Kanhaji, thank You for my grandmother

Today is my grandmother's 80th birthday and I am extremely grateful for her presence in my life. She has always been one person I can depend on throughout my life. Dont get me wrong, my parents have always been with me, but my grandmother had the privilege of showing me open favouritism! Some may say that this is not nice of her but such is the privilege of grandparents. She always loved me more than her other grandchildren, while she was not unkind to them, its amazing to know that someone loves you that much all the time. She and I have discussions that other people dont have with their grandmothers - about relationships, skin care, food, exercise, love, happiness. Over the years I have to say that she and I have truly become good friends and I feel myself sharing more and more of my life with her at every turn. When I am at her house I feel safe and others have an issue with serving her, but I never will. I am happy to do these things for her because it means that I love her.
Kanhaji, today my post is to thank You immensely for sending her into my life. She has always taken care of me in a special way and her presence is something that I always cherish. I am terrified of losing her and I ask You Kanha, please let her be with us for a long time again. I know it might be selfish of me to say this and ask this but I love her so much and I dont know what I would do without her.
Kanhaji, please shower Your blessings on her, please help her when she feels lonely or sad. Please help me to pay more attention to her. Thank You for Your love and for the cherished words of wisdom she offers to me.
I know the picture I've included is not Kanhaji's grandmother but I just wanted to show the importance of being kind and nice to older people - they love us so much and we should be patient and kind to them and love them, not hurt them or treat them badly. One of the things my other friends of other religions always say that they like is the way that we treat older people in Hinduism and in the indian culture in general - we know that these people have lots of wisdom to impart on us and will take care of us and love us in a way that we may not be able to understand. Kanhaji, thank You for this.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji is everywhere

Kanhaji is everywhere and all around us. He loves us and He will always love us. I know that I keep saying this but its just so true and sometimes the immense power of His love just hits me in a way that makes me want to say it over and over again. When I wrote my last entry I focused on the love that we have for Him and the different ways it can be interpreted. When I was a little child I first heard stories about Radha and Krishna at school, but they were never really fully explained. I always got the impression that the teachers were glossing over things a little bit. However, I realized that this was because some people frowned on the idea of Krishna and Radha being seen as the ultimate couple when He was in fact married to Rukmini. I remember a student asking the teacher about that once and the teacher was unable to respond. I myself kept that question in my heart but the slightly negative reaction of the teacher (mildly angry) made us not ask anything more.
Only when I got older did I really understand that they meant that Radha loved him unconditionally and that was why she was seen as His true soulmate. Unconditional love is hard to come by. It is described as being selfless and forgiving, always pleasant and always giving. People often say that only parents love unconditionally, that a spouse cannot. I dont know if that is really true but I do know that we all have expectations from the people we love on a normal basis. Of course, we are not Radharani!
But, I digress, the reason that I used this story as the basis for my post is to show that Kanhaji's love is unconditional but our human conscience makes us guilty before Him when we do something wrong and we feel unworthy of that love. I know that I feel so grateful that He loves me because I know that I am not perfect and many times I falter from His teachings and I am unable to control anger, jealousy, pride. When we love someone we do everything we can to please them, we should grant Kanhaji the same courtesy and try to please Him every day by living our lives the right way.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji sends love

Love is all around us - I know that I am a few days early for this topic since Valentine's day is not until three days. However, this is what I feel today so I have to comment on it. Love is all around us and sometimes the sourest of people react to us in positive and loving ways. Kanhaji always shows us love when we need it, because He knows, and has made things such that love is the one thing that every single person needs vast quantities of. He is always with us, loving us and that we must not forget.
Thank You Kanhaji for Your love. I once heard a non-hindu speak about how much she agreed with hinduism because of its teachings - in particular she cited two aspects of love shown in the Kanha lila - the mother's love and how much Yashoda maa loved Kanha despite Him not being her biological son. And the love of Kanhaji and the gopis and how He always protected them and allowed them to love Him because that was their way of worship. Another person came to my mind, who she probably didnt hear of, or make the connection to - Mirabai. Her bhajans were said to be about her love of Kanhaji and people could not accept them because they felt that they were blasphemous in nature. But, Kanhaji and many explanations of the Kanhalila have always stressed that the way we interpret love is different than the way that Kanhaji interprets it and He allows us to love Him in the ways that are suited to us because He is willing to accept our love in a way that is suitable to us to give it. How remarkable is that? Mirabai's love for Him was not wrong (I have to admit that I have not read many of her bhajans but the gist of what she is feeling is there). Neither is the love of someone who feels like Kanhaji is their son, their brother, their friend, all of these He understands.
Kanhaji, thank You for sending us all this love and please help us to continue to love You and to love others.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji ka dil

One thing I am absolutely sure about is how big Kanhaji's heart is. He is always willing to accept us back into His fold and to guide us out of the bad into the good. Kanhaji loves us and cares about us always. He is the one we should trust and go to when our hearts are sore or broken. He fixes us up very quickly and He brings us out of the bad into the good. He will always look out for us, and most importantly, He will always love us. Kanhaji loves us and He always will - His heart is big enough to love everyone. We should follow His lead and try our very best to spread love and not hate in the world.
I always get very sad when I hear people misinterpreting the Kanha leela. They always say that Kanhaji's relationships with the gopis was not very respectable. However, the thing is, when people read that they take it literally - Him loving them and them loving Him, even His relationship with Radhika, they take is all literally. But these stories are written to help us to understand in our human way. Really though, Kanhaji was expressing love to the gopis in a way that they would understand but He never crossed any boundaries - He made them think that He loved them the way that they wanted to be loved by Him. This is why the holy words say that Kanhaji will come into our lives in the form we would like Him to - as a friend, as a lover, as a son, as a brother. He is always there for us in all tehse different forms. He will always love us.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji helps us deal

Sometimes we look back at a situation and find that we could have dealt with it differently. Kanhaji understands that and He wants us to recognize what we could have done differently, learn from our mistakes and eventually use the information to help us in another venture. Kanhaji loves us very much and He will always take care of us. However, it does not mean that He will not let anything negative happen to us. Negative experiences help us to learn how to be better, how to feel better and how to deal with people and similar situations in the future.
He also opens our eyes up to truth, no matter how bitter it may be it is always best to face up to the truth since it will always be around and will always come out. There are various reasons that learning the truth can hurt but Kanhaji ultimately shows us how to be able to deal with unpleasant truths. He will always look after us and care about us in every way.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji provides strength

Kanhaji gives us the benefit of His strength when we need it. I dont necessarily mean physically. I mean that Kanhaji provides emotional strength and internal help with problems that we face. He also takes care of us in a way that makes us understand that He is with us and that as long as He is on our side, no one else can harm us, even if they desperately want to. Kanhaji loves us and will always love us and we should remember that. We should also remember to thank Him for being in our lives. I try to do that every day but I know that even that is not enough. He is always with us and there is no way that we can thank Him enough for everything that He does to take care of us.
Kanhaji's love and strength and protection are invaluable and we should remember that no matter how bad things get He is always with us.
I chose the picture with Kanhaji holding up Govardhan mountain to save everyone because I felt that this picture best demonstrates to us what Kanhaji's physical strength is like. However, scriptures are not always meant to be taken literally and instead we can interpret this as also being Kanhaji's emotional strength and how much He can be our ultimate counsel, friend, guide, protector.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji comforts

I was listening to a podcast today about Kanhaji and the reader was saying that Kanhaji takes the form that we want Him to take and allows Himself to be worshipped by us in that form that we prefer. If we wish to see Him as a son, He will oblige, a lover, He will oblige, a father, He will oblige, a friend, He will oblige, a protection, guide, destroyer of evil...He will oblige us in all of these. But, the interesting thing I thought was when the reader mentioned that even those who meditate on Kanhaji with hate and dislike will attain moksha if they do so single-mindedly as Kansa did because Kanhaji is God and focusing on Him alone will allow a person to attain enlightenment.
This was an odd concept to me - how can someone who hates God still attain enlightenment but the reader said that because Kanhaji is God and God is the one we should focus on at all times, it is possible.
However, I much prefer to focus on Kanhaji with love and to include Him in every aspect of my life as a close confidante - in many cases my only confidante.
Kanhaji, thank You for providing comfort when it is needed and thank You for being with us always.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji keeps us busy

Being busy is not a bad thing. When we are busy then we are able to accomplish things and we feel a sense of self worth. When we have nothing to do after a busy period we tend to feel relaxed and at ease. However, if the period of relaxation lasts too long we begin to get restless and wish once more for something useful to do. Kanhaji understands this and He tries to keep us busy with productive and useful activities.
We should remember Him when we try to find something to do and make sure that it is something that we would be proud to show Him and say "This is what I did today, do You like it?"
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji helps us to regain focus

It is easy enough to lose sight of our dreams. To become complacent and feel like we are no longer able to cope with what we want is often the case. However, Kanhaji may allow us to wallow in our uneasiness for a while and He may allow us to slack off as well. But, He never allows this for long. Fruitful and productive behaviour is useful for Kanhaji and He wants us all to engage in productive activities. He will encourage us out of our slackness and into being more motivated when He sees the laziness taking over. I know because He has helped me many times and has even scared me into doing the right thing. Thank You for this Kanhaji and please continue to help me and everyone else reading this blog to deal with temporary lack of motivation. Please remind us of why we chose certain activities to focus on, why we decided to be who we are professionally, academically, emotionally, and most important, spiritually.
I feel like this image is suited to this post since it shows Kanhaji innovating and trying to find a way to please His father even though the slippers are too heavy for Him - He put them on His head to bring them to the man because His father asked this of Him. We should all use this as a motivator and remember that when we really want to achieve something - we will find a way to do so with Kanhaji's help!
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji teaches us when to slow down

Its easy to get caught up in the rush of life - always having to meet deadlines, do certain tasks, be certain places, fulfill duties etc. However sometimes Kanhaji gives us cues to just slow down and relax to maintain our happiness. He helps us to recover from exhaustion and to prevent any possible longer term consequences.
Kanhaji is the one we should trust to help us whenever we need Him and even when we dont realize that we need His intervention, He helps us.
Its amazing to feel loved and protected by Him.
The picture I've included is one of my favourites of Kanhaji because it shows Him watching us even while He's going about His normal baby business. He is always able to see what is hurting us or upsetting us and He helps us. This is what this picture conveys to me - that He is always watching over us, no matter what.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji's help with restraint

sometimes we need to contain aspects of our personality or behaviour that may be displeasing to others and poisonous to our own selves. Kanhaji takes care of us when we need to change. He guides us and helps us through to become better people in the long run. Kanhaji loves us and we should remember that improving ourselves will bring us closer to Him in the long run.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji helps me be productive

Yesterday was the first work day of the year for employees the world over. I went to my office armed with a long list of things to do and Kanhaji helped me to accomplish them all. This is how Kanhaji helps us to be productive. He takes care of us and cherishes us - He pampers us when we need it and He teaches us to work hard as well.
Kanhaji Himself was always doing good work - teaching us lessons, destroying enemies and caring for the sick and helpless. Kanhaji's example is what we need to learn to become more productive and to be better workers. Let him remind us of that.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji loves us

Kanhaji loves us and He teaches us how to be good people through different paths. He shows us how to love others, how to be good citizens, how to live a good life. Some people find that living the correct way is boring but I have to differ. Kanhaji is the one who always shows us that He can take care of us regardless of the circumstances. He can take us from being in the lowest of moods, to be happiest. He can teach us how to get out of bad situations and to become good people. Kanhaji helps us to heal others with love and affection. He helps us to manage our negative moods in a way that brings about good for others. Kanhaji loves us and we should remember that even when hardships come our way, it is because He sent them to teach us valuable lessons.
We should never forget that Kanhaji came here on earth many years ago to teach us how to live and how to enjoy life, a pundit once preached a sermon on Janmashthami night about Kanhaji coming on earth to teach us how to enjoy life. That stayed with me because I love Kanhaji's exploits as a child, a youth and even as an adult He was mischievous at times. This helped me to realize that the reason I love Kanhaji so much is because I love His playful nature and that helps me to identify with Him and want to love Him even more.
Thank You for Your love Kanhaji,
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanha gives us new beginnings

A new year always signifies a new start - a new beginning to a part of our lives. We all love ringing in the new year, we love thinking about this fresh start. Kanha gives us fresh starts when we need them, we dont have to wait until the new year, or even until a new day! He gives us fresh starts and the opportunity to start doing the right thing from this moment onwards. He always loves us and tries to set us on the right path. Kanha is the one we should love and care about always, He loves us and we should always remember that no matter what happens in our lives that we can turn to Him.
Kanha, thank You for the fresh start that You have given to us today. Kanha I want to ask You to be a part of all of our lives in the coming year. Please continue to guide us, to protect us, to encourage us, to help us to become closer to You and to be better people.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanhaji, You have given me a great year

Kanha has planned every moment of our lives before we have even been born. He knows what is going to happen to us, but He leaves us choices along the way - if we react in certain ways, we face certain consequences and if we react in other ways - our consequences are different. The important thing therefore is to remember that Kanhaji is the one we should turn to when we are making our choices.
Kanhaji, I want to thank You for giving me a great year. Everything has been great for me and I love how much You have protected me and helped me along the way. Everything that I have tried to do has been successful and I have allowed myself to grow and become more confident than I ever felt I could be. I am also more beautiful than I would have thought possible. Thank You for Your love and please continue to be a part of my life in this new coming year.
Please help me to find true love in this year, help me to achieve the final stages of my accomplishments. Help me to love You even more and to understand how to love You better and be a better devotee of Yours.
Kanhaji, please don't ever leave my side.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanha helps with disappointments

Sometimes in life people disappoint you, things disappoint you, situations and circumstances disappoint you. However, Kanhaji never disappoints. True faith in Him is always rewarded and He even helps us with the daily disappointments He threw our way to help us build character.
Kanhaji is the one to turn to at all times. He turns disappointments and sorrow into good things and happiness and a good time with friends and family. Kanhaji loves us and He will always take care of us. He cannot bear to see us unhappy, just as we cannot bear to be without Him, He likes taking care of us.
I hope that everyone reading this will realize how powerful Kanhaji's love and protection is.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanha, Your love

Conquers everything. It makes me realize when things aren't going my way and it makes me see that even when things don't work out - its part of Your will. Your greater plan is something that we know nothing about. Thank You for taking care of us and keeping us all safe and happy and healthy. Thank You for showing me when to continue to talk to someone and when to stop. Thank You for little blessings, many friends and peacefulness.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanha, please help me make the right decisions

Kanha, I know that You guide me in everything that I do, and I know that You make me act in a way that is pleasing to You. Thank You for that Kanha. Please help me to be a good person always and to continue to follow my instincts in every matter. Please help me to take care of myself and to safeguard others. I need people to know that I am different and that I do everything that I do because I have consulted You.
Kanha, please continue to guide me in the same way that You always have.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanha and my faith in Him

Today is my 300th post! Yay!
I want to talk a little bit about faith in Kanhaji and exactly what it means. Faith is a very strong word and you may wonder why I'm saying that but people go around saying they have faith all the time and they really dont. True faith comes from knowing without a shadow of a doubt that Kanhaji will provide for you, will take care of you, will love you always. Faith means that you have to trust Him, even when things aren't going your way - you have to accept that you dont always understand how He works but you know that He will do what is right for you.
My faith is something that I want to be proud of. I know it is not yet perfect because many times I find myself faltering and wondering why Kanhaji didn't do a certain thing at a certain time or why He allowed me to put myself in a situation where I wasn't totally comfortable. But the thing is, that's what faith is all about - knowing in the end that Kanhaji wants us to learn life's lessons and He will find a way to teach those things to us and He will find a way to help us along the way when things get too difficult.
Faith in Kanhaji is something that we must work at.
Jai Shri Krishna!

Kanha

Kanha is all around us. I know I keep saying that but some days it just hits you in such a blatant manner that you cant help but think 'Jai Shri Krishna! I felt You here with me today!'. Does that ever happen to you reader?
Well it happens to me all the time- something bad was about to happen and it didnt, you see other people struggling to do something that you know you would have suffered to do as well but Kanhaji guided you in some special way and allowed you to get through it all.
Kanhaji sometimes makes us do things that other people dont understand - compassionate things like give people our money, our time, our teachings and wisdom, and most of all - our LOVE!
Kanha, please continue working in all of our lives in this way.
Jai Shri Krishna!