Yaśodā Sees the Universe
A classic example which which vividly illustrates the essential role of yōgamāya in the world of līla occurs in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, in which the divine mother of the Lord, Yaśodā, inspects her child’s opened mouth for dirt particles. Gazing into the mouth of her child, she sees the entire cosmos in his mouth.
“When Kṛṣṇa opened His mouth wide upon being ordered by His mother Yaśodā, she saw within His mouth all movable and immovable entities within the universe, along with all the directions, the mountains, islands, oceans, the surface of the earth, the blowing wind, fire, the moon, planets, and the stars. She saw water, light, air, sky, and all of creation. She also saw the senses, the mind, sense perception, and the three qualities, goodness, passion and ignorance. She saw the nature of time allotted to living entities, she saw natural instinct, the consequences of karma, and desires. Seeing all these sublime aspects of cosmic manifestation, along with herself and Vṛndāvana-dhāma, she became doubtful and fearful of her son’s true nature.”
Bhāgavata Purāṇa, 10.8.37–39
‘‘This whole world is bewildered by such a power in which persons are constantly forgetful of their [true] selves.’’
Through the agency of Māya, the Lord disguises himself from one who is bound to this world, as smoke covers the light of fire. The liberated associates of God, like Yaśodā, are ‘‘covered by a curtain of divine illusion,’’ so that any awareness of God’s majesty is eclipsed, allowing for more intimacy in interactions with the deity. The potency and ubiquity of Kṛṣṇa’s yōgamāya is further demonstrated when Yaśodā questions the nature of reality, and her, being a simpleton, doesn’t understand why she of all people was chosen to be privy to the dēvamāya.
किं स्वप्न एतदुत देवमाया
किं वा मदीयो बत बुद्धिमोह: ।
अथो अमुष्यैव ममार्भकस्य
य: कश्चनौत्पत्तिक आत्मयोग: ॥
Bhāgavata Purāṇa, 10.8.40
“[ Yaśodā began to argue within herself:] Is this a dream, or is it an illusory creation by external powers? Has this been manifested by my own intelligence, or is it some mystic power of my child?”
Becoming enlightened as to the real nature of both herself and Kṛṣṇa, she immediately loses her ability to interact with him as his mother and pays her obeisances to the incomprehensible nature of the illusion she witnessed.
“Therefore let me surrender unto the Supreme being and offer my obeisances unto Him, He who is beyond the conception of human speculation, mind, activities, words and arguments; who is the primordial cause of all cosmic manifestation, by whom the entire cosmos is maintained, and by whom we can conceive of its existence.”
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10.8.41
An overwhelming vision of the universe is revealed to Yaśodā. The potency of Māya thereafter conceals this aishvarya manifestation of God, deceiving Yaśodā so that she would not be distracted from her maternal affection and duties towards Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa immediately causes her to recover using his yōgamāya, causing her to lose her memory of the event so that she can once again place him on her lap and resume her maternal duties.
इत्थं विदिततत्त्वायां गोपिकायां स ईश्वर: ।
वैष्णवीं व्यतनोन्मायां पुत्रस्नेहमयीं विभु: ॥
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10.8.43
“Mother Yaśodā, by the grace of the Lord, could understand the real truth. But then again, the supreme Lord, by the influence Yōga-māyā, caused her to once again become absorbed in intense maternal affection for her son.”
Though Yaśodā understands the entire philosophy of life, at the next moment she becomes overwhelmed by affection for her son by the influence of his powerful yōgamāya.
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Sources:
1. Bhāgavata Purāṇa translated by Srila Prabhupāda
2. Krishna: A Sourcebook edited by Edwin F. Bryant
______________________________________________________________
If you find value in my work, I hope you consider becoming a patron through Patreon. Hindu Aesthetic requires a lot of time and effort and your support would mean that I can continue bringing you the highest quality content. Link to my Patreon:
