18 TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI
His childhood He enjoys the company of mother Yasoda4 and Nanda
Maharaja. This is Krsna’s pastime. Ananda-lilamaya-vigrahdya: Krsna’s
pastimes are all jubilant. Anandamayo ‘bhyasat ( Vedanta-stitra 1.1.12): He
is by nature full of bliss. We shall never find Krsna unhappy. Krsna is al-
ways happy, and whoever associates with Him is also happy. Therefore
He is known as Govinda. The word go means ‘“‘senses.’’ We are looking
for sense gratification, and if we associate with Krsna we shall enjoy our
senses abundantly, just like the gopis who are dancing with Krsna. Thus
there is no scarcity of sense gratification, but this sense gratification in
association with Krsna is not gross sense gratification; rather, it is the
spiritual sense gratification enjoyed in the spiritual world. Ananda-cin-
maya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya. That dnanda, or pleasure, is not the third-
class d@nanda we enjoy with our bodily senses. Such bodily enjoyment is
not dnanda but illusion. We are thinking, ‘‘I am enjoying,’’ but that
ananda is not factual, because we cannot enjoy this material pleasure of
the senses for long. Everyone has experience that this material pleasure
comes to an end. Spiritual enjoyment, however, does not end; rather, it
increases. That is the difference. Ananda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami (Brahma-samhita 5.32). There-
fore we have to associate with Govinda.

Here also it is said, govindadya namo namah: ‘‘I offer my respectful obei-
sances to Govinda.’’ The Krsna consciousness movement is so sublime
that it puts one directly in contact with Govinda. The worship of the
Deity of Krsna in the temple is also direct contact with Govinda.
Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nand-srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau_ (Sri-gurv-
astaka 3). The vigraha, the Deity of Krsna, appears by Krsna’s mercy. Be-
cause Krsna is alaksya, invisible, He becomes visible to give us the
facility to see Him. It is not that Krsna is stone, wood, or metal. Krsna is
always Krsna, but because we cannot see anything beyond material ele-
ments like wood, stone, and metal, He appears in a form made of these
elements. But He is neither wood, metal, nor stone. When we associate
with the Deity, we associate with Krsna personally. Because Krsna is in-
visible, He very kindly takes a form that is visible to us. This is Krsna’s
mercy. Do not think, ‘‘Oh, here is a stone Krsna.’’ Krsna is everything,
and therefore Krsna is stone also, but He is not the kind of stone that
cannot act. Even in the form of stone or metal, Krsna can act as Krsna,
and one who worships the Deity will perceive that. Svayam eva sphuraty
adah. The Deity, although apparently stone, may speak with a devotee.
There are many instances in which this has happened.

Iam very pleased, therefore, when my disciples nicely dress the Deity,
