SRI KRISHNA LEELAMRUTHAM (THE NECTARINE STORIES OF THE DEEDS OF LORD KRISHNA)

 30.GOPIS BECAME VERY SORRY AND SEARCH FOR LORD KRISHNA

When Lord Madhava suddenly disappeared from the spot, the gorgeous Gopis became very unhappy and were unable to be consoled. They began to search Lord Muraari as they were suffering pangs of separation. Their hearts began to burn like a fire as if she-elephants miss their chief. They went to the extend of becoming mad as they were constantly thinking about Him. As their hearts were stolen by the gait, gestures, prettiness, sweet conversation, sports and playful deeds of Lord Krishna, they began to imitate Him as if they are all Lord Madhava. Therefore, they imitated His pastimes and glories and even called themselves Krishna. In all beautiful activities and movements, Gopis behaved like Lord Muraari. They totally recognized themselves with Sri Krishna, each and every one saying that, 'I'm the Supreme Personality of Godhead!'. Being so attracted to His beautiful activities, they became crazy and immediately they gathered at a point and began to call His name so loudly. While they were going deeper inside the forest, they began to inquire the trees, plants and flowers about Lord Krishna. The Gopis asked, "O my dear Banyan tree, O Champaka flower, O Ashoka tree, O Naga flower! did Shyama come here? Have you seen the son of Yashoda and Maharaja Nanda here Who instantly passed from our sight due to our pride?". They inquired, "O blessed Tulasi plants! You are so attached to Him. You are always at His beautiful lotus feet!". Gopis began to ask the flowers, "O Malati flower, O jasmine flower! You are the gorgeous garlands for Him. Have you seen Lord Shyama Who makes you glad by touching you?". Gopis asked the trees, "O mango tree, O Bilva tree, O jackfruit tree, O blueberry tree, O Kadamba tree! You are so lucky to live on the riverbed of Yamuna. Lord Shyama must have walked this way! Please tell where did He go?". On seeing the fround, Gopis began to address the Earth, "O Earth! The supreme Lord, Trivikrama has touched Your surface with His tusks when assuming the form of a boar! Kindly tell us where our beautiful pie went?". They began to inquire creepers, "O my dear friends! Let us ask these creepers that twine with the branches because of His touch". 

They searched for Krishna as they couldn't live without Him. When they were completely distressed, they began to imitate His pastime activities and glories. One Gopi acted as demoness Putana and the other acted as Sri Krishna killing her. One recognized herself as the cart, one acted as the demon Sakatasura and other acted as Lord Muraari who killed the demon by His kick. Another Gopi identified herself as the whirlwind demon Trinavarta who carried the Lord high upto sky to kill Him and the other Gopi acted as Sri Krishna who killed the demon. One Gopi identified herself as Sri Krishna called at the cows by their names and the others acted as the associates of the Lord while other Gopis acted as the demons Vatsasura and Bakasura. One lady acted the part of mother Yashoda who tied Lord Muraari with a husking stand and the other acted as Sri Krishna. One Gopi acted as the Lord Himself Who saves the inhabitants of vraja by swallowing the forest fire and the other Gopis acted as the inhabitants of Vrindavan. One of the Gopis identified as Sri Krishna lifting up the Govardhan Hill in order to protect His devotees from heavy rainfall by lifting one cloth with one hand and the others acted as the inhabitants of Vraja and Lord Balaram. One Gopi acted as the wicked Kaliya serpent and the other Gopi identified herself as Lord Muraari who stood upon the hoods of the serpent and began to dance on that. 

In this way the Gopis imitated His pastimes and glories because of the pangs of separation. Having inquired the trees, flowers, the Earth, the plants and the creepers about Lord Krishna, they noted that footprints of the Supreme Lord. It had the marks of flag, lotus, mace, thunderbolt, goad and barley. When they were tracing His footprints, they saw that the footprints were mixed with red kunkuma powder. They became afflicted after seeing those footprints. The Gopis said, "Whose footprints are these that is mixed with kumkuma powder? How She alone can enjoy with the Lord! This girl must have resting on His shoulder like a lover. How so special is she! So, this is the reason why Shyama left us alone and enjoy with Her. It is really paining us on seeing the footprints again and again. O girls! Come here! See there are some impression deeper that signifies that the Lord carried Her! And also there are some more impressions that they sat for the purpose of combing Her hair and putting beautiful flowers on Her braids". The Gopi whom Krishna had taken to the forest felt great pride that the Supreme Lord left all the gopis and came to enjoy with Her alone. She also regarded Herself as supreme to all other women in the world. Lord Shyama perceived Her inner thoughts. She said, "O My dear! I'm unable to walk even a step. Please carry Me wherever You go!". After hearing this, the Supreme Lord said, "Alright My dear! Come and mount on my shoulders!". When She attempted to mount on Shyama's shoulders He disappeared suddenly from the spot. The Gopi cried out of pangs of separation, "O My love! O My dear! Where You have went? I will not live without You! Please come to Me!". She cried loudly and chanted His name. The others when reached the spot where that Gopi was crying and they consoled Her. They also began to cry in His absence. 

The Gopis became crazy and cried aloud in the forest. They searched for Him all around the forest. They walked until the darkest part of forest in the midnight. When they reached the darkest point, they sat and chanted His name, His pastime activities and glories due to infinitestimal pangs of separation. They sang in chorus all the night for the Lord to appear in front of them and to enjoy with them.

TO BE CONTINUED.....