Mantralaya-2030
(Friendship between Sri Krishna and Sudhama - Part 1 )
Date : Feb 20, 2025
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
Background
The
story of the great and divine friendship between Sri Krishna and
Sudhama is described in Mantralaya (2030), highlighting the depth of
devotion, humility, and the boundless grace of the Lord Sri Krishna.
Meaning
In
this article, let’s take a deep dive into the devotion expressed
through friendship with Lord Sri Krishna. Devotees worship Sri Hari in
various forms—some as a friend, some as a son, some as a father, and
others as a husband. Regardless of the form, any prayer rooted in
selfless love and unwavering dedication finds a place in the heart of
Sri Hari. Among the many divine friendships, one of the most profound
is the story of Sudama, the greatest devotee and dear friend of Sri
Krishna.
Sri Purandaradasa composed a marvelous devotional song
called "Sudhamana Haadu," which is traditionally sung with devotion
every Thursday and Sunday in many households. I grew up listening to
this beautiful composition, and to this day, my mother continues to
sing it every Thursday and Sunday, filling our home with its divine
essence.
Before we delve into Sri Purandaradasa’s marvelous
devotional composition, "Sudhamana Haadu," it is essential to
understand the background of Sudama.Sudama, also known as Kuchela.
Lord
Sri Krishna, the Supreme Master of the multiverse, humbled Himself to
become a student of Guru Sandipani. Though He is omnipotent,
omnipresent, and the source of all knowledge, He chose to embody the
role of a student to teach humanity the profound significance of
education and the reverence one must have for a Guru. His divine
actions serve as a timeless lesson, emphasizing that even the most
enlightened beings must honor the path of learning and the guidance of
a teacher.
In the serene ashram of Guru Sandipani, two young
boys, Sri Krishna and Sudama, grew up together as classmates. Sudama,
finding comfort and support in Krishna’s presence, often relied on Him
for guidance and assistance. Through this bond of trust and
companionship, their friendship blossomed into a deep and divine
connection that would stand the test of time.
One day, Guru
Sandipani assigned a task to his students, including Sri Krishna and
Sudama. He instructed them to venture into the dense forest and gather
firewood, a common duty in those times, as students were responsible
for collecting wood for the sacred fire used in daily prayers and
rituals.
Before they set out, the Guru’s wife, known for her
kindness and maternal affection towards the students, approached
Sudhama with a small bundle of flattened rice (poha/avalakki in
kannada). Her eyes were filled with warmth as she gently placed it in
his hands and said, "Keep this with you, my child. If it rains, you
might feel cold and hungry. This will give you strength. Share it with
your friends, and most importantly, do not forget to share it with my
dear Sri Krishna."
Sudama clutched the bundle close to his heart
and nodded in gratitude. The thought of carrying something given with
such love made him feel a sense of responsibility.As they stepped into
the forest, the cool breeze whispered through the trees, and the
rustling leaves seemed to hum the divine play that was about to unfold.
As
the students were busy collecting firewood, the sky suddenly turned
dark as thick clouds gathered overhead. Within moments, heavy rain
began to pour, soaking the forest and making it hard for them to
continue their task. The once calm surroundings became loud and
restless, with thunder rumbling and lightning flashing across the sky.
Looking
for shelter, the students spotted a tall tree and quickly climbed up to
escape the cold and pouring rain. Sudama, being quick and light,
climbed to the highest branch, hoping to stay dry. Below him, Sri
Krishna and His elder brother Balabhadra sat on the lower branches,
calmly watching the rain drench the forest.
The rain continued
to pour relentlessly, drenching the forest and leaving the students
shivering on the branches of the tall tree. Hours passed, and the cold
wind made it even harder to endure. Sudama, perched on the highest
branch, felt his stomach growl with hunger. That’s when he suddenly
remembered the small bundle of poha (flattened rice) the Guru’s wife
had lovingly given him before they left.
Carefully, he untied
the cloth and peered inside. The sight of the dry, comforting poha
filled him with relief. Glancing around to make sure no one was
watching, he slowly took a handful and put it in his mouth, chewing
quietly, trying not to make a sound.
But Sri Krishna, even in
the middle of the storm, noticed everything. His sharp ears caught the
faint crunching noise. With a playful smile, He called out, "Sudama,
what are you eating?".
Startled, Sudama nearly choked. His heart
pounded as he quickly tried to hide the bundle. In a nervous voice, he
stammered, "No, no! I am not eating anything. My teeth are just
chattering because of the cold."
Krishna looked up at him and
smiled knowingly, but said nothing more. Meanwhile, Sudama, thinking he
had escaped unnoticed, continued to eat until there was nothing left.
After
a while, the storm passed, and the students carefully climbed down from
the tree. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting a warm glow over
the rain-washed forest. They gathered their firewood and began walking
back to the ashram.
As they walked, Krishna suddenly turned to Sudama and asked, "Sudama, where is the poha? I am feeling hungry now."
Sudama
froze in his tracks. His face turned pale, and he lowered his eyes,
unable to meet Krishna’s gaze. Guilt twisted inside him as he
hesitated. Finally, in a soft voice, he confessed, "Forgive me,
Krishna. I was so hungry that I ate it all by myself."
Krishna
did not look angry. Instead, He smiled gently and said, "Sudama, food
is meant to be shared. When we share, happiness grows. But when we keep
everything for ourselves, we lose more than we gain." At that moment,
Sudama did not fully understand the weight of Krishna’s words. But as
the years passed, life taught him the lesson in its own way. He grew up
to be a poor man, struggling to feed his family, barely making ends
meet.
Through this simple yet powerful incident, Sri Krishna
revealed a great truth: our actions, whether good or bad, always return
to us. True joy does not come from hoarding what we have but from
sharing selflessly with others.
Years passed, and fate led him
into a life of hardship and poverty. Sudama constantly chanted the name
of Sri Krishna, immersing himself in devotion and surrendering his life
to the Lord. Later Sudhama found himself seeking help from the very
friend to whom he had once denied a handful of poha.
In the next
episode, we will delve into this heartfelt reunion between Sudama and
Sri Krishna, a story beautifully captured in Sri Purandaradasa’s
marvelous devotional song, "Sudhamana Haadu." Stay tuned as we explore
the depth of their friendship and the boundless grace of Sri Krishna.
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||