We had the amazing darshan of Adikeshava and Ananta Padmanabha Swami. Adikeshava is a 22-feet-long deity in a yoganidra posture, and Ananta Padmanabha Swami is 18 feet long, also lying in yoganidra. Both these Deities have to be seen through three doors. So many devotees come from far and wide to visit these sacred places, and witness the Lord’s majestic opulence.
Who Enjoys Watching Someone Sleep?
Generally, no one likes to watch someone sleeping. A person sleeps all night and wakes up with drool on the face, a stale mouth, dirty clothes, and an unclean body and perplexed mind. There is nothing attractive about it. But the Lord, even in His yoganidra posture, is a treat for the eyes. He captivates the minds and hearts of devotees even while He is sleeping.
Mahavishnu’s Sleep : Creation in Rest
Mahavishnu lies in the Causal Ocean. From the pores of His body emerge unlimited universes, even while He is resting in yoganidra. This is the power of His sleep!
Garbodakashayi Vishnu’s Sleep
The next form of Vishnu lies in the Garbhodaka Ocean. From His navel grows a stem with a lotus, and on top of that lotus is born Brahma, the secondary creator. Vishnu is the primary creator. Through His yoganidra, Garbodakashayi Vishnu manifests Brahma and the entire 14 planetary systems.
The Source of All, Sleeping on Yaśodā’s Lap
The same Lord, the master of all universes, in His original form as Krishna, lies on the lap of Mother Yaśodā for taking rest. She lovingly tells Him stories of Lord Rama, Varaha, and Matsya to help Him fall asleep.
In the earlier examples, we can observe how the Lord, in His sleep, creates unimaginable wonders. And here we see Mother Yaśodā trying to make that same Supreme Lord sleep peacefully. How amazing is that!
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura beautifully writes how, after eating His prasāda, Krishna happily goes to sleep.
biśālākha śikhi-puccha-cāmara ḍhulāya
apūrba śayyāya kṛṣṇa sukhe nidrā jāya
While Krsna happily takes His rest on an excellent bedstead, His servant Visalaksa cools Him with a fan of peacock feathers.
Even at night, in the lap of Mother Yaśodā, after hearing stories from her, Krishna drifts into sleep.
Putting the Lord to Rest!
What a beautiful opportunity devotees receive – to put the Lord to rest. During śayana-sevā, devotees get the opportunity to make the Lords sleep!
Does the Lord need sleep? Certainly not. He is beyond hunger, thirst, or fatigue.
In our temple, we have the deities of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda.
Lord Nityānanda, who is none other than Balarāma and Lakshmana – did not sleep for 14 years during the exile in Rāma-līlā. And yet, we put Him to rest daily. This is the Lord’s mercy – to allow us to serve Him in personal ways.
Seeing the Lord even in His resting form has the power to awaken the dormant love lying within our hearts.
Everything About Him Is Sweet
Whether the Lord is sleeping or awake, standing or dancing, He is our Lord. His every limb, every action, every expression is filled with sweetness.
bhuktaḿ madhuraḿ suptam madhuraḿ
madhurādhi-pater akhilaḿ madhuraḿ
His eating is sweet, His sleeping is sweet—Everything is sweet about the Emperor of sweetness!
Sleeping while AWAKE!!
In contrast, people in this world are asleep to spiritual reality even when they are fully awake. They are lying in the lap of Māyā, totally unaware of the truth. They spend their entire life in illusion, caring nothing about worshipping the Supreme Lord.
We, as devotees, also must reflect – Have I awaken to the spiritual reality, or am I passing my days in vain, running after the mirage of material existence, and thus asleep to Krishna’s call?
Bhakivinode Thakura says,
jīv jāgo, jīv jāgo, gauracānda bole
kota nidrā jāo māyā-piśācīra kole
Lord Gauranga is calling, “Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls! How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Maya?
Why Seek Shelter in the Sleeping World?
After millions of lifetimes, we have finally received the opportunity to take shelter of the Supreme Lord. Why waste it running after the so-called great people of this world, who are asleep even while awake? They may appear busy and active, but spiritually they are in the deepest slumber.
Better we take shelter of the true sleeping beauty, whose yoganidra can awaken us from our own long sleep of forgetfulness. His divine rest can revive our spiritual senses and reawaken our lost love.
