Narayana

“After felling the giant Arjuna trees, one morning, Krishna along with Balarama and other friends went to the banks of River Yamuna. All of them were spending time joyfully, when Rohini arrived there asking Balarama and Krishna to return home. The brothers who were so immersed in their games did not return to mother Rohini, even after she had called them umpteen times.

Rohini returned home and asked Yashoda to fetch the boys. Krishna had been playing for a very long time. More importantly, it was well past playing time. Yashoda arrived there. As her heart overflowed with love towards her son, she very lovingly called,

“O Krishna! Krishna! O lotus-eyed boy! Please return. It is now time for you to drink milk. My child, you will be hungry by now. Please stop your games and return. My dear, you find it hard to withstand hunger. So please return quickly. You will be exhausted after playing for so long. You also appear weak.

O Balarama! You are the one who showers bliss upon our entire lineage. Please return home. Bring your brother along with you. Early morning you had breakfast. Since then you have been playing. It is now time for you to have your food. Please come back.

O son who is born in the Daśarha clan! Nanda, the Lord of Gokula, is awaiting you for, without you he will not eat. Please return quickly”.

None of them would eat until Krishna ate.

“Krishna, please come home quickly and bring joy to us all! O children of Gokula, please return to your respective homes. My dear son, your body that is filled with grime and dust looks ashen. You need a bath. Krishna, today your birth-star is ruling. After bathing you have to offer charities to Vedic scholars”.

For everyone, the birth-star rules one day every month. On the day the birth-star rules, it is mandatory for the person to take head bath. After purifying himself, he/she should engage in any charitable activity either on a small or large scale. Visiting temple and visiting Spiritual-guru are a must. This should be followed every month. Merely following this custom once a year on birthday is inadequate. In case you cannot follow all disciplines on a monthly basis, at least listen to divine names on the day. Chant hymns. Read Bhagavatam. Read at least one shloka of Bhagavad Gita. It is extremely important. Here, Yashoda is reminding us of this custom.

“As your birth-star is ruling today, you will have to offer charities to the Vedic scholars. Look at your friends. Their mothers have given them a bath and have decorated them nicely. You still have not had your bath. My dear son, please return home quickly. Your body is filled with dust”.

One should dress nicely and then go to play. Without bathing, one should not go out even to play. Even chanting Lord’s name without bathing is prohibited. Visiting temples, speaking to Sadguru or touching Him without bathing are inacceptable. Although these disciplines are to be followed on a daily basis, they are to be even more strictly followed on days when birth-star is ruling.

The person who goes to bathe in the river should first bathe at home and then enter the waters of the river. He should thereafter dip three or twelve times in the river. Only then it can be addressed as ‘teertha snana’ or ‘sacred river bath’. Using shampoos and soaps while bathing in the river will pollute the river and hence is forbidden. The person who pollutes the river does not earn merit of a sacred river bath; he only accumulates more sin. Since most people pollute the river these days, they are unable to accumulate any merit from their river bath. In fact, before going for river bath, the person must necessarily have head bath at home.

In reality, it is very important to take head-bath every single day. Daily head-bath increases longevity. It enhances blood circulation in the body. It ensures purity of the intellect. It keeps the person away from frequent attacks of anger, etc. To rid oneself of all these evils, have head bath daily. In fact, our scriptures declare that head-bath must be had in cold water because, cold water increases blood supply to the head. Intelligence increases. During peak winters, a little hot water can be added, but in general, everyone should take cold water bath. Once the body is habituated to cold water bath, the practice continues automatically forever.

Narayana