted as a result. Two boons. Whenever she would ask for them.

“Those who are familiar with the story remember that Kaikeyi cashed in on those promises at the worst possible moment for Dasharatha. Just as control over the kingdom was about to be passed down to the eldest son named Rama, Kaikeyi had a different idea.

“She wanted Bharata to be the king, instead. This was the prince born of her womb. It really was the second wish that spoiled everything. She wanted Rama banished from the kingdom for fourteen years.

“Rather than delve into the faults of envious women and infighting that takes place within families, I am interested to learn how someone can change their nature so quickly. It is described that Kaikeyi had not a hint of envy towards Rama prior to this moment. She viewed Him as her own son. How did the feelings move in the other direction?”

We see this happen in our own lives, especially as it relates to divisive topics. I have no opinion on the government’s policy towards a specific foreign nation. I am not really interested in politics. Whatever they do, let me stay out of it.

Then one day I am on an extended trip, driving the car for hours. I stumble upon a radio program, and the host is discussing the issue. After some time, I am totally invested in a particular opinion. I hear the background story, how the one nation is lying and cheating. There is documented evidence.

The host makes a convincing case, so much so that I attribute the shift in personal interest to myself. Then a few weeks later I happen to see someone on television discussing the same policy. They have the opposite stance. They are also convincing. Suddenly, I align with their ideology; I am in their camp.

Something similar occurred with Kaikeyi. She had a humpbacked servant named Manthara. This is the person who poisoned the queen’s mind. It took a while, too. Kaikeyi fought back, at first. She did not want to hear anything offensive towards Rama.

But the servant knew just the right words to say, highlighting how happy Rama’s mother must have been to hear the news of the transfer of power. There is always the slippery slope fallacy to rely on. From a single event occurring, make it seem that so many other bad things will occur in tandem.

Suddenly, Kaikeyi was thinking that the worst possible fate was to have Rama as the next king. This is an instance of bad association, though there were also higher forces at play. In other Vedic texts describing the same incident, we learn that Sarasvati Devi, the goddess of speech, empowered Manthara to be convincing in her pitch.

The lesson is there to take, all the same. Envy can strike at any moment. Poor association can suppress better judgment. Someone we know to be pure and honest could be viewed with contempt. In this world of illusion, the wrong teacher might fool us into thinking that there is no God or that enjoying the senses is of utmost importance.

There are ways to find good association and maintain it. The saints travel to our region for this reason. They leave behind recorded teachings available for reference at any time. They pass down powerful mantras to deliver the mind from wickedness and evil: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Saints travelling to this region,
For rescue from duality reason.

Where firmly on this side today,
And tomorrow a different way.

Thinking rationally so,
But now the opposite to go.

Like Kaikeyi previously with affection,
Then convinced in other direction.