Srimad Bhagavatam: Pearl 5

KRISHNA KIDNAPS RUKMANI

Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya highly recommended that before stepping out in any vehicle, we should sincerely chant:

NARAYANA-NARAYANA-NARAYANA

three times without fail. Accordingly before embarking on any journey be it by plane, car, scooter or bus, we must respectfully invoke the Lord's holy name for our safe well being.

If in modern day times, drivers of cars are important, in the Dwapar era they were also held in high esteem as saarth or charioteer of the ratha or chariot. In the celebrated epic ‘Bhagwad Gita’ Lord Krishna Himself was the Charioteer of Arjuna. Daaruk is His saarthi, during the Dwarka period, driving four horses named Shaivya, Sugreev, Meghpushp and Balaahak(chapter 53,verse 5,Xthcanto’Bhagavatam’) Only after bowing to the Brahmin-God, Lord Krishna mounts the chariot, in class with Ramji as He got onto the rath sent by Lord Indra during the Ramayana war. After religiously paying obeisance to all gods, Brahmins, parents and elders He ventures ahead. During the course of Kaliyuga, the famous Rath-Yatra of Jagannath Puri attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims every year-in the month of July. The episode further illustrates the bonding between ‘Sri Ramcharitmanas’ and ‘Srimad Bhagavatam’.

Pearl no. 5 of Srimad Bhagavatam from theXth canto:

Chapter 53, verse 12: Before marrying off his daughter Rukmaniji to Lord Krishna, her father Bhismaka rewards the Brahmins with gold, silver, clothing, cows and sesame seed mixed with raw sugar. This reflects the King’s outstanding knowledge of regulative principles which signify the importance of offerings to Brahmins.

Verse 25: Elucidates the worship of Gauri Rudrani by Rukmaniji before her marriage to Lord Krishna. The scenario is very similar to Sitaji paying obeisance to Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva’s wife, in the ‘Baalkand section’ of the epic ‘Ramayana’. In this case Rukmaniji bows humbly before Lord Shiva's divine companion for Her grace and blessings so that marriage with Lord Krishna becomes a possibility. Parvatiji’s son Ganeshji's blessings are invoked humbly to sanction the auspiciousness of the occasion.

Verse 33: The serving of madhu-parka or curd coupled with honey to Lord Krishna-and Balramaji as per standard rituals further underlines the significance of milk since ages.