As we approach Krishna Janmashtami, the dark ashtami of the auspicious Shravan month (as per my trad Indian calendar) I wondered whether I wanted to do a video on youtube channel about Krishna. As usual, since my experience with this Devi in the Maha Kumbh Mela (I have written a book about this), I daily listen to the ashttotara (108 names) of Maa Kali… and I have heard Krishna being evoked often in that.
कृष्णा कृष्णदेहा कृष्णमाता कृष्णपूजिता कृष्णानन्दप्रदायिनी कृष्णवल्लभा
Should I do something around this I wondered!
A video script came into my mind. Taking the help of AI tools, I created a light video using a couple of AI characters. I really like the original script… for the actual video I had to make many compromises and adjustments, because I didn’t want to spend heavily into AI. I think making this video with much better AI avatars, would cost anywhere from 5,000 INR and higher. But I managed it using a meagre 400 INR!
Watch the video here, or read the Original Script below.
What does Krishna mean…
The Dark One
The Dark One?! I said Krishna not Kaali…
Krishna means the Dark One!
Hmm. I wonder why baby Krishna was named so?
It seems that according to scriptures like the Srimad-Bhagavatam, sage Garga Muni explained that the Lord had previously taken birth with white, red, and yellow complexions, and now had appeared with a dark complexion.
Of course, Krishna also means – all attractive. An embodiment of pure bliss and joy.
Still sounds like Maa Kali to me!
Maybe it is (Maa Kali). Maybe Krishna is Kali.
Hmm.
The 108 names of Maa Kali include 6 names that begin with Krishna
The first, is Krishnaaa with an “aa” matra. …
Is this Krishna feminine? the shakti of Krishna? Or the tattva of Krishna?
Draupadi was called Krishnaaa.
Oh! Well as per many cultural traditions – Draupadi is considered as Maa Kali / Durga tattva. An ugra force, who catalyses the Mahabharatha events. And she had an extraordinary bond with Krishna…
A deeper bond than we may fathom if we see both as the Dark Tattva… But Of course, it could simply be both were dark-complexioned.
Of course, layer upon layer of truth and meanings in our lores.
In fact, The second name in the Maa Kali ashtottara is
KrishnaDeha – which literally means black/dark bodied.
But then which Body are we talking about? The physical sheath or the many subtler sheaths of the being?
This is very intriguing! What’s the next name…
KrishnaMata
The mother of Krishna. Or.. the Dark Mother.
What about …Mother of Darkness.
OOOh…”Mother of Darkness” you mean like the source from where comes the darkness? We also consider darkness as nothingness or shoonyata. Can there be a source of that?
There is the name Shoonyavasini of Linga Bhairavi. The one who dwells in Shoonya or Nothingness.
Well, the next name of Maa Kali is Krishnanandpradayini. Which I resonate with deeply Because… I have always felt that the seaat of ananda or happiness is stillness/shoonyata.
Krishnanandapradayini means the one who bestows happiness of Krishna or brings happiness to Sri Krishna. But it could well mean that the deep, eternal happiness that a being like Krishna experiences, which would be the True happiness… stems from Her who is Darkness. I don’t even know… whether I have made properly logical sense here… because this name resonates so deeply for me.
Well, I don’t have any experience of ananda…
Aah I see. Well, the last two names are similar to each other…
KrishnaPujita and KrishnaVallabha
The one who is worshipped by Krishna. The beloved of Krishna.
A dance of the Krishna tattva and Kali Tattva!
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