By : Richard Gauthier PhD, Santa Rosa, California, USA
In his book Discourses on the Mahábhárata, late Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar, a spiritual teacher and social philosopher, clarifies the role of Lord Krśńaas both the real author of the Mahábhárata War and as a physical embodiment of theCosmic Nucleus and creator of the universe. The Cosmic Nucleushas played the roles of different divine personalities in the drama of the universe,which is actually a thought process within the Cosmic Mind. One was the role of Lord Shiva about 7000 years ago. A second was the role of Lord Krśńa about 3500 years ago. Both were embodiments of Divine force at the time of their birth. Each played a vital role in the spiritual and social development of human society in different historical periods. We can learn much from ShriiShriiAnandamurti’s clarification of the roles that the Cosmic Nucleus has played in human history. Two chapters that focus on these topics are presented here.
Lord Krśńa, the Author of the Mahábhárata War
The Mahábhárata war was not a spontaneous one, rather this great event was planned out by Lord Krśńa Himself. What is mere mental imagination for ParamaPuruśa seems to be real to human beings. Lord Krśńa is the central figure of the Mahábhárata. He got His work done through different characters as per His own choice. He was God Himself in human form.
Lord Krśńa was considered to be the Nucleus of the Cosmic Circle. By dint of sádhaná, ordinary mortals can realize this Cosmic Nucleus. ParamaPuruśa as Mahásambhúti in human form can work as the Nucleus of this universe. The poet Rabindranath described this Cosmic Nucleus as “jiivanadevatá” in his poetry.
Lord Krśńa selected a role for Himself also. ParamaPuruśa, the Creator of this universe, planned the Mahábhárata in such a way that human beings might get inspiration to make further progress in all walks of life. He helped eliminate the weaknesses and vices of the society, and infused new vitality and strength into the social structure. He infused spiritual power into Arjuna and removed his psychic confusion. When He was in his mother’s womb, His mother Devakii was physically much weaker than before, yet Devakii and His father Vasudeva didn’t submit to pressure from Kamsa. He provided strength and inspiration to the gate-keepers and king Nanda. He exerted pressure on the mind of Duryodhana, and on the minds of Sudama and the other gopas of Vrndavan.
The gopas of Vrindavana dearly loved Him, no doubt, but they didn’t accept Him as the Nucleus of the Cycle of Creation, as no other than PuruśottamaKrśńa Himself. That’s why, on the eve of His departure from Vrndavan, they lay down before the wheels of His chariot. They wanted Him to give His word that He would again return to Vrindavana. Krśńa did not give them His word, but instead He said, “My body may not be in Vrindavana, but my mind will always remain here.”
Lord Krśńa has no role in the first and last parts of the Mahábhárata. We see Him again and again only in the middle of the Mahábhárata. He Himself created circumstances in such a way that the people of the world gave Him a tremendous ovation during His lifetime, and made a proper evaluation of His personality after His death. He had only one purpose behind infusing strength in His supporters and striking at His opponents – to create a congenial environment for the Mahábhárata.
Jarasandha, the powerful king of Magadha, had two daughters, Asti and Prapti. Both of them were married to Kansa, the tyrannical king of Mathura. King Jarasandha had been killing kings and vassals in the name of tantra sádhaná. This demoniacal practice created an atmosphere of savagery. So it became imperative to eliminate Jarasandha from the earth.
In those days it was by no means easy to do two noble things: (1) To make the people understand the need to create Mahábhárata (a great and unified India) based on dharma, and (2) To infuse requisite strength and vigour in His supporters and strike at His opponents, in order to create the Mahábhárata. Lord Krśńa wanted to establish dharmarájya, wherein members of society would get ample scope to discharge their social obligations. In those days it was not at all easy for Lord Krśńa to introduce the sadviprasamaj.
Sadvipras are those who are deeply spiritual, who love human beings above anything else, and who are absolutely selfless. The power of administration must not be entrusted to those people who are selfish and who have no love for humanity. The power of Government must be left to those who are genuine servants of mankind.
Lord Krśńa, the Nucleus of the Universe
As has already been said, the events of the Mahábhárata, as designed by Lord Krśńa, were real, or seemed to be real historical facts to the masses. This entire quinquelemental universe is just the mental imagination of ParamaPuruśa, a macro-psychic conation. All the characters and events in the Mahábhárata were the products of the Cosmic imagination, but for humans they are as good as real. Lord Krśńa selected one specific role for Himself to play.
It is not proper to treat ParamaPuruśa as a representative of a particular age. He remains in His individual and collective pervasive association, in all countries, in all ages, in all microcosms. He is the life-force of the entire universe.
This expressed universe, though vast (vishála) is not infinite (virát́a). Though theoretically this universe is within the scope of measurement, in reality it’s not easy to measure it. In the case of virata, measurement is possible neither theoretically nor practically. As this expressed universe is bound by the bondages of the static principle, it has its limitations. In other spheres, the sentient and mutative principles are active, but the static is inactive. All these principles have their expressions, and that expression takes the form of bondage or limitations.
Though this universe of ours has emanated from Nirguńa Brahma, and is dominated by the static principle of Prakrti, still it has a Nucleus of its own. This universal Nucleus, this universal nave, this universal hub, is not dependent on any other entity. It is no other than ParamaPuruśa, or PuruśottamaShriiKrśńa Himself, Who expresses Himself both internally and externally.
Now in His own creation He has kept a special role for Himself. Such a personality is known as “Mahásambhúti.” Lord Shiva was one such personality; Lord Krśńa was another such personality. He is beyond the scope of relativity, beyond the barriers of time, space and person. He has His sub-centers (upakendra) in each and every microcosm. During His advent as Mahásambhúti, these sub-centers also start working in full swing. He always controls the sub-centers whether He is in Mahásambhuti or not.
Lord Krśńa was in possession of occult powers from His childhood on. Some persons attain divinity by dint of prolonged sadhana, for instance Buddha and many others like him. But Lord Krśńa was an embodiment of Divine force from the time of His very birth. So He had no spiritual teacher as such. He Himself was the original Preceptor. Lord Shiva, Lord Krśńa were expressions of the same entity, but there was a time difference of 3500 years. Both of them were Mahásambhúti, and the sub-centers were jiivátmas, or unit consciousnesses which remained attached to living human bodies.
The personal relationship between ParamaPuruśa and a unit, individual is termed “ota-yoga,” and His pervasive association with the collectivity is termed “prota-yoga.” Lord Krśńa in human form – the historical Krśńa – Himself was such a sub-center.
ParamaPuruśa is the Absolute or Supreme Controller of all human actions. Each and every entity of this created world is attracted towards other entities. Attraction is a natural law. Repulsion is negative attraction.
One who feels attracted towards subtle objects will not feel any attraction towards crude objects. Human beings as a rule feel much attraction towards Lord Krśńa, for He is the final repository of supreme bliss. His irresistible attraction makes people almost mad. That’s why He is called Krśńa, that is, one who attracts others towards himself. “Krśńa” has another meaning – one on whom depends others’ existence (“He exists, therefore I exist”). Human intellect is His gift. The human mind is a gift from Him. Even the very limbs of the human body are gifts from Him. Once the mind is separated from the human body, the latter starts decomposing right away. Even the tiny protozoic cells act as sub-centers around the main center, and the very existence of all these cells is absolutely dependent on Krśńa.
