Which Krishna pastime is your favorite, and why?
Of all the books I've read on spirituality, none has affected me so profoundly as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. So I would say that for me Krishna's pastime of becoming the chariot driver for His dear friend Arjuna, speaking the Bhagavad-gita, and protecting Arjuna by attacking grandfather Bhisma is the most inspirational pastime. By instructing Arjuna, Krishna taught everyone in the world how to make their lives successful. And He showed us that we can have an intimate relationship with Him in friendship.
(Bhagavan Acarya Dasa Wisconsin, USA.)
My favorite Krishna pastime is Rasa-lila. It shows how Krishna cares for individual devotees, that too with a very individualistic touch. It has in-depth message that a true devotee’s present materialistic condition or position hardly matters for getting Krishna’s love, individualistic care, and blessings. Krishna through this act, gave the message that although nobody can be closer to Him than Radharani, He ensured that every individual gopi should get love and divine pleasure similar to Her. The gopis conquered a place in the abode of Krishna by their selfless surrender to the will of Krishna. It shows how Krishna breaks all limitations for fulfilling divine wish of His devotees. To understand this marvelous pastime of Krishna one has to rise above sensory limitations which can be possible only with the blessings of spiritual guru like Prabhupadaji.
(Rajesh Kumar Mishra,Mumbai)
The pastime of Krishna that inspires me the most is the ‘Damodara-lila’. This pastime was performed by Krishna on the day of Diwali. Every year I visit Sri Vrindavana Dhama in the month of Damodara (Kartika) and I also keep visiting the temple of Sri Radha Damodara Ji here in Jaipur (Srila Jiva Goswami's original Deity). I offer lamps and sing the enchanting ‘Damodarashtaka’.
Thousands of devotees gather in sacred places in the month of Damodara (Kartika), which is the most auspicious time of the year. The Deities of Mother Yasoda and Lord Damodara at ISKCON in Vrindavana(Krishna-Balarama Temple) looks awesome and amazing. It was this time when Lord Damodara delivered Nalakuvara and Manigriva who had assumed the shape of trees. The whole pastime should be read again and again from Srimad-Bhagavatam and one feels spiritual mellow just by reading it.
(Pranjal Joshi,Jaipur)
My favorite pastime remains baby Krishna with the fruit vendor. A fruit vendor lady is passing by the house of Nanda and Yasoda announcing, “Does anybody want fruits?”
Baby Krishna who has just learnt walking and seen His father doing barter deals, comes out with handful of grains, most of them falling out of His baby grip. The fruit vendor seeing the beautiful form of Lord gives away all the fruits and apparently receives only few grains in her hand. But as she lifts her empty basket, she finds it heavy with jewels, rubies, and emeralds.
Why it’s my favorite?
A devotee allured by beauty of his baby Krishna consciousness (early days) sometimes gives away everything and becomes brahmachari or a dedicated devotee. He may think he has received just a few grains in return, but he is yet to realize the real treasure in store.
All glories to those who renounce their body, mind, time, and word, and above all their prime youth for Lord Krishna. Less intelligent selfish people like me can only thank them and say, "Don't hold back to anything any illusions; you will surely see the Lord."
(Gayatri Gaitonde,Mumbai)
My favorite pastime is that of Lord Caitanya and His associates distributing Krishna consciousness. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi-lila, 7.24) says they "plundered the storehouse of love of Godhead and ate and distributed its contents." I am inspired because they do not consider who is fit or unfit. They give spiritual love to everyone through the holy name. How? "They danced, cried, laughed, and chanted like madmen, and in this way they distributed love of Godhead." (Cc. Adi 7.22)
Miraculously, unlike a material storehouse, as the love is distributed the supply increases hundreds of times. Best of all, this pastime continues even now, and you and I can take part in it, tasting spiritual nectar and endearing ourselves to the Lord. Srila Prabhupada writes, "The present Krishna consciousness movement is non-different from the pastimes performed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. . . , for the same principles are being followed and the same actions performed without fail." (Cc. Antya 5.88, Purport)
I regularly go out with harinama (chanting) groups, travel with the Polish festival tour, attend Rathayatras in various countries, and take part in the devotee festivals in Ukraine and Mayapur. In all these places, I see many people smile, laugh, and dance, tasting some pleasure and developing spiritual desires through the congregational chanting introduced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. I feel happy in their happiness and grateful to be allowed to take part in this glorious benedictory pastime of the Lord.
(Krishna Krpa Dasa,Mayapur, India)
The pastime of Lord Balarama appearing as Lord Nityananda inspires me the most because of the way He delivered Jagai and Madhai. He was so merciful and compassionate to those rascals that His example makes me try to develop some compassion for the fallen souls. Also this inspires me to keep going whenever I go out on book distribution, even though that service is very difficult.
(Navanita Taskara Dasi Gurabo, Puerto Rico)