How to take our Innocent Mistakes in serving Krishna?
A woman devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Thank you for your wonderful services. I am facing a lot of obstacles in the path of Bhakti like if I plan to visit temple, someone might fall sick at home or some other work comes up . I am making jewellery and garland for the deities in the temple. But the jewellery breaks down, they will give it back to me and I will fix and then they offer it to the Lord. Flower garland might be too big for deities so they will not be able to offer like this. This is repeatedly happening .It makes me very much depressed. Lot of times has cried a lot because of this which makes me think I am so sinful that’s why, my services are not being accepted. What is the reason for this? I couldn’t understand. How to remain positive during these failures? Please don’t reveal my name if you are posting it. Thank you very much Hare Krishna. Dandavat Pranam.”
REPLY:
Oh, How innocent you are!
You made some innocent mistakes in your services. So, the temple could not accept your service.
That’s all. These are just small obstacles on the path of devotional service.
You are fearing as if it is a barrier for your devotion.
(Ten Offenses to Holy Dham OR Dham Aparatha OR Holy Dham Etiquette! READ HERE!)
But, these incidents are just natural and small mistakes on your side.
For example, when you make a jewellery, you should make it in right size and with right strength.
Since your construction of the jewellery was weak, it broke down.
Your making of garlands was not in the perfect size and hence they returned it to you back.
In both these cases, they did not discourage your devotion and love for Krishna.
They just were unable to use the products you made for Krishna.
You have to learn a lesson from this. You should be more careful in making the ornaments for Krishna.
From the next time onwards, make the ornaments after knowing the exact size and circumference of the deities.
(Encouraging Tips for Chanting without Offenses! READ HERE!)
If you enquire the temple Pujari, he will tell the size of the deities. Then you can make the ornaments in the perfect size.
See, the past mistakes in making the jewellery and mala was not at all an offence or violation.
It is just an error.
It will not be seriously noted by Krishna.
Why?
Sometimes, the matajis or prabhus who are cooking for the deities may add more or less salt or chilly.
Will it be considered as an offence?
No. It is just an innocent mistake.
Srimad Bhagavatham says that the literatures explaining the glories of the Lord Krishna should be accepted though they contain some defects.
(Offenses to Be Avoided by devotees – PART-1 (From vedic literature!) READ HERE!)
Once Vidhura and Krishna were discussing.
Vidhura wanted to offer banana to Krishna.
But seeing the charming face of Krishna, he lost himself in ecstacy and became mesmerized.
So, he stripped the skin/ peel from every banana and gave to Krishna one by one.
He gave the peel/ skin to Krishna, throwing the banana fruits aside.
Krishna too was accepting the skins/ peels of banana given by Vidhura and was eating with smile.
He did not refuse to accept the peel/ skin.
Thus, Krishna sees only the love with which we serve Him.
He does not note our innocent mistakes in our service.
Because Krishna knows that Vidhura did not give the peels of banana willingly, but out of his ecstacy.
(Offenses to Be Avoided by devotees – PART-2 (From Varaha Purana)! READ HERE!)
Sometimes, the devotees might have added little more salt. When they offer food to Krishna, they may not know that.
But, when they honour that prasadam, they would find out that they had added more salt.
On such days, they can just go to the Picture of Krishna and tell Him in mild voice:
“Kanha! I am so sorry, today, I had added right quantity of salt, but, it seems slightly salty. Please forgive me. Please bear it because mistakes happen sometimes.”
They may pray like this because He is the Only Companion for us and hence we share sweet understanding with Krishna.
So, the message is: Krishna will never care our Innocent Mistakes in serving Krishna.
And we will never be punished for our Innocent Mistakes in serving Krishna.
So, just do correctly next time. Don’t worry for your Innocent Mistakes in serving Krishna.
Simple. Finished.
(Repenting For Vaishnava Aparatha (Offense) Properly! A Case Study! READ HERE!)