Gary and Richard (now Radhanath Swami) boarded a train at Varanasi, and were compressed in an overcrowded compartment. The sweltering heat suffocated the two friends. Besides, the monsoon storm had forced the train to stop at a place for two days. Finally, seeking relief Gary and Richard got down when the train halted at Mathura. When Richard enquired from a local sadhu about the place, he replied, “This is Mathura, Lord Krishna’s birthplace. And today is Janmastami, Krishna’s birthday.” The sadhu also revealed that Krishna is their name for that one Supreme Lord who appears in this world to remove suffering and give us spiritual happiness.
Gary and Richard (now Radhanath Swami) then went to the birthplace of Krishna to witness the festivities. Hundreds danced and chanted to live music played with drums, flutes and cymbals. Both of them spent the whole day absorbing the wonderful sights and sounds of the birthday celebration. According to the scriptures, it was at midnight that Lord Krishna appeared in the city of Mathura. Now everybody waited for that moment. Although the temple was already packed with thousands, a steady flow of thousands more managed to stream through the door. The police tried to control the crowds in vain with long bamboo sticks.
Neither Gary nor Richard had ever seen such massive crowds. When the clock struck midnight, the doors of the inner sanctum swung open to reveal the altar of Krishna. A tumult of joy rose like a tidal wave. Enthralled, the people in the crowd were oblivious to being shoved and crushed. Old and young, male and female, rich and poor, all merged together with palms joined in prayer and eyes glossed with devotion. Small circles of villagers sang their own special songs, while everyone else laughed, cried, danced, and exuberantly called out Krishna’s holy names. For Gary and Richard who had clung on to pillars, the eagerness of these pilgrims was astounding.
The birthday of Krishna is known to Indians as Janmashtami, and I have been fortunate to hear Radhanath Swami’s talks on this special day. The different scriptures throughout the world address the Supreme Being variously as Jehovah, Alllah, Buddha, Rama and so on. Radhanath Swami says that the Supreme Person is full of extraordinary attributes, which make Him universally attractive. The name Krishna, meaning ‘the all-attractive one’ describes this all-attractiveness of the Supreme Lord.
Radhanath Swami explains that Krishna descends not just to maintain law, but to awaken love. The love that our heart longs for through relationships with various persons finds fulfilment when it is reposed in the Supreme Person God. “Because when we love Krishna, our love is never interrupted, never betrayed, never let down, and never disappointed”, says Radhanath Swami.
Quoting scriptures, Radhanath Swami reveals that over 5000 years ago on Janmashtami, the Lord appeared at mid-night. This historical fact also has a deeper significance, according to Radhanath Swami. He says, “Midnight is the time of maximum darkness and from the moment the Lord appeared the darkness started diminishing. Similarly our heart is dark being afflicted by multiple anxieties and miseries. But in the darkest hour of our life, when we turn to the Lord and He appears in our heart, all the darkness recedes and the light of eternal hope starts streaming in.”
Radhanath Swami gives a beautiful purport to Krishna appearing in a prison cell amidst shackles. “Krishna appeared in the prison and freed His parents from the shackles of the prison. This indicates that all of us who are shackled by our own self-destructive desires can be freed by the Lord who appears in our heart, which is like a prison house.”
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Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
Radhanath Swami made us understand the real Janmastami. Radhanath Swami has sacrificed so much for reviving lost Indian Vedic culture and spreading the glories of Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna all over the world. Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for every thing.
View CommentThe pruport of Krishna appearing in a prison cell is really very beautiful………..
View CommentHare Krishna. Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for the wonderful purport.
View CommentRadhanath swami gives us the inner meaning of the lords pastimes which gives us faith in the mercy of the Lord
View CommentAwesome! Its too amazing!
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s purport on God’s birthday beautifully explains the circumstance in which Lord Krishna made His appearance in Kamsa’s cell.
View CommentThis is a good article by Radhanath Swami. I especially liked the point “Krishna descends not just to maintain law, but to awaken love of GOD….Because when we love Krishna, our love is never interrupted, never betrayed, never let down, and never disappointed” (unlike in material world)
View Commentwhat a wonderful purport by radhanath swami for appearance of Lord krishna
View CommentThank you dear Radhanath Swami maharaj for explaining the science of Krishna with such simple yet lucid examples and analogies..
View Commentthank you
View Commentvery good,thank you
View CommentKrishna descends not just to maintain law, but to awaken love.
View Comment“..when we love Krishna, our love is never interrupted, never betrayed, never let down, and never disappointed.” Krsna comes to awaken that love. He is more eager to take us back than we are to go back to Him. THat’s His nature, unlimitedly compassionate and forgiving. Why should we not worship such a master?
View CommentWonderdul article.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj is a sincere devotee invited by the Lord on His birthday for His birthday party!
View CommentKrishna is so merciful upon Radhanath swami ji, so he made some arrangement that swami ji could attend the Birth day festival of Lord.
View CommentIts so amazing to read how Krishna arranged for Radhanath Swami to be inVrndavan on a holy day of Janmashtmi
View Commentwonderful article and very intense, haribol, bhakti
View Commentvery nicely explained by HHRM that the Lord appeared in the midnight and when he appeared the darkness started diminishing, similarly we must remember the lord in our hearts always, rajesh karia
View CommentVery nice statement by Radhanath Swami — “The love that our heart longs for through relationships with various persons finds fulfilment when it is reposed in the Supreme Person God”
View CommentThis is most soothing words and the greatest hope for one who wants to go back to godhead….“Krishna appeared in the prison and freed His parents from the shackles of the prison. This indicates that all of us who are shackled by our own self-destructive desires can be freed by the Lord who appears in our heart, which is like a prison house.”……Thank you very much Maharaj.
View CommentRadhanath Swami very closely observed the Indian Vedic culture like the celebrations of Janmastami, etc. Radhanath Swami, because of his natural divine qualities could penetrate the hearts of people when he preaches the true essence of Janmastami.
View Commentvery true, the lord’s divine intervention diverted him for his birthday,radhanath swami is the chosen one by lord krishna himself,
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s understanding of the significance of the Lord’s appearance is perfect!
View CommentActually it is not a mere coincidence that Radhanath Swami had to be in Mathura on the most auspicious day of Janmashtami. It was certainly the Lord’s special arrangement.
View CommentThe Lord has specific plans for special souls like Radhanath Swami as is revealed from this incident in Radhanath Swami’s life.
View CommentThank you for sharing this wonderful article.
View CommentMaharajah has so nicely explained the appearance of Lord Krishna. “Midnight is the time of maximum darkness and from the moment the Lord appeared the darkness started diminishing. Similarly our heart is dark being afflicted by multiple anxieties and miseries. But in the darkest hour of our life, when we turn to the Lord and He appears in our heart, all the darkness recedes and the light of eternal hope starts streaming in.” Thank you very much Maharajah.
View CommentNice messages in the article. Thank you Maharaj for explaining the real importance of bringing Krishna in our lives through this example.
View CommentIts so amazing to see how Krishna personally made arrangements for Radhanath Swami
View Commentsuch a beautiful narration with focus on very essential facts like ” all of us who are shackled by our own self-destructive desires can be freed by the Lord who appears in our heart, which is like a prison house.” Thank you very much Swamiji.
View Commentwow. thank you very much for sharing this deep realization.
View CommentKrishna by His own sweet will tugged Radhanath Swami into his arms in Vrindavan. What an unbelievably sweet pastime!
View CommentHare krishna. Wonderful narration of Lord Krishna’s birth day celebration in Mathura.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami giving us guidance how to remove darkness from our heart by example of Krishna’s birth in Mid Night.
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami giving us guidance how to remove darkness from our heart .
View CommentIt’s very interesting to see how God is guiding Radhanath Swami at every step.
View CommentVery nice article !
View CommentAs one reads the ‘The Journey Home’ book by Radhanath Swami one comes across a journey which is propelled by a ‘HUNGER’ to seek the absolute truth and to go deep within the core of ones existence, enroute the obstacles of such a journey are taken as a learning which teaches us to look at our lives in a brighter perspective.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj gives very nice analogy to help us develop the hankering he had in his journey for spiritual perfection.
View Commentthe purport of Lord appearing over the midnight is very beautiful. thank you Radhnath Swami Maharaj for these valuable quotes.
View CommentThankyou Radhanath Swami for sharing this article with us
View CommentWell said. Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. Thanks for sharing!
View CommentBeautiful explanations about Lord Krishna, his all attractive features, significance of his birth during midnight and universality of God. I cherished the following statement of Radhanath Swami Maharaj the most: Because when we love Krishna, our love is never interrupted, never betrayed, never let down, and never disappointed
View CommentIt is the supreme most desire of each and every devotee that lord Krishna as he appeared in Mathura and freed his parents similarly he appear in our heart to free us from the material condition of unending suffering
View CommentThe prison analogy is amazing. We are shackled in this material world by our own desires. Once Lord Krishna appears in our heart, all the those shackles are broken and we experience freedom from material miseries.
All glories to H.H.Radhananth Swami !
View CommentAll glories to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
View CommentThe analogies are very nice, I pray for that very lord to appear in my heart by his causeless mercy.
Thank u for this beautiful explanation!
View Commentthank u
View Commentall of us who are shackled by our own self-destructive desires can be freed by the Lord who appears in our heart, which is like a prison house – H H Radhaanth swami
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