Hari (4) Smaran -Further Reading-te
Hari (3)- Further Reading
- Hari
- Murali
- Murahara
- Giridhari
HARI
Baba says Hari means remover or destroyer since he destroys the hurdles in the path of Sadhana or our spiritual disciplines. The name Hari also means the one who is green in colour because of the root word “hara” which means green. In the Mahabharata Krishna says “My superior complexion is green and therefore, I am called “Hari”. The inner meaning is that the sight of green, gives the feeling of peace to the mind. Similarly remembering Hari, the green hued Lord, will give peace to our soul.
MURALI
Murali is the flute that Lord Krishna plays. The Murali or the Indian flute made from Bamboo reed is what Lord Krishna places on his lips and out comes divine tunes that is mesmerising Gopalas, Gopikas, cows, trees, plants and the entire creation. That flute which rested on the Lord’s lips emanated such soulful music and what is the qualification of the flute for this great blessing? Baba says Flute is simple, straight and hollow. Hollow, with not ego, straight with no crookedness and simple with absolutely with no ostentation. So there again, the Lord is telling us to pray to the Lord to make us as egoless, as simple and as light and beautiful like the flute. The Lord is telling us to uproot our ego.
MADHAVA
Madhava comes from the words “Ma” and “Dhava”. “Ma” refers to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity associated with riches and bounties. “Dhava” means Lord. Lord Krishna is considered the incarnation of Lord Vishnu whose divine consort is Mother Lakshmi. Therefore according to ancient legend, he bears the name Madhava. The inner significance is that Goddess Lakshmi here represents nature or “Prakruthi”which means the inseparable part of the Lord. Creation is inextricably intertwined with creation .In fact creation is the reflection of the Creator. Hence Madhava is the Lord who is the master of nature or the originator of creation.
MURAHARA
“Murahara” is one who slayed the demon “Mura”. “Mura” in Sanskrit means to cover. All of us are covered by the ignorance of our true nature. We think ourselves as the body whereas we are much much more than the body. We are indeed the Atma, the eternal soul. So the demon Mura also represents our ignorance and Lord Krishna bears the name Murahara because he destroys this ignorance and enlightens us.
GIRIDHARI
“Giri” means mountain and “dhari” means, he who holds. There are two instances of the Lord bearing the mountain upon himself. One was during the time of churning of the milk ocean or the ocean of the milk when He assumed the form of a great tortoise to bear on his back the Mandara Mountain which is used as the churning stick. And the inner meaning of this episode is that, the Lord supports the mind intellect of His spiritual aspirant just like He supported the Mandara Mountain while he or she is churning his own heart in devotion. When mind and heart is churned, the Lord supports us and how does this churning happens? Through Shravanam and Mananam , the study and reflection. And then in the end comes out Amrutha or the nectar of immortality. The other instance about the Lord carrying the mountain is the famous episode of the Lord bearing the Govardhana Mountain. The residents of Gokul, Brindavan used to worship Lord Indra, the rain God. In one occasion as the story goes, Little Krishna persuaded Nanda to stop the usual puja for Indra and instead worship the Govardhana hill. Indra was stung by this neglect and he poured terrible rains on the village. Krishna held the Govardhana aloft on his little finger and he invited the entire village to take shelter under his protection. He did this for 7 long days. So the Lord bearing the mountain, is symbolic of his lifting the burdens of our lives. That is if only we listen and surrender to Him. If only, we obey Him. So here we adore the Lord who is the Lord of Mathura, the one who rules our heart and consciousness, and the one who protects us from hurdles however mighty like a mountain they may be. The Lord who is always there for His devotees.