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Janmashatami Special – Why connect with Shri Krishna?

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
11 August 2025
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By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

Janmashatami Special Why connect with Shri Krishna? by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat

Every living being, from the highest celestial to the smallest ant, is restlessly searching for something. Consciously or unconsciously, each one is striving to answer a single, powerful question – “Who am I?” Yet, very few ever find the answer. The Vedas declare that without knowing the true self, we are bound to suffer physically and mentally for countless ages. This lack of understanding is the root cause of all sorrow.

Shri Krishna Himself once answered a profound question. When Uddhava asked, “Who is the greatest fool?” (Bhagavatam 11.19.42), He replied, “He who identifies himself with the body.” 

Every day we witness people die, and yet we fail to see the truth. The lifeless body remains, but the conscious being, the soul has left. That soul is the real “me.” The body is only a temporary covering.

Just as a lamp lights up a dark room, the soul illuminates the body. Once the lamp is taken away, darkness returns. Similarly, the body becomes inert when the soul departs.  Even in dreams, we leave the gross body behind and experience emotions, sights, and sensations – proving the presence of a subtle body and a causal body, both of which travel with the soul life after life.

The greatest scientists have invented instruments to explore the Sun, Mars, and other celestial bodies. But have they ever seen the entity called “me”? This very entity departs before our eyes, and all we can say is, “Where did it go?” The doctor declares, “He is gone.” This soul, which we so casually ignore, is extraordinarily subtle – so subtle that no instrument can ever detect it. Neither scientific advancement nor intellectual brilliance can uncover it. Here, logic and perception fall short.

So, what is this entity called “me”? Simply put, what is not mine, is me. You say, “This is my house. I have the documents to prove it.” But you are not the house. In the same way, you say, “This is my body,” yet you are not the body. How can it be me if I’m referring to it as mine?

Most people, even the most learned, confuse “me” with “mine.” Ask someone who they are, and they’ll reply, “I’m a doctor,” or “I’m Ramdev.” But these are merely roles or names tied to the body. The true self – the soul – remains unknown. This world, under the spell of māyā, is like a vast mental asylum where everyone mistakes illusion for reality. We identify with the body and its relationships, forgetting that they are temporary and external, while the soul – the real ‘I’  is eternal 

Hand in hand with this confusion about identity is another silent yearning – the desire for limitless, uninterrupted happiness. No one taught us to want happiness, and yet we constantly pursue it. Why? Because it is our very nature. And why is it our nature? Because we, the soul, are a part of God, who is the embodiment of bliss. The happiness we seek is not found in the world, but in Him.

The happiness derived from worldly experiences is inherently transient, destined to fade. Take, for instance, a simple rasgulla – a sweet indulgence. When we are hungry, the first rasgulla brings immense joy. The second one offers slightly less, and the third even less than that. By the fourth, the pleasure vanishes entirely. We say, “I can’t eat another.” 

But if true happiness resided in the rasgulla, why wouldn’t the joy increase with each bite? Instead, the very thought of eating more begins to cause aversion, even nausea. And yet, after a few hours, the craving returns. This reflects the fleeting nature of all sensory pleasures. Worldly pleasure is temporary.  You have it one moment and it is snatched away the next.  That is why you have to eat a rasagula daily to experience its so-called enjoyment.

The love we feel for our parents, children, or spouse is much the same.  You have to embrace your mother, father and wife daily to experience that pleasure again.  The pleasure gets lost.  Whereas the bliss of God is attained not for just one or two lives but for eternity! We are a part of that Brahm, who is bliss.  That is why we desire bliss.  It is our nature.

Just as a starving person relishes food but feels disinterest after being satiated, our worldly affections, too, are subject to constant change. This insatiable cycle of longing, fulfillment, and eventual detachment  is a relentless disease, devoid of lasting satisfaction.

We remain lost, not knowing who we are  and more importantly – who is truly ours. It is our nature. The answer lies in connecting with the source of eternal happiness – Shri Krishna. He alone can reveal our true identity and fulfill the soul’s eternal longing.

The only way to truly know the self is through divine knowledge, the words of the Vedas (shabda pramana) and the teachings of God-realized Saints.

The Vedas are eternal. Even God did not create them. They are called the words of God because they emerged from His very being. When God lay in a state of deep, transcendental rest, the Vedas manifested from His mouth along with His breath. Thus, they are not authored but revealed – eternal truths that flow directly from the Divine.

The Vedas reveal that to attain the happiness we all crave, we need to understand only three things:

Bhokta Brahm – the soul (the experiencer)

Bhogya Brahm – maya (the experienced, the world)

Prerak Brahm – God (the inspirer, the Supreme Being)

God, the soul, and maya are eternal entities – without beginning and without end. Though God is one, He is inseparable from His two eternal powers: the soul and maya. From the standpoint of divine origin, they are one; but in terms of nature and function, they are distinct.

God is infinite, all-knowing, and the source of bliss. The soul, on the other hand, is finite, ignorant, and dependent. Maya is lifeless and inert. God is the Master; the soul is His eternal servant. The soul suffers only because it has forgotten its true relationship with God and remains trapped under maya’s illusion.

God alone governs both the soul and maya. When a fortunate soul attains God through surrender, maya being God’s servant, immediately releases its grip. However, Maya will continue to entangle all others under its illusory powers, until they too come to realise their true self, and ultimately surrender to God.

So why should one connect with Shri Krishna? 

Because He is the only one who can:

Reveal your true self

End your suffering

Fulfill your deepest longing for eternal love and happiness

Worldly relations – parents, siblings, friends are not connected to the real “me.” They are related only to the body. While respect and duty toward them are noble, love must be reserved for the One who is eternally ours – Shri Krishna. He is the only permanent, unchanging relationship we have. He has always been ours and always will be. The Vedas tell us again and again – you belong to Him.

He is not only your Creator but also your true well-wisher, the one who waits patiently for you to turn inward. To know Him is to know yourself. To love Him is to come home. Without this connection, we wander endlessly in search of meaning, joy, and peace – never truly finding it.

This is why you have to connect with Shri Krishna, for in that connection lies your true identity, your life’s purpose, and the boundless happiness your soul has always longed for.  

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.