Tulasidas’ Visit to Vrindavan
Once a devotee of Lord Rama named Tulasidas visited Vrindavan. However, he was not pleased to see Lord Krishna everywhere, holding a flute. Tulasidas had a deep connection with Lord Rama and wished to see the Lord in His form with a bow and arrow, rather than holding a flute.
The Lord’s Transformation
Recognizing Tulasidas’ devotion and desire, Lord Krishna instantly transformed Himself into His Rama form, holding a bow and arrow. This transformation was to fulfill His devotee’s wish and to show that He is indeed the Supreme Lord who can manifest in any form. Tulasidas, upon seeing Lord Rama, paid his respects and then returned to Ayodhya.
The Forbidden Advice
Back in Ayodhya, Tulasidas warned his god-brother against visiting Vrindavan, suggesting he could go anywhere else. However, curiosity led his god-brother to Vrindavan first during his pilgrimage. There, he became captivated by the sight of Lord Govinda (Krishna) holding His flute.
The Captivating Flute
His god-brother, entranced by the divine sound of Krishna’s flute, decided to stay in Vrindavan and serve Lord Govinda. Tulasidas, upon learning this, wrote to him, asking why he had abandoned the service of Lord Rama. His god-brother replied, expressing how his mind had been completely captivated by the enchanting sound of Lord Govinda’s flute.
Moral of the Story
Krishna always manifests according to the mood and desires of His devotees. This story demonstrates the Lord’s reciprocation with His devotees’ wishes and His supreme ability to manifest in any form to fulfill their devotional desires.
Lessons to Learn
- The Lord’s Compassion: The Lord is always willing to fulfill the genuine desires of His devotees. Whether they wish to see Him in one form or another, He reciprocates their love and devotion.
- Devotion Beyond Form: Devotion to the Lord transcends His various forms. Whether it is Rama with a bow and arrow or Krishna with a flute, the essence of devotion remains the same.
- Curiosity and Devotion: Even when advised otherwise, the natural curiosity and desire for spiritual knowledge can lead one to profound realizations and deeper devotion.
- The Enchanting Power of the Divine: The divine manifestations and activities of the Lord, such as the sound of Krishna’s flute, have the power to captivate and transform the hearts of devotees.
Visnu Purana’s Verse on the Supreme Lord
The Visnu Purana states:
“Just as the Ganges is the best river among all rivers, similarly among all gods Lord Visnu is the best. Just as Lord Siva is the best devotee among all the Lord’s devotees, similarly among all scriptures in the world Srimad Bhagavatam is the best.”
