Radha Kalyanam, Alangudi

Written by London swaminathan

Article No.1663; Dated 20^th February 2015.

We all worship Lord Krishna with several hymns; but who did Krishna worship? This question was asked by his own wife Rukmini; Krishna answered her question at once without any hesitation!

The answer is in a simple Sanskrit sloka (couplet):

Nithyaanadhaathaa  tarunaagnihotri

Vedhaantha vidh chandrasahasra darsii

Maasopavaasiisa pathivrathaa cha

Shad vandhaniiyaa mama jiivaloke

I worship the following six people: Those who provide food every day, who are well versed in the Vedas, who do fire ceremony, who observe regular fasting every month, who have seen at least 1000 crescent moon in their life time and those women who are chaste.

Krishna appeared in Yaga Fire!

Explanation:

(1)Nithyaannadhata: Those who provide food to the needy every day. In those days, people used to do Pancha Maha yajna (Five Daily Sacrifices): They worshipped and “fed” their ancestors, family, guests, close relatives and animals.

They divided their income or the harvest into six portions and gave one sixth as the tax to the king or the government. Other five parts were used to look after the relatives, guests and the priests and the temples. Even today the tax in many countries is around that figure.

Vedas said Athithi devo bhava (guests are equal to gods)

Krishna worshipped such people. (Nithya = everyday+ anna = food+ dhata = provider).

Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar also says it in his Tirukkural (43)

(2)Taruna agnihotri: Who does fire ceremony every day from his early years; in those days Brahmin boys were initiated at the age of seven and then they started doing Samidhadanam (putting peepal sticks into fire with ghee reciting Mantras) every day. When they became adult (taruna), they were married and they started doing Agnihotram. Agnihotram is a daily ritual. Krishna worshipped such people.

(3)Vedhanta vidh: Those who have mastered Vedas and its meaning (Vedanta is the end of the Vedas. That meant the Upanishads. In those days if one is introduced as a learned man, it meant that he followed whatever he learnt. Nowadays we see lot of learned people imprisoned for their immoral activities. They may be bandits but not Pundits.

Krishna worshipped Vedic scholars whose word, deed and thought were one.

(4)Sahasra Chandra darsi: Those who have seen 1000 crescent moons in their life time. The crescent moon on the third day after new moon day is considered auspicious. It is also seen on the head of Lord Shiva. So they saw the crescent moon and then had dinner. Seeing the moon was a Hindu custom. Later other religions followed the Hindu custom. Crescent moon can be seen every 29^th day. A man has to live 81 years to see 1000 crescent moons. Living 81 years is easy nowadays. But seeing the moon without a miss needs dedication. Krishna worshipped such dedicated devotees.

(5) For the followers of other religions fasting is a one off event in a year. But for the Hindus Ekadasi is a must. Ekadasi means 11^th day immediately after New moon or Full moon day. It happens twice a month. A lot of Hindus observe fasting on the day. Apart from Ekadasi day, there are many more days for fasting. Krishna worshiped those who follow fasting rules strictly.

Krishna listens to blind poet Surdas! Wax museum.

6.Pativrataa: Those who are loyal only to their husbands. Pativrata meant chaste women. Hindus believe in three types of chastity or purity; it is called Trikarana suddhi- thought word and deed. It is very difficult in modern days. Tamils and others believed such women can control natural forces. She could even make the rain fall. Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar said it in his Tirukkural (55). Other Tamil poets like Ilango and Siltalai sattanar repeated it in their epics. Krishna worshipped such chaste women.

If Krishna worshipped such great people, can we fall behind him?

Let us salute those six types of people every day.

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