When we delve into the path towards Maa Kaali through the coded life of Krishna, one naturally ponders why Maa Yashoda, the 635th name of Maa Kaali, Yashodakhya, always ran behind Krishna and not Balarama, despite both being her beloved sons.
From the lens of MahaVishnu, Krishna is clearly the central figure, effortlessly drawing everyone's attention. His village-wide mischievousness, from troubling the Gopis to stealing Makkhan, along with extraordinary feats like defeating Rakshasi Putana by simply drinking her poisoned milk, fearlessly dancing on the venomous Kaliya Naga to purify the Yamuna, or effortlessly lifting Govardhana Parvat for seven days, all highlight his divine essence.
From this perspective, Maa Yashoda's seemingly greater love and attention toward Krishna appears to be a natural response to his miraculous actions.
However, it is only when we look through the lens of Maa Kaali that we realize the profound, greater lesson hidden within this Leela.
Balarama and Krishna signify two distinct kinds of Kaali Sadhakas: one, like Balarama, dedicates their entire life to attaining strength and power through Maa Kaali, often in quiet devotion; the other, like Krishna and Maa Kaali herself, moves and creates as their Sadhana progresses, actively engaging with the world.
When a Sadhaka of Maa Kaali decides to move and sing her glory, it's evident through Krishna's life that the first step they must overcome is by drinking the poisonous milk of Rakshasi Putana. This act sends the Sadhaka into Tamas and opens the gates to the left-handed path towards Maa Kaali.
As the Sadhaka embodies this left-handed path, they are exposed to the Makkhan prepared by Maa Kaali, which is none other than the higher states of Gyaana that Maa Kaali makes digestible for her Sadhaka. While both Balarama and Krishna receive this Makkhan, it is only Krishna who utilizes it to sing her glory throughout the world. This makes Maa Kaali fall deeper in love with the Sadhaka as they take the crux of the Gyaana present in Mrityu Loka, the "dirt", and convert it into the "Gyaana of multiple Universes," which Maa Kaali sees within the mouth of her Sadhaka.
The Sadhaka, embodying Krishna and empowered by Maa Kaali, should create at such a pace that it even surprises Maa Kaali. Indeed, when she tries to measure the "length" of her Sadhaka, she herself should fall short in the measurement.
As the river Yamuna, the 336th name of Maa Kaali, becomes poisonous (Tamsik) due to Kaliya Nag, fearlessly dancing on Kaliya Nag's heads represents mastery over the Tamas Guna. Other Sadhakas are often unable to accept this, as symbolized by Krishna's friends. It is only through the mastery and absolute control over the Tamasik Guna that the Sadhaka of Maa Kaali truly progresses on her path, thereby also attaining mastery over the Rajasik and Satvik Gunas through Tamas.
The Sadhaka lifting the Govardhana Parvat provides the shelter of Maa Kaali to the entire world as the conditions of Kali Yuga worsen. This is done while playing the flute dedicated to Maa Kaali, making everyone fall in love with her glory and Nama.
Though Krishna dances with each and every Gopi in different forms, his eyes are always fixed on Maa Radha, the 622nd name of Maa Kaali. This represents the KarmaYoga which the Sadhaka must engage in, constantly being in her Dhyaana. As the Sadhaka burns off their KarmaYoga, their main focus should remain on Maa Kaali, as it is only through her that the burning of one's KarmaYoga accelerates.
From ultimately becoming a Guru in her path and orchestrating the entire Mahabharata for the upliftment of Dharma and her Nama, to finally sitting under the tree, awaiting the arrow of Moksha as the Sadhaka burns off their last Karma and becomes one with the formless, which is Maa Kaali, this signifies the culmination of the Krishna-Sadhaka's journey.
It is only when the Sadhaka in her path embodies the entire life of Krishna, the 36th - Krsna, 37th - Krsnadeha, and 362nd - Krsna name of Maa Kaali, that they finally become one with Maa Kaali. The qualities inherent in Krishna attracted Maa Yashoda, which is why she exclusively ran after him.
However, this doesn't imply that Maa Kaali dislikes the Sadhakas who embody Balarama, those who spend their entire lives strengthening themselves and remain distant from the grand Leela of Mahabharata.
If a Sadhaka embodying Balarama chooses to finally walk and create in her path, they too will achieve the state of Krishna. The only question then remains: will they create and sing her glory in front of the entire world in this lifetime itself, or after hundreds of lifetimes?
- Rohan Mathur
- By Rohan Mathur Shisya of Gurudev Shri Praveen Radhakrishnan