Message of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji about Krishna Pushkaram – August 13, 2016 – ETV Datta Mata
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Last year we worshipped River Godavari. This year with full devotion and piety we are worshipping River Krishnaveni during these Pushkaram. The word ‘nāra’ means water. He who lives in water is called Nārāyaṇa. Therefore water is considered very pure and sacred. We should ensure its protection. Entire living beings depend upon water for sustenance. Water is the basic cause behind the prosperity of every great empire and settlement.
During the holy period of Pushkara, this water should be worshipped. There is a very famous story connected to Pushkara. Seeking the well-being of the world, Tundila Maharishi sought the blessings of Lord Shiva and took on the form of water. He became Pushkara. Pushkara means ‘he who renders purity’. It also means ‘he who blesses with nourishment (pushti)’.
Lord Brahma realized this and with Shiva’s blessings retained Pushkara within his water pot (kamandalu). Brihaspati, the Guru of the Devatas came to know about this. Seeking well-being of the world, he prayed to Brahma to bless him with Pushkara. However Pushkara was unwilling to leave Brahma. Lord Brahma then came up with a plan.
He said to Brihaspati, “O teacher, when you enter into Mesha (Aries) and other Zodiac signs, together with Pushkara and all other deities, I will enter into the river connected to that particular Zodiac sign and remain there for a period of 12 days”.
According to this arrangement, when Brihaspati (Jupiter) enters into the Zodiac Virgo (Kanya rāshi), Lord Brahma, Pushkara and all other deities reside in River Krishnaveni. Currently River Krishna’s pushkara is going on.
Namami sukrutha sreni tarangineemYadveekshanam koti janmakruta dhushkarma shikshanam – Krishna is a very holy river. Simply by having the darshan of that river, sins of millions of births get destroyed. Therefore O Mother, I offer obeisance to you.
River Krishna originates in Sahyadri hills which are very dear to Lord Datta. She was born due to the merger of Vishnu and Shiva (Hari-Hara). Let us recollect the story of her birth.
Long ago Lord Brahma wanted to perform a Yagna in the Sahyadri hills. Vishnu, Shiva and all other deities arrived there for the Yagna. However Mother Goddess Saraswati, wife of Brahma, was not present. Vishnu and other Gods suggested to Brahma that he should begin the yagna with the help of his other wife Gayatri Devi. Agreeing to this, Brahma began the Yagna.
Just then Saraswati arrived there. She was furious. She cursed that all the Devatas should be born as rivers. As a result of this curse Vishnu transformed into River Krishna while Shiva transformed into River Veni. Brahma became the Kakurbati river. They merged in Sahyadri hills and flowed from there.
In the Sahyadri hills, Vishnu resides as the Ashwattha tree. From the roots of that tree, Krishna originated. In that mountain area, Shiva is in the form of a gooseberry tree. From the roots of that tree, River Veni originated. The two rivers merged to form River Krishnaveni. In the Puranas there are many stories pertaining to the birth of this River Krishnaveni.
River Krishna and Lord Datta have an inseparable connection. The moment the name ‘Sripada Srivallabha Swami’ is uttered all our sins are destroyed. Such Sripada Srivallabha Swami used to wander on the banks of River Krishna. In Kurupuram island, which is located in this river, he has consecrated himself.
Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swamy’s temple is located in Ganagapur, which is on the confluence of Rivers Bhima and Amaraja, both of which are tributaries of River Krishna. In Narasobwadi, another place connected to Narasimha Saraswati Swamy, River Krishna flows. This is yet another speciality.
Vasudevananda Saraswati Swamy, who propagated Datta worship, has extolled river Krishna in the Srikrishna Lahari stotram. During the last Pushkara i.e. 12 years back, Swamiji has praised Krishna and described her birth in the bhajan – Pushkarāla krishnaveni pongirāvamma. In Srisailam, near the Patala-ganga spot, we had the darshan of Lord Datta.
During these 12 sacred days, worship River Krishna as per the traditions. Wash away your sins and accumulate merit (punya). River Ganga is born from the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu and showers liberation. However River Krishna is nothing but the body of Lord Vishnu. Her divinity and glory is beyond our understanding.
Bathing in River Krishna will benefit 21 generations of both your maternal and paternal fore-fathers. Engage in charitable deeds during this period. I pray that River Krishna blesses all the farmers in all the states through which it flows.