I recently had an opportunity to visit this river and spend some time on its large banks when I visited Sangli, a city in Maharashtra. Like Kaveri, or for that matter like any other river in India, river Krishna is given a motherly status. “Krishna mai” – mother Krishna, is what people in Maharashtra call her affectionately. “Santh Vahate Krishna mai”, meaning “Quietly flows mother Krishna” is a famous song in Marathi which emphasizes on the motherly love that she imparts onto the residents living on its shores flowing mellifluously and accepting all the sins of her son, the human being.
When I first met mother Krishna, I was at a holy place called Narsobachiwadi, a famous temple of Shri Dattatreya near Sangli. When I looked at the river for the first time, I felt like meeting a meditating Yogi, chanting quietly the name of the God. The water was cool, and calm. The morning sunrays were piercing inside the water giving it a refreshing golden colour. I removed my chappals, entered inside the holy water. As the chilly water touched my feet, a feeling of warmth filled my heart. I put some water on my face, took the mother’s blessings and came out.
Later in my visit, I met the river at multiple locations, first at Narsobachivadi, then at Audumber (one more devotional place of Shri Dattatreya), then at various confluences; confluence of Krishna and Warna river at Haripur (This spot is also known as Sangameshwar – Sangam meaning confluence), confluence of Panchganga and Krishna river. At every location, the river looks serene and scenic at the same time. We also had an enjoying boat ride in the river. Look at the following pictures of mother Krishna taken at the above locations.
I also saw a very old and dilapidated temple of mother Krishna at Sangameshwar. A temple with small idol of the mother; the face is visible by small lantern burning incessantly.
Not surprisingly, there was neither any devotee nor any pujari. I wondered on such a fate of the mother. She is flowing smoothly making the land around it so much fertile adding the necessary happiness in the life of the people living around. So many cities, like Sangli, Vijaywada and innumerable small villages use her water for different purposes; right from drinking to bathing, cleaning (utensils, cloths and animals), farming, travelling and so on. Many places of pilgrimage are placed along with her banks where thousands of devotees pay visit every day. But nobody cares for the mother who is the genesis of all this, literally and figuratively as well. Anyway, that’s precisely the fate of almost every river in India.
One final thought before I end this blog. Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu and a deity worshipped by almost all the traditions in Hinduism, is considered the Father of all, who runs the universe. It is surprising that in India itself, there is a river by the same name which is considered deservingly as a loving mother by the citizens of the country. This strange coincidence made me sing in Marathi– “Krishna mazhi Maata, Krishna mazha Pita” meaning Krishna is my loving mother and Krishna is also my caring father. This polymorphic relationship (one name – multiple forms) is amazingly true indeed.
Next: One God - Three Forms (Tale of Shri Ram in a small suburb of Mumbai)
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