Why rich looking Krishna wants us to desert everything?
A devotee asked like this:
“i want to ask you one thing, as we listen nd read in Krishna lilas Krishna like to wear beautiful dresses and kalakriti on his hands and eyebrows and shri Radha also make herself more beautiful just for Krishna and gopis too try then cant we try to look beautiful for Krishna..it can also come under the service of Krishna. I hv read ur advice where u mention dat it ll disturb our devotional practices bt if we like to wear nd do makeup to please Krishna then i hope it ll not an issue. I like simplicity bt i come to know that lady devotee should not cut her hair and never grow her nails is it right? Its very confusing specialy for a hindu indian lady dat what should be their living style and wearing style.
Why krishna appears rich, bt we hv to live simple life?”
REPLY:
Firstly, It is not true that Krishna wants us to desert everything, i.e, the material things. He just wants us to desert the attachments with those materials. If you use them selflessly for the service of Krishna, you need not desert the materials.
Gopis dressed attractively as they were trying to get Krishna as their lover as Krishna had come to them in person. Already they had done many penances and sacrifice in their previous births and hence they got Krishna in person and danced with Him in person.
(How to deal with the Material Attachment, Detachment & Devotee Association? READ HERE!)
Why Krishna expects us to desert the attachments?
If you like to travel overseas, you need to compulsorily get the visa and follow the stipulated rules of the visiting country.
If you have no idea to travel overseas, you need not get the visa and need not bother about it.
Similarly, Only if you like to go back to Krishna and enjoy the eternal life there, Krishna puts such conditions.
If you want to rule the material world, Krishna never expects anything from u.
Krishna expects you to desert the material attachments and complete surrender unto Him as a condition ONLY IF you like to go to His kingdom.
(If everyone follows detachment, How the Population will grow on earth? READ HERE!)
He does not need to get anything from you because He is the source for everything.
Krishna is the owner of all we see and have.
So, as a show of gratitude for Krishna who has given everything to us, we offer rich offerings and dressings back to Krishna.
It is done out of love for Krishna.
Only GIVING is LOVE. Not Getting. Isn’t it?
If you love a person, you should GIVE HIM and SHOULD NOT WISH TO GAIN ANYTHING FROM HIM EXCEPT HIS LOVE BACK.
(Being a depression patient, how to detach from family to be a devotee of Krishna? READ HERE!)
Similarly, you should GIVE KRISHNA whatever you can and you need not wish to gain anything from Him except His love back.
GIVING means, even simple offerings.
If a husband buys jasmine for just Rs.10 or 20 and gift his wife, she feels so happy like getting this entire world.
Why?
Because she is excited to know that her husband loves her that has reflected in gifting this simple Jasmine.
Similarly, In temples, they dress Krishna to appear as rich as possible to show their love..
Same practice can not be followed in home to the same level. So, Dress Him as much as possible for you without straining yourself much.
Krishna will be satisfied IF YOU OFFER EVEN SIMPLE OFFERINGS WITH “RICH” LOVE.
(How Detachment for wives possible as she has to develop a family? READ HERE!)
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 9-26:
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
Love should be rich, no need for rich materials.
A true devotee will sacrifice his comforts for Krishna. This is called renouncement. Krishna wants that renouncement.
So, you need to be as simple as possible.
Therefore, if you like to get Krishna and eternally lead the richest life with Him, you should desert now.
If you do not want Krishna, enjoy the life as you wish and face the reactions.
Hope you are now clear about why rich looking Krishna wants us to desert everything.
(Why should the devotees be Simple and Pure in their daily life? READ HERE!)