Demons and Their Disguises
In the pastimes of Krishna, we often find that demons have the propensity to disguise themselves in different forms in order to bewitch the living entities. The very first demon who came to kill Krishna was Pūtanā, who disguised herself as a celestial lady. She looked so beautiful that even Yaśodā and Rohiṇī thought she was none other than the goddess of fortune herself.
Vatsāsura was another demon who disguised himself as a small calf in order to kill Krishna. Pralambāsura disguised himself in the form of a cowherd boy who had been absent that day. The disguise of demons is always meant for cheating, torturing, destroying, and harming others.
Do Devotees Also Disguise Themselves?
What about devotees? Do they also disguise themselves? There are quite a few instances where devotees have used disguises. During the time of Śrīla Prabhupāda, devotees would sometimes wear wigs and appear like ordinary people in order to distribute Krishna consciousness.
In the days of yore, kings would disguise themselves to mingle with citizens and understand their opinions about the king’s rule. Devotees performing dramas also use disguises to play different roles. However, when devotees disguise themselves, their primary purpose is to show compassion, give mercy, and act for the benefit of others.
Disguises for the Wrong Reasons
Can devotees disguise themselves in inappropriate ways? Yes, that can also happen. Indra once disguised himself while Prthu Maharaja was performing his yajna to cheat, protect his prestige, uphold his position, and satisfy his own sense gratification. On another occasion, he disguised himself as Gautama Ṛṣi in order to unite with Ahalyā, again for the wrong reasons. Indra took two such disguises — one as a saffron-clad sage, and another as Gautama Ṛṣi — both for selfish purposes.
We, as devotees, need to consciously check our lives. Indra is also a devotee, yet he took the disguise of another devotee for the wrong reasons. We may also be devotees externally, wearing kaṇṭhī-mālā, tilaka, and carrying bead bags, yet we may take up different disguises in our lives.
Do we externally showcase ourselves as great devotees while internally munching on sense gratification? Do we externally appear religious while secretly wanting to indulge in sinful activities? Krishna doesn’t see us with our disguise, He removes all our disguised natures and observes us. Krishna manifests in our hearts only when we become aloof from hypocrisy.
Learning from the Demons of Vṛndāvana
Interestingly, all the demons who came to Vṛndāvana personally approached Krishna. Of course, their motive was not to serve Him but to kill Him. All of them weren’t called by Krishna. They came to Vṛndāvana by themselves. Kamsa, stationed in Mathurā, never came to Vṛndāvana. But, he called Krishna to Mathurā. Demons like Jarāsandha, Kālayavana, and Śālva approached Krishna wherever He was, either in Mathurā or Dvārakā.
Apart from being Krishna conscious in the negative sense, these demons had one more quality — they approached Krishna personally, which led to their destruction, or rather, liberation.
Bringing Our Anarthas to Krishna
All the demons who came to Vṛndāvana represent different anarthas, as explained by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. Similarly, the demoniac tendencies of lust, anger, pride, greed, envy, and illusion reside in our hearts. If we bring these anarthas before Krishna, just as the demons came before Him, He will destroy them. We need to take that difficult step of bringing our anarthas in front of Krishna.
How to approach Krishna? It can be done through chanting, hearing Krishna katha, praying to Krishna, or performing any service for Krishna. We need to open our hearts in front of Krishna – in whichever form He appears. Krishna may also take up different disguises – but if we remain alert to Him – we will be immensely benefitted in our lives.
Kunti Maharani saw Krishna in calamities.
Parikshit Maharaja saw Krishna in his death sentence.
Vasudeva and Devaki saw Krishna in the prison cell.
Can we not see Krishna in our daily sadhana and in the devotees?
When the demoniac tendencies of our heart are destroyed, our hearts will become like Vṛndāvana. For a liberated devotee, the material world itself becomes a place of celebration and service. As is said,
iha yasya harer dāsye
karmaṇā manasā girā
nikhilāsv apy avasthāsu
jīvan-muktaḥ sa ucyate
One who engages in the service of Lord Hari with body, mind, and words — in all circumstances — is considered liberated even within this world.
PS::
When Krishna gives up His Disguise
When one becomes a pure devotee, all of Krishna’s disguises vanish into oblivion. When Krishna left the rasa dance, all the gopis began frantically searching for Him. Krishna took the form of Narayana to direct the gopis. When the gopis approached Narayana, they simply asked the whereabouts of Krishna. He waved all His four hands to one side, and the gopis ran in that direction.
When Srimati Radharani came, Krishna could not keep his disguise. Before Srimati Radharani’s love, Krishna’s disguise melted into oblivion. His two hands vanished.
Krishna fails to keep His disguise before the pure love of His devotees. Can we not do the same and give up our disguises in front of Krishna and His devotees?
