A Strange Connect

Let me begin by greeting Jai Shri Krishna! I've wanted to write about my encounters with Lord Krishna for a long time. I am someone whose too private about my interaction with the divine, hence pouring my thoughts on this topic will always be a huge thing for me. Unknowingly, I have had some sort of relationship with Lord Krishna since I was a child.

In my childhood, I heard stories about his birth at midnight in the evergreen Amar Chitra Katha comic novels. I personally feel it was Lord Krishna who started the trend of celebrating at 12 am. I would simply lose myself in the narratives portrayed in those detailed paintings. My imaginations turned into a reality when I saw a play depicting the birth of Lord Krishna. I must say, one of the most appropriate depictions I've ever seen. Ironically many years later I did produce an animated story about Lord Krishna for my own company StoryBodhi. You can view the story here –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOZ2RCPCEGk

Years passed, and I was now pursuing my bachelor's degree. As a part of the college Industrial Visit, the entire batch was taken Bangalore (Now Bengaluru). The college had planned an excursion to the ISCKON Temple for one of those days. One of the most surreal and divine experiences I ever had. Although I am aware that ISCKON temples exist in numerous cities, this was my first time visiting one. While coming out of the temple, a devotee was handing over small photo Lord Krishna. I still carry that photo in my wallet. It’s almost been over a decade now. Through the different walking tours I do, I did discover about these temples' establishments around the world a few years ago.

The next story is as recent as 2020, when I was working as voluntary writer for a well-known history and heritage website. At the time, I had to write an article about the Shree Jagannathji Temple situated in Jamalpur. A district presently in Ahmedabad. I'm hoping to go to the temple shortly. I had written the article in a dialogue format in which an Oil Lamp enlightens the Temple Priest about Lord Krishna, his elder brother Lord Baldevji and sister Goddess Subhadraji. I can't provide the article URL because it hasn't yet been published..

I just became aware of the extent of Lord Krishna's influence on my life while I was writing about Shree Jagannathji's Temple. Though at home, we don’t celebrate Lord Krisnha’s midnight birth as it is bought in by other families but I really enjoy having the Gopal Kala on Gokul Ashtami. Gopal Kala is a savoury dish made up of beaten rice, cucumber, coconut, green chilies and my favourite pomegranate with a ghee tempering. A nutritious snack. This was just my small attempt to tell you all about my interactions with Lord Krishna in different stages of my life. Jai Shree Krishna!