Conversations with Sri Swamiji – 10

The fortunate cows

The recently concluded Vasantotsav in the Ashram was simply out of the world experience. Sri Swamiji performed elaborate pooja in the mornings and the evenings were filled with heartwarming bliss of Kirtans touching on the divine leelas of our Lord Krishna and Radha Rani.

On 29th May, a Friday, Sri Swamiji went to the Go shala (cow shed) to perform the evening Go pooja (Cow worship).

Regular ‘Go-Pooja’ happens every Friday evening in the Mathurapuri Ashram and this day was truly a special Friday for the cows. One could barely catch the glimpse of Sri Swamiji in the thatched housing of Go-shala with the eager devotees blocking the rather narrow entrance of go-shala, in addition to the haziness caused by the holy smoke of ‘ sambarani’ inside the shed.

Sri Swamiji completed the Pooja and walked out of the Go-shala towards Bhagavata Bhavanam. As He passed by, He glanced and asked, ‘In most of the pictures depicting Sri Krishna with cows, we find that a cow behind Him bends its head towards the lotus feet and licks the Lord’s feet. What is its significance?’

Thankfully no answer was forthcoming from the devotees! Sri Swamiji continued His walk and with His warm smile continued, ‘The cow – ‘Go’ symbolises the soul (jiva). Like a cow, a soul (jiva) tends to stray into the green pastures of worldly pleasures of senses (‘vishaya sukham’) and indulge there, forgetting the nectarine feet of Lord Sri Krishna. Only a few fortunate cows stop grazing in the pastures, run towards Krishna and lick His lotus feet, eschewing the ‘worldly grass’.

Likewise only when the mind eschews worldly sense pleasures and surrenders to the divine feet of Krishna, can it relish nectarine ‘rasa’ of His lotus feet. Then the world holds no charm for this fortunate Bhakta! He has attained the true purpose of human life.’

By this time Sri Swamiji was in the portals of our most benevolent Thakurji’s Sannidhi. He disappeared behind the screen of the santum of Thakurji, but the words remained bright and sweet in the mental screen.

Thoughts were racing within. ‘Only by His blessings can we become that fortunate cow!’

The screen opened, revealing the bright Harathi, our Sri Swamji offered to Thakurji and Sri Madhuri Sakhi.