Bhagavan Krishna - 1

KRISHNA is a bit difficult to tell about. What is held to be his old capital Dwarka was found under water in the early 1980s. The capital has plenty in common with the Troy of the Iliad by Homer; it was supposed to belong to tales of old only before someone found it.
      There is also a many-sided artistic "Krishna production" in the world. We look into it, for there may be very good lessons involved in old tales and other sorts of ancient lore that matter to many people, just as in fables of Aesop.
      Finally, this page may seem too iconoclastic to believers who "lose" themselves in portraits of art and the like, and likable to many others that search for maturing evidence and bits of some foundation. - TK, editor

Contents

1. Krishna Introduction
2. A Krishna Delight: Living as a Pig
3. On What Life Is and Puranic Metaphors about It T
4. Hyper-Deceptive Vishnu
5. Avatar Stuff
6. Krishna Puzzles
7. Counter-Demagoguery

Krishna introduction

Out of many thousands of men hardly one endeavours for the perfection of self-realization, and of those so endeavouring hardly one has achieved the perfection of self-realization and of those hardly one knows me in truth. - Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita 7:3

1. HISTORICAL: Only a couple of ancient Sanskrit Upanishad lines tell of what could be a historical Krisna. Then there is the epic poem Mahabharata and its tales of Krishna and others. Till recently there was no evidence that it was particularly interesting as a reference to former Indian habitations, but that view was most likely wrong: Submarine excavations found the ancient port of Dwarka in 1980, and the town plan was as described in the ancient epic poem Mahabharata, when it was built as Krishna's capital.
         Dwarka thus appears to have quite a lot in common with the Troy of the Iliad by Homer. In the early 1800s nobody thought that the Iliad's descriptions of Troy were genuine. But then a German, Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890) set out in 1870 to find his Troy where Homer said it had been, and several levels were found. In 1993 it was discovered that Schliemann had dug too deep, though, but in the right place.
         Remains of a well-fortified township claimed to be Krishna's capital Dwarka (also called Kathiawad and Dwaraka) as told of in the Mahabharata were found in 1981 under water on the coast of Gujarat in western India. Some think these findings along with the epic descriptions are valid proof that Krishna existed. The findings are of immense cultural and religious importance to India. The archeological evidence of the site is also found compatible with the Mahabharata tradition when it comes to dating. [Links: A, B, C, and D.]
         Much that is otherwise handed over about Sri Krishna reflects a many-sided artistic production over time. These are great facts, and perhaps related to "Art breeds worship far and wide."
2. OUTPUT-WISE: There is reason to assume that sayings inside the poem Bhagavad Gita - maybe not all of them - are put in his mouth through centuries of formation or gestation. More here: [LINK]
3. SYMBOLIC: Then there is a symbolic Krishna, a figure that yogis put meanings into through interpreting symbolic features and gestations related to the Bhagavan (person-god).
4. POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS: In the Bible there are many stern "no's" to worship of idols (pieces of man-made art) and foreign gods. In that light it is more than a mistake to worship as foreign god. Question: How foreign is Krishna, then?
5. BESIDES, TALES AND ART: One may take shreds of meat out of the tiger's mouth, and one may take mind-forming stories of Krishna and use them for neat ends and lots of other ends too. Yet a fact remains: There can be good lessons involved in many old tales, as in fables of Aesop, and even historical "remains".

We bring essentialism.

A Krishna delight: living as a pig

The tale below has been retold by Daya Mata among others. She is president of Self-Realization Fellowship, its international headquarters is in Los Angeles.

Krishna as a Pig

Comments: "Here comes the deep avatar lesson"

Reading about Krishna, who is thought to be a descent (incarnation) of god Vishnu, the trident of common sense right through an old "animal body" of fiction literature matters. Neither helter-skelter proselytising nor laissez-faire is good enough in this terrain. There can be much at stake in the minds of boys and girls.
      Note how the avatar interfered with the mother sow's well-being and thriving and blotted her out. His well-being as a pig must have been extreme . . .

On what life is and Puranic metaphors about it

1    "Boxes within boxes" have to be linked to thoughts of gods and goddesses that are much brutal, inside Hindu artistry

2    Let eminent men assess and serve you by that. Otherwise you could waste terribly much time, effort and opportunity

3    Stories that speak to man deep inside or otherwise keep people's attention, may form lore and not only that: religion.

Gods may come in pairs to be made airy kings -
That's how many are in Guruland. You can do better.

It's no real asset to stand up as an airy king if none listens. Such stories form part of the foundation of today's Hindu religion.
Then you have to tell much better.

Hyper-deceptive Vishnu

• Vishnu has four distinctive weapons, one in each of his four hands: mace, conch, lotus and a discus. The latter can be interpreted as a horoscope. I do.
• His heaven, or residing level (area), floats in the sky above the seven heavens deep inside.
• His body figure has certain marks of identity, including a whorl of hair on the chest.
• He glides on a giant vulture - the vessel represents his animal passion - such power or prowess in general. The vast bird can be cosmos - it's called Garuda. Most often it's a vulture, but Dimmitt and van Buitenen let it be an eagle. I don't mind. He rides through space. The giant cosmos does that. Vishnu is also (a) "endless" and (b) "remainder". These are difficult concepts.

He can remain, coiled up, in the ocean of milk inside somewhere. That's what they say, and Dimmitt and van Buitenen recounts it fairly well. ¤61. His mate is Lakshmi, also called Sri - it stands for prosperity, which can be fair. Let me assume the spouse in general represents the god's organic livelihood. This female prowess is pretty, loves to rest on Vishnu's chest, and stands for low-levelled bliss, I guess.
      The most constructive view of our box Vishnu lies in this: Each one of us can have him inside, near our inmost being. If he's understood as a symbolic item, it's not too hard. Nothing is too hard for the true follower of Christ who recalls very well:

All is possible with God - or one who believes. You're gods. Who believes in Christ, shall do even greater works [than marrying avatars]. ¤- See Mark 9:23, 10:27; John 10:34; 14:12. (#2.5)

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Avatar stuff

AVATAR stuff may be built on top of both our good, bearlike sayings (they can be marked GB expressions or similar, so candid and frisk are they) and Daya Mata’s wisdom in the book Only Love [On]. It's mostly a book of religious platitudes. She's at present president of the league we camouflage as Bramble Farm to sound nice enough, ever more all-inclusive for the time being.
      As for Lahiri Baba, after he had been helped 'senseless' in one way or other and without beer - he declared "I'm Krishna" - and Krishna in the Gita says such as "I'm the fable moster Makara - and death - and fraud (etc.)".
      We let Max Sacre inform about many issues. It must be better than much that comes out of the body of wirgins from the Salt Lake basin. Our man talks with warmth of wild trolls in the bushes, hopeless misfits under monsters and their mirth. He delves into how to get out of smart fish-traps before things get all hopeless, a one-way street of broken hopes. He may seem to be a poet, or an artist. Who knows? (#3.1)

Haze

There once was a little boy who lost his father, and later got more than a bit bragging and boasting. Over-compensating to his loss.
Krishna was a dark-skinned changelling who grew up bereaved of his biological mom and dad. Those who align themselves with Krishna may have got too little esteem earlier.
      We have now entered a haze. It could be that guys who identify with Hare Krishna need some sort of rehabilitation. There is a chance they internally oppose homestead and their parents' upbringing. There is a chance they need to freak out after basic inner needs and dearness where poorly taken care of.

• Put an old cat to an old rat (Proverb).

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Krishna puzzles

You may wonder how Krishna should be introduced among "average Christians", and why and when and what Krishna too, perhaps.

There is something to learn here from the American Self-Realization Fellowship and their doings. A little survey of how Krishna attained a prominent place among many Western followers with an altar picture to be addressed is forthcoming.

Monkey wisdom: "Hear no lies, see no lies, talk no lies"

No old altar picture monkeys -

TODAY Krishna is presented as one of the gurus of Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) of America, with its Indian sister organisation, Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS).
      We were puzzled to see that Hare Krishna was not among the altar picture gurus of SRF in old SRF magazines from the fifties and a bit further. We understood his picture had been included somewhere in the 1960s, many years after the guru-founder's death in 1952.
      We suspected tactical reasons were behind the main scheme: (1) Either Yogananda had told future SRF leaders that a Krishna picture was to be included some time after his death, when times were less intolerant; or (2) SRF leaders did it much of their own choice, and for other reasons.
      Whatever the reason(s) might be, there was something fishy about it, as one very naturally thinks that an organization that is founded to spread teachings of Krishna, stands up and represents Krishna duly from the start.
      About six years ago we published a few considerations in the matter on the Internet, and today there is a lot more coverage of topics we went into then; several persons and organisations have raised their voices and substantiated what was only a slight criticism from here. It seems that our critique was quite accurate, as abundant information has surfaced.

Six gurus introduced years after Yogananda's passing

The following consists of highlights of what a newer site explains in the matter:
      In an SRF temple, there are pictures of six masters on the altar, and the added one is Krishna. It is claimed that SRF made this alteration after Yogananda's passing in 1952, in order to forestall possible rejection of Yogananda's mission in India. If Jesus was placed alone at the center, SRF might be considered a Christian work in Yogananda's homeland, India.
      The SRF leader accepted the Indian Binay N. Dubey's judgements in the matter; and she appointed him to head the guru's work in India. Adding Krishna to the altar was done on his insistence, it is held. It seems it took place in the late 1960s.

Some small complications?

Here comes a complication: Yogananda "told us—and Shyama Lahiri said it also—that Babaji, Shyama Lahiri's guru, was himself Krishna in a former incarnation."
      Here is another one: Shyama Lahiri too had stated that he himself was Krishna. ["Internet sayings 94 and 55"]

After all these years: Very faulty reasons given for including one more guru-of-the-line picture

In a letter dated November 1995, SRF explains why an artistic product (iconic) is used to represent Krishna and is added to the altar pictures: At least once Yogananda seemed to endorse it in a temple that slid into the Pacific Ocean shortly afterwards:

"Paramahansaji [Yogananda] knew that to most Westerners, at that time [1939], Lord Krishna was not understood as a God-illumined avatar . . . for a period of time during Paramahansaji's life the image of Krishna was not included on SRF altars . . . it was the Guru's express wish that the Board reinstate Krishna's picture when the time was right."

It is also said that this so-called private guidance was not well known. The question is how fair and unbiased are the presented SRF notions? One of the reasons for growing suspicious, is that SRF appears to refer poorly here, telling that in 1939 Yogananda endorsed an altar picture of Krishna, while what actually took place was somewhat different:

"When our guru built his Golden Lotus Temple in Encinitas in 1939, he placed on the altar likenesses of Krishna, Jesus Christ, and his own gurus. That expressed his intention in this regard," wrote SRF in 1995.

Is that so in a wide enough context as well? Is it fair and fit to put it that way? Or is it one more dubious quasi-justification for some dimmed masquerade that is going on? It is noteworthy that Richard Wright, brother of the current SRF leader, writes in the SRF magazine Inner Culture in December 1937 about the temple that slid into the ocean:

The blue tile altar . . . supports the statutes [sic] of Christ, St. Francis, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Mohammed, Rama, Shankaracharya, and Chaitanya, as well as statutes [sic] of Swami Yogananda's Masters, Babaji, Shyama Lahiri, and Swami Sri Yukteswarji of India [emphasis added]. There will be a special place on the altar reserved in honor of all liberated prophets and saints of God.

Surprised? Have one more indice

If this were the truth, the most representative truth and with nothing else added, shouldn't we expect to find some Krishna icon in use in SRF's twin organization YSS in India at the time? Quote:

Even if Westerners were not ready for Krishna, there would be no such problem in India. Yet even in India, Yogananda did not put Krishna on the altar. In 1935-36, he acquired and dedicated the YSS center at Ranchi. The altar had only five masters and no picture of Krishna. Clearly, Yogananda was defining his work . . . The period of time when Krishna was not on the altar was Yogananda's entire life.

Further, in a list of prayers and invocations that Yogananda used, Krishna is not mentioned. Krishna is invoked in one place, though, in the initiation pledge used by Yogananda in Boston, 1920-1923, during his first three years in America.

"In the presence of God, Jesus Christ, Lord Krishna, your holy preceptors Babaji, Shyama Lahiri, Sriyuketeswar [sic] Giriji, and you my spiritual guide, I promise and take a solemn oath . . ."

Yet, as the SRF counter-information site points out, "Krishna is included, but not as one of "your holy preceptors." That lineage begins with Babaji. It's the same way Richard Wright describes the statues on the altar at the Golden Lotus Temple."
      How did Yogananda want followers to pray? Who did he want on the altar? How was he himself defining his mission? These are good questions. You may also add: Who will you have included next? Lohengrin?

Man should not be robbed of his freedom to judge how trustworthy leader information is.

[Source].

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Counter-demagoguery

Ill often comes on the back of worse. - British proverb.

Demagoguery makes use of false claims and promises in order to gain power. It has been used for thousands of years, presumably to convince common people or cult followers of the purported greatness and supernatural prowess of leaders and enlist support. [Ebu "propaganda"]
      Earlier we chose to mask, cover and "wing-clip" some notorious axioms to go gently - so as not to make wailers of cultish members. Or perhaps to make fun of giants at a long distance. So it seems. I hope you enjoy the war-cries and counter-demagoguery interspersed.

1 E: Genuine help comes often completely contrary to sinister sayings

Life should be fun. Ridicule with "tact" may be fun. ¤Ak
      Learn to inspect and also check how much the infallible-declared Yogananda seems to teach against himself in previous talks, and so on. A pattern has emerged through it. It suggests he slid from a psychological, non-sectarian orientation in his first years into judgementalist or churchist teachings later.
      Training the intellect can be good. Here are some means:

• Argumentum ad hominem is good. It can check intrinsic flaws in premises and deductions, based on principles. This could be great help to puncture too haughty assertions and even cavalcades of great-sounding claims - The Gold Scales brings a selection.
• Yogananda claims to be one hundred per cent in consonance with the true, original Christianity of Jesus Christ - as if it could be detected by not good theologians on top of missing texts not found in the New Testament! ¤See Ak: "Aims and Ideals"
• Yogananda also vouches for the scientific candour - "science" and "scientific" are "good, emotive signals" With him and SRF. However, great-looking words and what they mean (embody) in a actual practice should be inspected to avoid being taken in. Truly "scientific" is not fit for breeding pretences. Hypocrisy could follow next. (Ib.)
• There are other inroads too. But let each settle for his own careful study.

We have shortened and tidied up a lot of the slogans below. Reflect as neutrally and unemotionally as you can, to counteract possible sources of error in your treatment of the material. After all, hearsay-based faith can glitter -
      Can over-all output that gives the genuine monkish teaching, be less than hybrid or irrelevant Christianity where you come from? Look up whether the parts below signify fundamental Christian teaching (that Jesus and his friends taught) where you come from, as well.
      For further existential probing by my given keys, discern who can know what versions may be true if it can be found out first-hand and first-class. If not, maybe things can be ascertained somewhat by secondary matters, such as plain or central Gospel texts.
      If you can't verify or reject this outré teaching, you still have to decide such as "Just what hearsay tale could be the preferable one where you come from?"
      Discerning thoroughly and well in hard teaching matters very often requires more than a gang rattler.

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Adjoined

Notes

[1] Good books by Dr. Eric Berne - eminent psychiatrist of North America - What do you say after you say hello? (Bantam) and "Games people play (Penguin) shouldn't be ignored when browsing other good TA books, such as the eminent Choosing success by Dorothy Jongeward and Philip Sayer. Dr. Berne's outlook most often help, in our opinion.
      [2] Kriyananda (J. Donald Walthers), originator of Ananda Church of Self-Realization and community - In the Greek epic, the Odyssey by Homer, the crew of Odyssey is turned into a herd of swine by "gambit magic" from the hands of Circe in the great work of art by Homer, the Odyssey.
      [3] (a) Rumble-Mumble Goosegg (Cf. the fairy tale "Strong John") is a quite alarming hulk, maybe a halfway titanic Dane or Norwegian - whatever. He loses respect for all authorities, both the king and Old Nick. There is a cosy folk tale about him around. (b) Markandeya is the hero of the Hindu book Markandeya Purana. It's a very old book. He lives very irregularly. The book portrays him as the best, above formalised wrong and right at times. This means, in other words, that to become hung up in given ethics can signify "I'm outsmarted".
      [4 etc.] Why live-out-ridicule the basic command: "Adam and Eve, multiply"? It's often far from the future farm hen's willy-nilly intent to live up to the historical task and truly honour her much too much caged parents in such a basic way.
      [5] I still like Dr. Berne's "lengthened" form of psychoanalysis. Books: Pla; Bnn.
      [6] Shastri, J, main ed: Siva Purana. Vols. 1-4. Banarsidass. India. ...
      [7] Pla. Bnn: Moms and dads. Professional boss. Others. 2-3.
      [8] "Told above": It could be by me, but you don't know, do you?
      [9] See the book The ten cosmic powers. etc.
      [10] Clh.
      [11] Atkinson, Richard et al: Introduction to psychology, 9th ed. Harcourt, Jivanovitch and Brace. P. 467
      [12]

Works Cited

Ak: Yogananda, Pa.: Man's Eternal Quest. SRF. Los Angeles, 1975.
      Ap: Mieder, Wolfgang, main ed.: A Dictionary of American Proverbs. Paperback ed. Oxford University. New York, 1996.
      Coco: Leggett, Trevor: The Complete Commentary by Sankara on the Yoga-Sutras. Kegan Paul. New York, 1990.
      Ded: Marcus, Aage: Den blaa dragen. Gyldendal. Oslo 1965.
      Dq: Cohen, J. M and M. J: The New Penguin Dictionary of Quotations. Rev. Ed. Viking. London 1992.
      Evo: Lindø, Rigmor: Eventyrskolen. Cappelen. Oslo, 1988.
      Gh: Hjortsø, Leo: Graeske guder og helte. 2nd ed. Politiken. Copenhagen, 1984.
      Ma: Pargiter, F. tr: Markandeya Purana. Indiological Book House. Delhi, 1969.
      Met: Ovid: The Metamorphoses. Translated by Mary Innes. Penguin. London, 1955.
      Mmw: Ganguli, K. tr: The Mahabharata, vol. 1-12. 4th ed. Munshiram Manoharlal. New Delhi, 1981.
      Mux: Bühler, G. tr.: The Laws of Manu. Banarsidass (Reprint from Oxford University's 1886-edition). Delhi, 1984.
      On: Mata, Daya: "Only Love". Self-Realization Fellowship. Los Angeles, 1976.
      Pa: Yogananda, Pa.: Autobiography of a Yogi. 11th ed. Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF). Los Angeles, 1971. – ONLINE 1st edition
      Ra: Shastri, Hari tr.: Ramayana of Valmiki, vol. 1-3. Shanti Sadan, London, 1959.
      Sh: Raghunathan, N. tr.: Srimad Bhagavatam, vol. 1-2. Vighneswara. Madras, 1976.
      Si: Shastri, J. ed.: Siva Purana, vol. 1-4. Banarsidass. Delhi, 1969.
      Sl: Prabhavananda, sw. tr.: The Wisdom of God. Capricorn/Putnam. New York, 1968.
      Su: Venkatesananda, sw. tr.: The Supreme Yoga. Yoga Vasistha. 3rd ed. Chiltern Yoga Trust. Freemantle, Australia, 1984.
      Tåg: Woodroffe, Sir John tr.: Tantra of the Great Liberation (Mahanirvana Tantra). Dover. New York, 1972.
      Via: Nikhilananda, sw.: Vivekananda. The Yogas and Other Works. Rev ed. Ramakrishna-Vivekananda. New York, 1953.
      Viom: Jolly, Julius tr.: The Institutes of Vishnu. Banarsidass. Delhi, 1965.
      Vip: Dutt, Manmatha: Vishnupuranam. 2nd ed. Chowkhamba. Varanasi, 1972.
      Wa: Nikhilananda, sw. tr.: The Bhagavad Gita. Ramakrishna-Vivekananda. New York, 1952.
      Wy: Tuxen, Poul tr.: Bhagavadgita. Herrens Ord. Gyldendal. Copenhagen, 1962.
      Xmd: Radhakrishnan, S. ed.: The Cultural Heritage of India, vol. 4. Rev 2nd ed. Ramakrishna Institute. Calcutta, 1956.
      Yolt: Johnston, Clive tr.: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Stuart and Watkins. London, 1968.
      Yv: Venkatesananda, sw. tr.: The Concise Yoga Vasistha. State University of New York. Albany, 1984.

Literature

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