The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
22. Venkatanatha's Childhood Playfulness
Child Venkatanatha was different from other children, and his playful activities were extraordinary. His games, speech, and movements all reflected themes of divinity, philosophy, righteousness, and ethics. Even before he turned three, people who saw him exclaimed in wonder, “Oh, what an exceptional child!” His unique demeanor brought immense joy to his parents. Concerned about the potential for the evil eye to affect their beloved and adored son, they often took precautions to ward it off.
Growing up as the darling of everyone, Venkatanatha became the very breath of life for Gopikamba Devi. She never left him alone, even for a moment. Venkatanatha was the center of her world, and she showered him with unbounded love and care. Similarly, Venkatanatha reciprocated this love. His deep attachment to his mother meant that she had to do everything for him—any other arrangement left him dissatisfied. From waking him up in the morning to putting him to bed at night, Gopamma lovingly attended to his every need.
One night, despite the late hour, Venkatanatha refused to fall asleep. He was being stubborn about something. Gopamma, trying to pacify him, began singing a soothing lullaby about the Lord. As she sang with a tender voice, Venkatanatha opened his eyes, smiled, and called out, “Amma.” Gopamma responded gently, “What is it, my child?”
Venkatanatha: What are you doing, Amma?
Gopamma: I’m singing, my dear.
Ven: Who are you singing the lullaby for, Amma?
Gop: For Narayana.
Ven: Why, Amma?
Gop: So that he can sleep, my child.
Ven: Why does he need to sleep? If he sleeps, who will take care of the world, Amma?
Gop: The Lord’s sleep is not like ours, my dear. His is a yogic sleep.
Ven: If he sleeps in yogic meditation, what benefit do you get?
Gop: Venkanna! When Hari sleeps, he blesses you with sleep as well. That’s why I’m singing, my dear.
Ven: (Smiling) Oh, is that so? Alright. Where is this Narayana?
Gop: He is reclining on Adishesha in the Kshirasagara (Ocean of Milk).
Ven: Where is this Kshirasagara, Amma?
Gop: It is very far away, my child.
Ven: If Narayana is far away in the Kshirasagara, how will he hear you singing here?
Hearing Venkatanatha’s line of reasoning, Gopamma was left speechless and sat silently, amazed.
Ven: Amma, why are you silent? Isn’t Sri Hari here?
Gop: He is here, my dear.
Ven: Is He within you?
Gop: Yes, He is within me, my child.
Ven: Is He within me too?
Gop: Yes, He is within you as well.
Ven: Then why hasn’t He fallen asleep yet? Why hasn’t He given me sleep either?
Gop: (Smiling with mock irritation) Venkanna! You’re becoming quite mischievous these days.
Ven: (Laughing loudly) Like my Golla Krishna?
Gop: My child, Krishna is the Supreme Being. Can you call Him a cowherd?
Ven: Even if He is the Supreme Being, to me, He is my beloved Golla Krishna! Calling Him that makes Him happy, brings Him love, Amma. I have so much affection for Krishna.
Gop: Why, my dear?
Ven: If I were to be honest, I love Narasimha, Rama, Krishna, Vedavyasa, and Narayana. I know from what Appa has said that they are all different forms of the same ultimate form. But for some reason, I feel the most love for Krishna’s form!
Gop: Why, Venkatanatha?
Ven: I don’t know, Amma. Just hearing the name Krishna makes my heart bloom! It fills me with immense joy. Some people call me “Krishna’s madman.” Many others, upon seeing me, say, “Krishnagrahagriheetatma” (He is possessed by Krishna). Maybe it’s true?
Gop: (Amazed) My dear, who said such things about you?
Ven: That’s a long story! Leave it for now; why bring it up now? Amma, sing a lullaby for Krishna. He will give me sleep.
Gopamma: Seeing her son’s immense devotion and unwavering faith in Krishna, Gopamma was amazed and filled with joy. Wanting only for him to fall asleep, she began singing a lullaby:
"Jo Jo Jo Jo Balakrishna, Jojo Malago Muddu Krishna"
(Sleep, dear Krishna, sleep sweetly, darling Krishna!)
Venkatanatha: Amma, not like that. Sing it properly.
Gopamma: (Frustrated) Venkatanatha, you’re so stubborn! At least tell me how I should sing, O great one!
Venkatanatha: Aren’t you singing to help me fall asleep?
Gopamma: Yes, dear.
Venkatanatha: Listen, Amma. Isn’t my beloved Krishna the Supreme Being? Didn’t Appa say that Krishna exists within all living beings in three forms and performs three functions, as described in the scriptures?
Gopamma: (Curiously) I don’t understand what you’re saying. What did he say?
Venkatanatha: Don’t you remember? Appa said that Krishna, the Supreme Being, exists within all living beings as Vishwa, Taijasa, and Prajna, corresponding to the three states of wakefulness, dream, and deep sleep. Have you forgotten?
Gopamma: I don’t recall, dear. What does that have to do with what you’re saying now?
Venkatanatha: Listen, Amma. Krishna, as Vishwa, resides in the right eye of the living being and gives wakefulness. As Taijasa, He resides in the throat and brings the dream state. Similarly, as Prajna, He resides in the heart and grants deep sleep. Since you want me to sleep, you should sing to the Krishna who is called Prajna.
Gopamma: (Amazed by her son’s philosophical understanding) Yes, my dear.
Venkatanatha: Now tell me, who is responsible for sleep?
Gopamma: You just said it—Krishna as Prajna.
Venkatanatha: Is that so? Then tell me, what name should you call Krishna by when singing to grant me sleep?
Gopamma: (Smiling softly) Oh, so your wish is for me to sing a lullaby to Prajna Krishna?
Venkatanatha: (Smiling gently) Yes, Amma. One must understand the purpose of their action and perform it correctly to achieve the desired result!
Gopamma: (Conceding with affection) Alright, dear. I’ll sing just as you said.
Ven: Hmm, sing again.
Gopikamba Devi smiled and sang melodiously:
"O Lord called Prajna! To your tender child,
O Omniscient Krishna, grant sleep! Jojo!"
As his mother sang sweetly, Venkatanatha smiled at her and closed his eyes, falling asleep immediately. Seeing her son’s divine devotion, steadfastness, and profound knowledge, Gopamma felt immense pride. Venkatanatha, through such charming and delightful interactions, would sometimes annoy, love, pacify, or amaze his mother with his playful ways, earning her special affection.
On another day, Venkatanatha was playing in the courtyard with children his age. He was energetically dancing on a toy snake made of cloth, straw, and colors. His friends were clapping and chanting rhymes in rhythm. Hearing the commotion, Gopamma, engrossed in her household chores, stepped outside and asked, “Venkanna, what is this racket?” The boys, upon seeing her, scattered and ran away. But Venkatanatha continued dancing.
Gopamma held his hand and asked, “Child, why are you dancing like this?” Opening his eyes and seeing his mother, Venkatanatha replied, “Oh, Amma, why did you interrupt me while I was practicing Kalinga Mardana (Krishna subduing the serpent)?”
Looking at the toy snake, Gopamma laughed and asked, “Are you Krishna to perform Kalinga Mardana?”
Ven: (Smiling) Truly, I am doing Kalinga Mardana like Krishna.
Gop: (Playfully patting her cheeks) Don’t say such things, my child.
Ven: Why, Amma?
Gop: You yourself said Krishna is God, so isn’t it wrong to say, “I am Krishna,” my dear?
Ven: You didn’t understand what I meant. Am I some illusionist (Mayavadi) to claim that I am Krishna, the Lord Himself?
Gop: Don’t lie! You just said that now!
Ven: (Laughing) Oh Amma, silly Amma! Didn’t I simply say, “I am doing Kalinga Mardana like Krishna”?
Gopamma: Even so, doesn’t the thought that “I and God are the same” arise?
Venkatanatha: No, Amma. Isn’t there a difference between saying, “I am Krishna” and “I am like Krishna”?
Gopamma: How so, my child?
Venkatanatha: Saying, “I am Krishna” (Aham Brahmasmi) means claiming, “I am God,” which is wrong. We can never be God; we are all His servants (Dasoham). But saying, “I am like Krishna” is not wrong. Some aspects of the Jiva resemble Him. Krishna is the original, and we are His reflection—this is a principle approved by the scriptures, as Appa has explained. Saying “I am like Krishna” is not incorrect. Lord Krishna, the Supreme Being, loves His devotees, and it pleases Him when they act and play like Him. That’s why I was imitating His Kalinga Mardana. How can that be wrong?
Gopamma: (Smiling) That’s true. Do you know why Krishna performed Kalinga Mardana?
Venkatanatha: Yes, Amma, you’ve told me that story many times. Still, I’d love to hear it again from you. Please tell me.
Gopamma: Krishna had immense love for cows and cowherds; their protection was His ultimate goal. That’s why He is called Gopala. Once, in a bend of the Yamuna River, a cruel serpent king named Kaliya took refuge. Arrogant, believing himself to be powerful, independent, and unmatched, Kaliya poisoned the Yamuna’s waters with his venom. Unaware of this, cows and cowherds drank the water, suffered terribly, and were on the verge of death from the venom. Krishna, enraged by this, rushed to the Yamuna to teach Kaliya a lesson. Subduing Kaliya, Krishna said:
"O arrogant Kaliya! Among the fourteen worlds, I alone am supreme, independent, and incomprehensibly powerful. You are insignificant, weak, and dependent. You brought suffering to my beloved cows and cowherds, and for that, I punish you. From now on, behave with wisdom and surrender to Me."
Then, with His nectar-like glance, Krishna revived the cows and cowherds, saving them from death. This was the Kalinga Mardana. Now, tell me, what connection does that have with your playful imitation of it?
Venkatanatha: Amma, back then, there was one Kaliya. Now, there are many Kaliyas. Earlier, Kaliya’s arrogance and independence poisoned the waters and caused suffering to the cows and cowherds. Isn’t that so?
Gopamma: That’s true.
Ven: Nowadays, the Kaliyas are the Mayavadis, who propagate poisonous and heretical philosophies, claiming, “We are God; there is no difference between us and Him.” Their teachings, like venom, trap virtuous beings who are as pure and sattvic as Krishna's beloved cows, in the whirlpool of the Yamuna called the cycle of samsara. These virtuous souls drink the poison of the concept of Jiva-Brahmaikyata (the oneness of Jiva and Brahman) and fall into eternal suffering, akin to hell.
To confront these Mayavadi Kaliyas, I wish to practice Krishna’s leela. I want to help everyone realize the eternal truth that the Supreme Being alone is independent, the cause of creation, and the source of eternal bliss. We, as Jivas, are His servants, and there is an inherent, ultimate difference between us and Him. It is only through His grace that all Jivas can attain liberation and eternal happiness. By instilling this truth and protecting the virtuous devotees of Krishna from the venomous effects of Jiva-Brahmaikyata, I aim to guide them towards becoming free of sin and attaining divine blessings.
But that’s not all, Amma. Today, there are Kaliyas who preach, “I am God.” In the centuries to come, there will be even more Kaliyas—atheists and materialists intoxicated by the power of physical sciences. They will argue, “There is no God. Metaphysical truths and dharma are all false. Man alone is all-powerful.” Thousands of such Kaliyas will emerge, denying God’s very existence and threatening the noble traditions of our Bharatavarsha.
To face their challenges, I must show that material science is incomplete and that spiritual and metaphysical knowledge is supreme and complete. I must protect our Bharata, its dharma, its truths, and its beliefs from these materialist and atheistic Kaliyas. That is why I am practicing now, Amma!
Hearing her son’s profound reasoning and arguments, Gopamma was astonished and said, “Venkatanatha, do you have the strength to accomplish this task? Who taught you all this?”
Smiling, Venkatanatha replied, “All of this is due to the influence and grace of our Kalinga-Mardana Krishna, Amma! He alone inspires me—no one else has taught me these things.”
Gopamma, amazed by her son’s words, thought to herself, “This is no ordinary child. As Lord Venkatesha declared, he has incarnated as a divine being for the welfare of the world. He is a devotee born with a portion of Sri Hari’s divinity.”
With that thought, she simply said, “Alright, Venkatanatha,” and turned her attention back to her household chores.
Thus, young Venkatanatha continued to grow, spreading joy to everyone with his extraordinary intellect, brilliance, and virtuous playfulness.