Vittalnathji’s Swaroop
Vittalnathji’s ‘gaur shyam’ swaroop is around 2 inches tall, dark up to his waist and fair from his waist till his feet. Vittalnathji rests both his hands on his waist. He holds a “sachidra” shankha in his left hand close to His heart and his right palm faces us. We blow on shankhas with a “chidra” (hole) to convey an important message (Shankha Naad). Shankhas without a “chidra” are used to bathe our swaroops.
Vittalnathji’s feet are straight. In the actual swaroop of Vittalnathji, we will notice that He wears a nupur(anklet) only in one of His feet. We fondly address Vittalnathji as Ladlelalji.
We will always find the gaur swaroop of Yamunaji to the left of Vittalnathji. Yamunaji too rests her hands on her waist.
Vittalnathji’s Leela
As usual, the gopis abandon their homes and family and come running to Vrindavan when Krishna plays his flute. Krishna too yearns for their love. So He engages in a Laghu Rasa Leela with all of them.
Yamuna witnesses the Maha Raas night after night, but never participates in it. Because she is the only one who is willing to keep a careful watch so that no one interrupts the Raas Leela.
The gopis are not even aware of Yamuna’s quiet expressions of love. They assume Krishna chooses to be with them because they are special. And as usual, when Krishna senses their arrogance, He disappears.
The remorseful gopis realize their folly a little too late. Without Krishna, their lives make no sense to them. In desperation, they look for Yamuna because they know only She can help them find Krishna. But the gopis are shocked when they notice that Yamuna too was missing.
The distraught gopis sing the hauntingly beautiful Gopi Geet as they search for Krishna here, there and everywhere. But Krishna and Yamuna choose silence. Suddenly one gopi says, “Krishna too yearns for our love, you know. But He isn’t returning to us because we have not created a sacred space for Him to sit on.” Another gopi sobs inconsolably and says, “O sakhis, we do not have the material wherewithal to create that kind of a splendid seat for Krishna. He is the lord of the cosmos after all.”
A third gopi sits up with a start and says, “Krishna accepts anything that we offer with bhakti. Let’s offer Him what we have.” So all the gopis remove their odnis off their busts, spread them out along the banks of the Yamuna and continue singing the Gopi Geet.
That is when Vittalnathji emerges, along with Yamuna. Not from here, there and everywhere. But from their very souls. The gopis smile through their tears when they see Vittalnathji and Yamuna standing with their hands on their hips.
They cry out of sheer relief when they see Vittalnathji taking a seat along with Yamuna on their odnis. The gopis say, “O Vittalnatha, do you nourish only souls like Yamuna because they have reached the exalted state of total surrender? If you compare our love to Yumana’s, our love for you will always fall short. Does that mean that you will not engage with us in your mystic leelas again?”
Vittalnathji shows them the mirror of introspection with his right hand symbolically and says, “O sakhis, why do you search for me elsewhere when I am always within you? Don’t you know that I too yearn for your love as much as you pine for mine?
Listen carefully to the soulful message that I convey to you with my shankha. “Yamuna always stands by my side because She symbolises bhakti, the highest and purest form of love.
Reflect on Her life for a while. Yamuna asks for nothing. She parted her waters when my father carried me to Gokul. She stood by me when I fought several demons in the pastures of Vrindavan. Yamuna too yearns to be a part of our Maha Raas. But she willingly keeps a watch over Vrindavan for us.
Once Radha insisted that I behave exactly like her. So she became Krishna and I became Radha. As Krishna, she tried to pacify me when I was annoyed like her. But I am Krishna after all. So I behaved exactly like her. I refused to let go of my anger. And Radha, as Krishna rushed to Yamuna for help. And Yamuna, as usual, bailed her out. How? Yamuna dressed up like me. Exactly like me. My anger vanished and I burst out laughing when I saw Yamuna’s sweet gesture – much to Radha’s relief.
Ah, yes. Yamuna does the needful. Unquestioningly. Without even asking for my consent. She absorbs the sorrows of the cosmos without a word of complaint on her lips. And as Balarama, when I asked her to change her course to benefit mankind, she refused to do so. Flatly. Do you know why? Because she could not recognize me. But the minute she realized her mistake she, as usual, did what I asked her to do. Quietly. Willingly. Her bhakti for me touches me to the core. So I took on her ‘gaur rang’ and transformed into this ‘gaur shyam’ swaroop forever.
Look at my swaroop closely. I wear a nupur only in one foot for this very reason – to tell you explicitly – that I will remain incomplete without bhakti.
That is the kind of love you should strive for my dear gopis. I know you are struggling to reach that state. But rest assured Yamuna and I will always stand tall beside you. We will help you attain and remain in that state of eternal bliss.
Yes, someday, soon, like Yamuna, your lives too will brim with bhakti for me. Bhakti will not be a part of your life. Bhakti will become your very life itself. On that blessed day, you all too will merge with me forever and ever. For I Vittalnatha can be always found in Yamuna’s Bhakti and she Yamuna, my Bhakti swaroop will always stand tall beside Vittalnatha.
Vittalnathji’s Pragatya
Several years ago, Mahaprabhuji lived in a beautiful forest called Charanat, on the foothills of Charanadri which is at a little distance from Kashi. On the blessed day that Gusainji was born, an old Vaishnav belonging to the Ramanuj sampradaya came to meet Mahaprabhuji.
He said, “O Mahaprabhuji, I found this bhagavad swaroop in the waters of the Ganges. I am old and will not live for long. Please perform the seva of this swaroop.”
Mahaprabhuji took the swaroop from him and said, “Today, I am doubly blessed. For Vittalnatha, the lord and Vittalnatha, my son – his bhakta have sanctified my home with their appearance in my life.”
Mahaprabhuji performed the seva of Vittalnathji’s swaroop after which Gusainji, Govindji, Kalyanraiji and Hariraiji continued with the seva. Vittalnathji’s swaroop was shifted from Adel to Mathura and then to Jashoda Ghat in Gokul.
Hariraiji intuitively sensed that Shrinathji’s swaroop would be shifted from Vraj to Mewar, Rajasthan and Khimnaur before finally being enshrined in Nathdwara. So he settled in Mewar before this was due to happen. He started performing the seva of Vittalnathji on the banks of the river Banas, in Khimnaur.
When Shrinathji’s swaroop was enshrined in Nathdwara, Vittalnathji’s swaroop too was enshrined in Pritampol in Nathdwara. So we find a bhetakji of Hariraiji in Khimnaur and Nathdwara too even today.
Sometimes Krishna’s wondrous leelas linger in our hearts and make us reflect for a long while. That is all Vittalnathji asks us to do. And we know He takes care of the rest. Always.
Photos given by: Shri. Shree Krishna Akhileshji
Input given by: Shri. Shree Krishna Akhileshji & Shri. P.Haridasji.
Click here to read about the other Nidhi Swaroops.
Click here to read stories about the Goddess.