Sri Krishna Lila

Mataji Vanamali

Never before has the complete life of Krishna been told in a way that is so engaging and understandable, yet so faithful to the ancient epics of India. Spiritual seekers of all traditions will find inspiration and revitalized faith in these pages. Sri Krishna Lila describes the extraordinary manifestation of the Eternal in the realm of time that occurred in Krishna, the playful and enchantingly beautiful Deity who embodies the highest truths of India's spiritual wisdom. While the usual Western image of God as father or monarch is represented in this story, readers will also find here much more -- a refreshing and powerful picture of God as child, playmate, lover, friend, and teacher. They will discover how India conceived the most intimate and joyous experience of God, using the seductive metaphor of the Divine Beloved. What is evoked here is not a religion of moral law and stern obligation, but a spirituality of joy and true desire, love and beauty, contemplation and inner awakening. This life of Krishna expands our concept of divinity and raises our thoughts to a higher spiritual plane. What does it mean to conceive of God as warrior and king? What does it mean to relate to the Infinite as friend or husband? Such experiences are vividly portrayed in these pages. We are uplifted as we contemplate the unlimited joy of the Eternal, appearing to us in a form combining beauty, strength, and irrepressible playfulness. Just as the music from Krishna's heavenly flute is irresistibly attractive, so this book will entrance its readers. In this podcast Mataji Vanamali reads book 1, Bala Lila, of the three books of Sri Krishna Lila, and the first 10 of 33 chapters. VisitVanamali Book and Music Store to purchase Sri Krishna Lila and Mataji’s other illuminating books.

Episodes

  1. 07/05/2009

    Sri Krishna Lila 10

    Chapter 10. The Lord of Vraja. “It's what Krishna taught, what he represents, that matters, not whether these beautiful lessons came from a real man who lived long ago in the past, a man whose life story has become mostly the work of myth, or someone who is entirely a fictitious creation. Vishnu decided to take on this avatar for the same reason he always decides to take on a human (or earlier, animal) avatar-not to try to save the world and to redeem humanity from sinning, but to help people, to teach them, to be a hero when a very horrible time is upon the world and they need someone to get rid of that evil (in this instance, Krishna's evil uncle Kamsa, and in the incarnation just prior to Krishna, the horrible demon king Ravana). I find it really beautiful, touching, and true what Krishna says to his dear friend Arjuna during the course of the sermon which has come to be known as the Bhagavad Gita. He, Krishna, Vishnu, has many names and forms to many different people; one need not be a Hindu to properly worship him or to find enlightenment. However one sees the Divine, be it Krishna, Jesus, the Tao, Great Spirit, the Goddess, the traditional Western view of God, kanji, local spirits, a special rock, even the broader realms of Nature or Science, is how he will come to that person, and in that guise he is being worshipped. Krishna acknowledges that there are many paths to him, none of them incorrect if approached with a pure and devout heart. If only more people would care to learn this beautiful ancient story, there might be less religious intolerance and bigotry in the world and more love and understanding. If God can understand that all of these different religions ultimately lead up to the same Divinity, then why can't ordinary human beings?” The many faces of the Divine, April 25, 2004, Anyechka (Rensselaer, NY United States)

    28 min
  2. 07/04/2009

    Sri Krishna Lila 8

    Sri Krishna Lila 8. Krishna Lifts The Mountain... Vanamali Mataji Sings her original love poems... ENGINE VARUM NEE O Beloved Vanamali! How will you come to me? Will you come on a raft or on a cloud or in the chariot of my mind? How should I welcome the King of kings? What can I offer the God of gods? I have only my tears, caught in the cup of my heart In the bridal hall of life, I have wandered far and wide Holding the wedding garland in my hand, Searching for a suitable groom, Many births have I taken and many times died, Countless are the garbs I have donned. Searching desperately for my lover. But never did I find the perfect person. (Uttama Purusha) O Help of the Helpless!, Sole support of the abandoned! Wilt thou not accept my wedding garland? Wilt thou not wed this jeevatma (embodied soul) And place the garland round her neck.? O beloved Vanamali! How will you come to me? ENGINE VARUM NEE (Raga—Charukesi) Engine varum nee, priya Vanamali, Odathilo, carmekhathilo, Athava en manorathathilo. Vanamali….Vanamali….. Athava en manorathathilo. Rajathirajane engine sweekarikkum, Devathidevane entu jaan kazhchavekkum Kannunir maatram hridaya thalikayil. Vanamali…Vanamali, Kannunir maatram hridaya thalikayil Jeevithamayoru swayamvara pandalil, Varane thedi jaan vanamala kai pidichum, Palavattam janichum, palavattam marichum, Pala vesham dharichum thiranju nadannu jaan, Uttama purushane kandethiyilla jaan,. Uttama purushane kandethiyilla jaan, Vanamali…Vanamali, Uttama purushane kandethiyilla jaan, Aashritha valsala, anaatha rakshaka, Ivalude vanamala sweekarikille nee, Jeevatmavine swayamvarikille nee, Vanamali…Vanamali, Ee jeevatmavine swayavarikille nee. Vanamali…Vanamali Engine varum nee?

    20 min
  3. 07/04/2009

    Sri Krishna Lila 4

    Sri Krishna Lila Chapter 4. The Butter Thief... Vanamali Mataji sings her original love poem... VARUMO THOZHI VARUMO (Raga – Bhim Plas) O Friend! Will my beloved ever come? Will the lotus-eyed one come? Will he come in the chariot of my heart? I will garland him with a Vanamala made of Tulasi, jasmine and white flowers. I will garland my love with a Vanamala (garland of wild flowers). O beautiful dark Kanna (Krishna) Will thou not come to me in the form of my beloved Vanamali? I will prepare a sweet of milk and bananas, And grape juice mixed with honey, I will scatter lotus buds on his path, And sprinkle sandalwood oil. O Friend! Will my Vanamali ever come? I have waited so long that my legs are giving way, I have gazed for such a long time that my eyes are brimming with tears. The oil in the evening lamp is coming to an end, The flowers in the Vanamala (garland) are fading and falling. O friend! Will my Vanamali ever come to me? Varumo thozhi varumo prema swaroopan varumo, Thamara kannan varumo, en manorathathil varumo, Varumo…. Tulasi kunda mandaram cherthu, vanamala jaan charthum thozhi, Kannanu vanamala charthum, Sundara shyamala kanna nee ente vanamali roopathil varumo, Varumo… Panchamritavum paalum, mundiri charum thenum, Thamara mottukal vitharum vazhiyil, Chandana tailavum thalikkum Varumo… Kaathu katthente kaalukal thalarnu, Nokki nokki ente kannukal niranju, Sandhya deepathil enna kazhinju Vanamala poovukal vadi kozhinju Varumo…

    27 min
4.8
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Never before has the complete life of Krishna been told in a way that is so engaging and understandable, yet so faithful to the ancient epics of India. Spiritual seekers of all traditions will find inspiration and revitalized faith in these pages. Sri Krishna Lila describes the extraordinary manifestation of the Eternal in the realm of time that occurred in Krishna, the playful and enchantingly beautiful Deity who embodies the highest truths of India's spiritual wisdom. While the usual Western image of God as father or monarch is represented in this story, readers will also find here much more -- a refreshing and powerful picture of God as child, playmate, lover, friend, and teacher. They will discover how India conceived the most intimate and joyous experience of God, using the seductive metaphor of the Divine Beloved. What is evoked here is not a religion of moral law and stern obligation, but a spirituality of joy and true desire, love and beauty, contemplation and inner awakening. This life of Krishna expands our concept of divinity and raises our thoughts to a higher spiritual plane. What does it mean to conceive of God as warrior and king? What does it mean to relate to the Infinite as friend or husband? Such experiences are vividly portrayed in these pages. We are uplifted as we contemplate the unlimited joy of the Eternal, appearing to us in a form combining beauty, strength, and irrepressible playfulness. Just as the music from Krishna's heavenly flute is irresistibly attractive, so this book will entrance its readers. In this podcast Mataji Vanamali reads book 1, Bala Lila, of the three books of Sri Krishna Lila, and the first 10 of 33 chapters. VisitVanamali Book and Music Store to purchase Sri Krishna Lila and Mataji’s other illuminating books.