I Want to See Krishna! Part one

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Having an overwhelming desire to see Sri Krishna is one of the symptoms of an advanced devotee. Sri Rupa Gosvami calls it samutkantha, the intense hankering to see Sri Krishna which is a symptom of a bhava bhakta.

What is the cause of this hankering? Sastra says that the mercy of the sat Guru is the cause of a sadhaka having a strong or intense desire to see Krishna, sat guroh krpaya krishna didrksha bhara karitam. (Brihad Bhagavatamrita 2.3.113)

While describing the Vrindavana born bhakta Gopa-kumara, Sri Sanatana Goswami says that his intense eagerness to see Krishna arose from two causes; 1) by following the instructions of advanced devotees; and 2) by the strength of his service to his diksha mantra, sriman maha bhagavata upadeshatah san mantra seva balato. (Brihad Bhagavatamrita 2.3.45)

Gopa-kumara’s eagerness to see God impelled him to travel all over the universe searching for Sri Madana Gopala, the beloved of his heart. He was never satisfied with any post or position without seeing Gopala. Indeed, if one receives Guru’s mercy and becomes eager to see Sri Krishna, then nothing will prevent it from happening.

Yearning to see Krishna face to face, krishna darshana lalasa, arises in the heart according to the degree of one’s attraction, attachment and love for lila-madhurya Sri Krishna. It is natural to want to see the one whom we are trying so much to remember, serve and love now and forever.

A purified even slightly advanced bhakta will think, “I really want to see Krishna. But how and when will that ever be possible?”

Eagerness for Krishna however does not come easy. It is a state of consciousness wherein a devotee is constantly thinking of pleasing Radha and Krishna. If there is any other desire in one’s heart, intense eagerness cannot arise.

“Eagerness is the very life-force of devotion which helps the devotee attain perfection. Without eagerness there is no taste in our endeavors.” (Sri Ananta Dasji Maharaja)

Srila Prabhupada often refers to “eagerness” as a prerequiste for seeing Sri Krishna. The dictionary says strongly wanting to have something is eagerness. Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja says, “The main quality of complete eagerness is that one always desires to see Krishna, samutkantha haya sada lalasa pradhana.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.23.30)

Eagerness is so important that Srila Prabhupada said, “Eagerness is the price for achieving success in Krishna consciousness.” (NOD 18) As an example of one with eagerness, Srila Prabhupada cites Sri Bilvamangala Thakura’s prayer:

“I am eagerly waiting to see that boy of Vrindavana whose bodily beauty captivates the whole universe; whose eyes are bounded by black eyebrows expanded like lotus petals, and who eagerly glances at His devotees. Krishna’s eyes are always moist and His lips are copper-colored. Through Shyama’s lips comes a sound vibration which drives one madder than a mad elephant. I want so much to see Krishna in Vrindavana.”

Radha-Krishna sakshad darshana ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!