Child: Is Krishna here?
Mother: Where?
Child: At house, at our home. Can I remember Krishna at house?
Mother: I am sure we can. Let me call your Bhagavad Gita teacher and ask this question.
Mother calls Bhagavad Gita teacher and asks this doubt.
Sir: Yes, of course you can remember Krishna by seeing things at house. Let me list out 10 things which I can immediately think of.
1. HOUSE
We see a house from outside, it could be our own house or anyone’s house. It is an abode of yours or in the case of someone else’s house, it is that person’s abode. A house also gives us shelter. Lord Krishna says in BG 9.18, that He is the abode and shelter for everyone. (nivasah and sharanam)Lord Krishna talks about His abode (residence) several times in the Gita. One such instance is BG 15.6,
न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावक: ।
यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥
na tad bhāsayate sūryo
na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ
yad gatvā na nivartante
tad dhāma paramaṁ mama
That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.
2. DOOR
When we see the door or gate of the house, we can remember the sloka 16.21. where Krishna talks the 3 gates/doors to hell. Lust, anger and greed are the 3 gates to hell, so we should minimize them.
3. CLOCK
Very often at home, we look at the clock to know the time. Lord Krishna says that He is TIME (kaalosmi) in BG 11.32.
4. BED
Our houses these days are given names based on the number of bedrooms – 2BHK, 3BHk and so on. The bed is also very important – King size bed, Queen size bed, Double bed, Bunk bed and so on. This is the level of importance we are giving to Bedroom and Bed these days. Back in those days (several yugas back) also bed was given importance. Hiranyakashipu was always after sense enjoyment. So much so that, his name itself means – Golden Bed.
Did you know that Lord VIshnu lies on a bed too? Yes, His bed is Adishesha, the thousand-hooded serpent. Very comfortable and flexible. Adishesha serves the Lord with full devotion.
5. MOTHER, FATHER, GRANDFATHER
In BG 9.17, Krishna says that He is the mother for everyone. Not only mother, He says that He is the Father, Mother and Grandfather too. (pita, mata, pitamaha) Whenever we talk to mother, father or grandfather, we can remember Krishna and talk to them respectfully. We can be caring and listening.
6. CYCLE
When we see the cycle, we see the handle bars and the two wheels. We may even check whether there is air in the cycle wheel too. When we see the cycle wheel, we can remember Krishna’s Sudarshan chakra. Lord Krishna’s Sudarshan chakra has been used by Him to sever the heads of innumerable demons. Sudarshan chakra has also been put to use by Lord Krishna in several other ways.
I am also reminded of the incident from Mahabharat where Krishna picks up the wheel of the chariot and rushes towards Bhishma, though He had promised not to pick up any weapon. Lord Krishna was willing to break His promise for the sake of His debotee.
7. CAR
A car is parked right outside the house or in the basement or in the garage. We sit in the driver’s seat in the car and direct the movement/wandering of the car. Similarly, the Supersoul (Paramatma) is directing our movement or wandering. This is told by Krishna in BG 18.61.
8. ROPE
We find a rope or thread in the house. A rope is used as a clothes line. A rope is used to tie bundles. When we see a rope at home, we can recall the incident of Krishna’s Rope Magic. In the Damodar lila, when mother Yashoda caught bala Krishna and was trying to tie Him up, Krishna performed the Rope magic. How much ever rope ma Yashoda added to the existing rope, it would still fall short by couple of inches. The rope was never long enough to tie Krishna.
9. SAREE OR DRESS
In our houses, we can find sarees in the cupboards or in the bureaus. Sarees are worn mostly in the Indian tradition. Come Diwali, and women wear beautiful sarees. When Lord Krishna’s devotee, Draupadi was being mis-treated in the asat sabha, she surrendered to Krishna. As soon as she did this, Lord Krishna supplied an unlimited amount of Saree to Draupadi, thus protecting her honour. Not only sarees, when we see any dress at home, we can recall this leela of Krishna’s.
10. DOORSTEP/ THRESHOLD
Every house has a threshold. When we step in or step out of the house, we cross over the threshold.