Janmashatami Special – How to Connect with Shri Krishna?

By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

Every individual soul is an eternal servant of the Supreme Soul, Shri Krishna.  To obtain the service of Shri Krishna with a view to serving Him for His happiness alone is therefore the ultimate goal of all living beings. This ceaseless selfless service will be bestowed upon an individual soul only after he receives the divine love of Shri Krishna.  

“Awake, arise, and seek the holy association of Saints, so that through them, you may attain divine knowledge.”
– Vedas

The Vedas caution us that if we fail to strive for God-realisation during this rare and precious human life, we will continue to wander endlessly through the cycle of birth and death across 8.4 million life forms.

“The human form is the most difficult to attain.”
– Shrimad Bhagavatam

“The rarity of human birth is evident from the fact that merely seven billion humans inhabit this earth, whereas we can easily find seven billion tiny creatures living in a one-foot-deep hole in the ground. Just think how few humans there are in comparison to other living creatures.”
–  Ved Vyas, Narada Purana

Even celestial beings crave a human birth, for in the Mahabharata, Shri Krishna Himself declares, “No form of life is superior to the human form.” Such is the immense value and significance of being born as a human.

Yet, most of us spend our lives in the pursuit of worldly desires, which only lead to sorrow and disillusionment. When desires are fulfilled, we feel a fleeting happiness; when they are not, we suffer. Either way, we remain trapped in the illusion of material joy. 

Over time, as we begin to see the temporary and deceptive nature of this world, a natural sense of detachment arises. It is at this juncture that the soul begins to yearn for something higher – for a love that is eternal, pure and fulfilling. 

This deep yearning is the soul’s divine call to reunite with its eternal Beloved, Shri Krishna, the source of all Bliss – the one true relation who belongs to us unconditionally. But how does one truly awaken from the slumber of material illusion and establish this sacred connection?” 

How can we connect with Shri Krishna, who is beyond the grasp of our senses, mind, and intellect? The Vedas clarify that God is divine, while our mind and senses are material. Therefore, the material cannot comprehend the divine. 

“This external divine power of Mine, called maya, consisting of the three gunas, can only be crossed by one who surrenders to Me.” 

• Bhagwatam

Thus, even though God is unknowable through our own efforts, He can be known and seen by the soul that is graced by Him with His Divine power. In short, His Grace is the only way. And the key to receiving that Grace is complete surrender. Those who surrender attain Divine bliss; those who don’t continue to rotate in the endless cycle of birth and death, governed by time, destiny, and the three gunas.

Surrender, in its true form, means doing nothing and giving up all sense of doership. Just like a newborn baby does nothing and the mother does everything, the more we surrender, the more God assumes responsibility for our well-being. As long as we carry the ego of being the doers, we are bound by the fruits of our actions. But when that ego dissolves, we become non-doers, and God takes complete care of our needs. In this divine equation, we attain everything by doing nothing – by surrendering completely. This is the power of causeless mercy.

Divine Grace, often spoken of in the Vedas and Puranas, is not to be confused with worldly gifts or material blessings. Grace means God’s causeless mercy – His bestowal of Divine love without expecting anything in return. 

Who can bestow such Grace? Only two: God Himself, and a God-realised Saint. Since God cannot be perceived through our material senses, it is the Saint who has seen God, known Him, and become one with Him, who becomes our Spiritual Guide and refuge on the path to God realisation .

A true Guru is not merely a scholar of all the Vedic scriptural knowledge, but a realised being who has directly experienced God. Upon his Divine realisation, God bestows all His powers upon the Saint and acts through him by the divine power of Yogmaya. In this oneness, both God and the Saint overflow with infinite Grace, ready to bestow their Divine Love upon the sincere and surrendered soul whose mind and heart is completely pure. 

The scriptures unanimously declare that without the guidance of a Guru, one cannot cross the ocean of maya or know God.  A true Guru is the intermediary between the soul and the Supreme Soul. The process to attain complete purity of heart and mind is possible only by strictly adhering to the instructions of your Guru during preliminary devotion (sadhana bhakti)You must approach the Guru with love, learn from him the knowledge of God, the soul, and maya, and surrender to Him. 

It is crucial to understand that God and Guru are not different; they are one and the same. To see them as separate is a grave mistake that will obstruct your spiritual progress.

All devotional practices revolve around one central principle – attaching the mind to God. This is only possible when the mind is detached from the world. By withdrawing the mind from worldly affairs and absorbing it in God, true devotion begins. This process is gradual and requires continuous practice. The involvement of the mind is essential; the senses are secondary. In fact, the mind alone is the cause of both bondage and liberation.

The essence of Bhakti is Roopdhyan – the loving remembrance and visualisation of God’s form in the mind. True chanting of God’s name must be accompanied by Roopdhyan and humility. Without these, chanting becomes lifeless – a mere parrot-like repetition. God only rewards actions that involve the mind, not physical rituals. Thus, the more humble you are, the closer you draw to Him. 

Begin your devotion by forming a mental image of God that pleases you most, and meditate on this image. You might wonder, “How can I visualise someone I’ve never seen?” Shri Krishna responds with great compassion: “You cannot visualise My real form with your mind influenced by maya, but I will accept the form you imagine as real and reward you accordingly.”

So, create an image in your mind – adorn it as you like, dress God in any way that pleases you, even if it means imagining Him in a business suit! Visualise Him before you and begin your devotional practice. Sing His glories, chant His name, and absorb your mind in His form, qualities, and pastimes. 

If the mind struggles, use a picture or idol to support your Roopdhyan. Ramcharitmanas declares that God is all-pervading and therefore present even in an idol. If your love is genuine, the result will be the same.

Therefore, it’s essential to focus on roopdhyan. Grasp this important philosophy and make an effort to incorporate it into your practice.

Practise to realise that God is with you.  Every few moments, just think, “He is with me.” Then again start doing your work.  Again after sometime stop for a second and think, “He is with me.” Feel and realise this again and again. You will find great joy in the thought, “God resides in my heart! Who can harm me?”  Embracing this mindset will help you refrain from sinful actions and your privacy from God will also come to an end. 

Yearn deeply for His vision. Cry out for His divine love. Let a moment without Him feel like an eternity. The Lord of Love, Shri Krishna, can be bound only by love. So make it your practice to withdraw your mind from the world and engage it in Him. Do it again and again. Keep chanting his names lovingly. 

In your free time, practise breathing in “Ra” and exhale “Dhe.” Do not nurture hatred or attachment in this world. Your mind is your greatest enemy – do not obey it blindly. Learn to discipline it with love. Train your mind to remember that wherever it wanders, Shri Krishna is present there too. 

True devotion requires a deep cultivation of humility and tolerance. These are divine qualities. Once, a saint was seen begging for alms in front of an idol. When asked why, he replied, “So that when I beg from people and they don’t give me anything, I won’t feel hurt. I’m practising humility.” We must consider ourselves lower than all others and give respect to everyone, expecting none. 

Never speak ill of others, no matter how flawed they appear. Thinking negatively about others only defiles your own mind, and a mind contaminated by negative judgement can never attain God. See Shri Krishna in everyone. Let love and compassion be your response to all. This is the way to please both God and Guru.

Before going to sleep, reflect on your day. Ask yourself: “Where was I arrogant today? Where did I crave praise?” Chide your foolish mind, the one that has kept you wandering through births for countless lifetimes. 

As Tulsidasji says, “Keep your critic in a shed in your courtyard.” Let them criticise you daily so you can learn not to feel hurt. Lust, anger, greed, and jealousy – these are vices of maya. If someone criticises you, they are only pointing out what is already within. Be grateful to them. By recognising and purifying these, we begin the journey to God.

But until you purify your heart and mind, the Guru cannot Grace you, and without the Guru’s Grace, Divine love remains distant. That is why your devotion under the guidance of your Guru is vital. Purify your mind, surrender with faith, and remember: God and Guru are one and the same. Love them equally and serve them with all your heart.

Shri Krishna is waiting for you – with open arms and a heart full of divine love. He longs to meet you, to embrace you, to shower you with a love unlike anything you’ve ever known. But you are unaware of this truth, or perhaps you’ve heard it but dismissed it, thinking, “Why would God care about someone like me?” 

This quiet doubt, this disbelief in His boundless mercy is what has kept you away from Him for lifetimes. The moment you trust in His unconditional love, that moment becomes the most precious and transformative of your life.

In this material world, love often comes with conditions, expectations, and disappointments. So it’s natural to doubt whether such perfect love could ever be real. But it is. It lives in Shri Krishna. He is watching you gently, patiently, observing your efforts, your inner longing, your moments of devotion. He is waiting for the right time to flood your heart with His Grace.

You need not look far to find Him. Shri Krishna dwells within you – closer than your breath, nearer than your heartbeat. To simply become aware of His presence, and to turn toward Him with unwavering faith and humble surrender, is to awaken the soul’s true journey. 

This bond is not of this world – it is the fulfilment of the soul’s deepest yearning. It is the very purpose of your existence.

This is what it means to truly connect with Shri Krishna.

By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education.